Fun Facts About Greater Gainesville

With a region as broad and incredible as the Greater Gainesville is, here are just a few of the fun facts you may not have known!

CITY OF GAINESVILLE

» Gainesville is famously known for its music scene — artists and bands such as Don Felder and Bernie Leadon of the Eagles, as well as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers called Gainesville home for many years. Hollywood actor River Phoenix also joined in Gainesville’s rock and roll scene in the 1980s with his band Aleka’s Attic.

» The Independent Florida Alligator is the largest student-run newspaper in the United States.

» Gatorade was formulated in 1965 by a team of scientists at the University of Florida College of Medicine.

» One of the largest collections of butterfly and moth specimens in the world is housed at the University of Florida McGuire Center, rivaling that of the Natural History Museum in London.

» Bat house on UF campus is part of the Florida Bat Conservancy.

» Gainesville has a strain of marijuana named after it — “Gainesville Green.”

» Notable UF alumni include Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, Senator Marco Rubio, TV personality Erin Andrews and several astronauts.

CITY OF ARCHER

» Grammy Award Winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Bo Diddley lived the last years of his life in Archer, Florida. Diddley and his signature style helped lay the foundation for modern rock and roll today. He has been credited by a number of massively popular artists including The Beatles, Buddy Holly, and Elvis Presley for his influence on their success.

TOWN OF MICANOPY

» Micanopy is Florida’s self-proclaimed antique capital. The history of Micanopy has been preserved incredibly well, as seen in various parts of the town like the Coca Cola mural on the Thrasher Warehouse, circa 1930!

Micanopy: “The Town that time forgot.”

CITY OF WALDO

» In the 1870s, northern newspapers would advertise Waldo as a “Winter Playground.” Tourists would travel by railroad on vacation to Waldo regularly, staying at the Waldo Hotel, going to the opera and enjoying the wonderful sights around the city.

CITY OF HAWTHORNE

» Among its vast history of agricultural endeavors, Hawthorne, Florida was once known as the lima bean capital of the world!

CITY OF NEWBERRY

» The City of Newberry’s Easton Newberry Sports Complex is one of only 10 programs across the United States to be designated by the United States Olympic Committee as a Community Olympic Development Center for Archery.

TOWN OF LACROSSE

» La Crosse, Florida is known as the “Potato District” of Florida!

CITY OF HIGH SPRINGS

» For the past 44 years, High Springs has held the Pioneer Days festival. Festivalgoers are greeted annually with more than 100 booths and vendors as well as live historical reenactments, music, and performances.

CITY OF ALACHUA

» Alachua, Florida is widely known for its joyful Hare Krishna residents. Alachua’s Hare Krishna community was recently named the largest in all of the western hemisphere.

Now go share these fun facts with your friends!