FCIAAO Fall 2022 Newsletter

COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: ALACHUA COUNTY

Alachua County has a history of adaptation and innova- tion. In the 1850s the county adapted by moving its seat to the newly named Gainesville to connect Alachua County to the planned railroads. Being connected to the railroads allowed for agriculture to flourish, bringing in new industries to the region, and connecting tourists to the outdoor beauty of Alachua County. When the big freezes of winters 1894 - 1895 decimated the agriculture industry, many of the towns reinvented themselves into phosphate mining towns. This led to Alachua County shipping over half of Florida's phosphate. In 1906 the University of Florida was officially opened and has con- tinued to grow and lead innovations through its educa- tional paths from that point forward. In the 1930s - 1950s, Alachua County adapted again and became part of the tung oil industry. World War II came, and Florida saw that 90% of its tung oil was being shipped out of Alachua and Bradford counties. The growth and identity changes Alachua County has seen throughout the years have shown that people and the county always persevere and move forward.

Alachua County is located in the North Central part of Florida. It has a population of 278,468 as of the 2020 US census. Alachua County also houses 57,000 students from the University of Florida. The County has a feel of a busy metropolitan area to a small Americana commu- nity. For education, the University of Florida is also ac- companied by Santa Fe College, and both bring great educational and professional advancements Hon. Ayesha Solomon

to Florida and Alachua County resi- dents. The county is also home to an outstanding healthcare industry in UF Health (Shands), North Florida Hospi- tal, UF College of Medicine, and other great biotech companies located throughout the county. The agriculture industry is always evolving and is part of the DNA of Alachua County. The arts community is brisling and continuous throughout Alachua County's history and helps shape the character of the community through Music, Literature, and Fine Arts. Alachua County is also proud to protect and care for six Florida State Parks each with its own unique identity.

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Fall 2022 Newsletter of the FCIAAO