History of Gainesville, Florida
The city of Gainesville is an area for a variety of activities and sites that have cultural and historical significance.
Native American/ Pre-European
Around 12,000 years back, Paleo Indians inhabited the surrounding area of Gainesville. The early people who lived in the area did not flee to another place and chose to remain there. As time passed, their culture developed into what archaeologists categorize as the Deptford culture. Their remains are buried under the Law School Burial Mound. The site of Alachua County has occupied a Timucua descent tribe.
The native population started to shrink as European diseases spread in the community. Native mutinies caused more lost lives and the remaining Timucua turned to Catholicism.
The native population started to shrink as European diseases spread in the community. Native mutinies caused more lost lives and the remaining Timucua turned to Catholicism.
Early American Settlements
Gainesville was established to put the Alachua County seat on the suggested route of the Florida Railroad Company's line that extends from Cedar Key to Fernandina Beach. Residents of the county moved the county set from the Newnansville to Gainesville in 1853. The construction of the railroad was finished in 1859.
Secession and the Civil WarThe secessionist sentiment was intense in Gainesville in the 1850s. Almost half of the white locals in Gainesville were born in South Carolina or had parents that were born in that state. During that time, secessionist sentiments were strong in that state. Some of them also had fear of blacks. Majority of the population in Alachua County were blacks. The organization of the militia company known as the Gainesville Minutemen was led by John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry in 1859.
A small Union raiding group occupied Gainesville on February 15, 1864. In the attempt to drive the Union force from the town, elements of the Second Florida Cavalry lost in a street battle. |
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After the Civil War
The 3rd United States Colored Troops posted in Gainesville for several months after the Civil War. This encouraged freed men to inhabit the area. Further, black farm workers were enlisted from Georgia and South Carolina to assist in harvesting a very large cotton crop. However, due to heavy rain, the cotton was ruined. This left the black laborers with no job. Soon after, blacks outnumbered whites in Gainesville. Rambles and theft were the major problems in Gainesville with a large population of blacks being arrested by federal troops. After the end of the Civil War, white population regained political life in Florida.
20th Century
Significant changes took place in Gainesville in the 20th century. The city was growing and the people felt that they have not enough resources and powers to supply the growing demand of the developing city. In 1905, Gainesville was granted with a new charter, which also enlarged the city limits. The first bond was issued on that same year. Resources from bond issues were utilized to mobilize a sewer system and made way to important roads that were initially made from crushed rock and eventually changed to bricks after 1910. The city built a generating plant to supply electric service to the city. It became operational in 1914.
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