Alachua County Florida
Alachua County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2000 census, the population was 217,955. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 223,852. Its county seat is Gainesville, Florida. Alachua County is best known as the home of the University of Florida, the flagship public university of the state of Florida, and much of its economy revolves around the university.

The Alachua area appears to have been the first area occupied by the immigrant Oconees, the original Seminoles, about 1740. Their first town was situated on or near the old Alachua plain, now called Payne's Prairie in homage to "King" Payne, chief of the Alachua settlements upon his death in 1812.

History
Alachua County proper was created in 1824. The original county seat was Newnansville located near the current site of the city of Alachua. In 1853, the new railroad from Fernandina to Cedar Key bypassed Newnansville, and Gainesville, a new town that was located on the railroad, began to draw business and residents away from Newnansville. Gainesville became the county seat the following year.