University of Florida - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Gainesville could be an absolute prototype for the college town. UF is the only university here, and although there is also a huge, high-quality community college (Santa Fe C.C.) in our fair village, this place is pretty much centered on being the Land of the Gator. There’s not much scary about G’ville, but it isn’t a good idea to walk around alone late at night, especially in the woods or on the eastern side of town (don’t worry; UF is on the west side.) You’ll still find everything you could wish for on a Friday night (and plenty of things to tell your parents you’re busy with, as well). Some examples are very well-regarded art and natural history museums, visits from nationally recognized ballet companies and orchestras, art festivals at least twice a year, and visits from people like Bill Clinton, Mikhail Gorbachev, and many others.

Of course, this town resembles neither New York City nor the backwoods of Alaska, so if you’re looking for the extremes in population, setting, or events that go with those kinds of places, Gainesville may not be the ideal location for you. However, if you’re willing to settle in just a bit, you can have the wondrous pleasure of hearing the Boston Pops Orchestra play your school fight song in the O’Connell Center on campus and go buffalo- and alligator-watching at Payne’s Prairie the next day. Most people will tell you that this place is Florida’s best, and only real, college town, holding its own with other great American university locations such as Ann Arbor and Bloomington. If that sounds good to you, then make like the Jeffersons and start movin’ on up!

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

The atmosphere here is what... The atmosphere here is what college dreams are made of. There are tons of clubs and bars to go to, college kids everywhere, lots of bookstores, and on football days, there is an electricity that is palpable. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

I’d say the atmosphere is pretty... I’d say the atmosphere is pretty laid-back and chill. We like to think of ourselves as a party town, but there is so much more to it than that. There are definitely not any other universities present (not for, like, hundreds of miles) and we don’t really welcome any sign of them in our presence, either. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Gainesville has a great... Gainesville has a great atmosphere, one in which students can find almost anything to do. While UF is the only university present, its 40,000 students, and those from Santa Fe Community College, make Gainesville an exciting place to be for people under 30. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

One of the best things about UF is... One of the best things about UF is that Gainesville is really a quintessential college town. Almost everything revolves around the University. One of the big reasons why I decided to attend UF was just the college atmosphere of the University and surrounding area. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Anonymous says:

Gainesville is the prototypical... Gainesville is the prototypical college town. It is vibrant and alive in the fall during football season, and relaxed and casual year-round. Most of the roads around the University are canopied by the branches of trees on either side which further gives it a collegiate feel. There are no other universities around, but UF is one of the largest in the country, so it can get a bit crowded. Stay away from 13th Street whenever possible, unless you’re walking. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

5 Fun Facts about Gainesville:
In September 1995, Money magazine ranked G’ville as America’s best place to live. It has been named Florida’s most livable city at least five times since then and is generally ranked among the nation’s top places to live.

• Several movies have been filmed here, including Parenthood (1989) with Steve Martin, which was filmed
partly on UF’s campus, and Doc Hollywood (1991) starring Michael J. Fox.

• This is the town where the popular band Sister Hazel got started. The members named their group after a nun who worked at St. Francis House, a homeless shelter in downtown Gainesville.

• The world’s busiest Domino’s Pizza is on SW 13th Street in Gainesville. Hungry Gators ordering in keep the place hopping every day until 4 a.m.

• Gatorade was invented here in 1965, when a team of scientists was searching for a beverage that would help prevent dehydration. The researchers tested it out on the Gator football team, which suffered fewer heat-related problems than it had in the past (when you find out what it feels like at the bottom of the stadium in September, you’ll understand why that was so impressive).

Famous People from Gainesville:
Bo Diddley (Musician)
Malcolm Gets (Actor)
Less Than Jake (Band)
Tom Petty (Musician)
River Phoenix (Actor)
Sister Hazel (Band)

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