Our Town – Gainesville Timeline

2000 BC Timucuan Indians live from southeast Georgia to central Florida, including all of present-day Alachua County

1500’s The first Spanish explorers and conquerors arrive in Florida

1700’s The last Timucuan Indian dies; the Seminole Indians move into old Timucuan lands and establish a settlement near Micanopy

1821 Spain gives the whole of Florida to the United States

1853 Alachua County Seat is moved from Newnansville to Gainesville (named after General Edmund Gaines). Original population: 250. Gainesville is officially incorporated in 1869.

1856 Evergreen Cemetery’s first grave is that of 2-week-old Elizabeth Thomas, who is buried under a Cedar tree and joined (in a joint grave) by her mother shortly thereafter. This cemetery, one of the county’s oldest, will become the final resting place for Gainesville’s most significant pioneer families.

1859 The Florida Railroad reaches Gainesville.

1869 H.F. Dutton Company is a leading industry in town with 75-100 workers. Henry F. Dutton ran the region’s largest cotton gin and his Dutton Phosphate Mining Co. was the largest phosphate exporter in the Southeast.

1871-76 Josiah Walls of Alachua serves as the first African-American from Florida in Congress.

1876 The Gainesville Times (now The Gainesville Sun) is created.

1880s Orange, Phosphate and Cotton become major industries, though a series of freezes at the end of the decade ends the city’s tenure as “citrus” capital.

1884 After major fires this year, many wooden buildings are rebuilt in brick, including a new courthouse

1885 William N. Sheets, Superintendent of Public Instruction, starts a campaign to bring decent facilities to public education in Gainesville. Gainesville Public School No. 26 is created.

1887 Gas becomes available as a utility in Gainesville

1891 Public water becomes available.

1899 Snowstorm in Gainesville makes production drop nearly 6 million. Telephone service and electricity arrive.

1900 Gainesville population is 3,633, making it one of the largest cities in the state.

1903 The Baird Theater became the first center of recreation for the people of Gainesville. It is later replaced by the Lyric Theater, the first movie theater in town.

1904 Principle Gainesville streets are East and West Main and Union and Liberty Streets which ran North and South.

1905 Florida Agricultural College in Lake City becomes the University of Florida and moves to Gainesville. It opens in 1906 with 102 students. By 1910, the highest annual faculty salary was $1600.

1907 Proposal made to the City Council to banish cattle from wandering around town. Some residents, however, preferred cattle over the growing number of cars on the streets. The first paved street was completed by George Cairns. A city sewer system is installed.

1910 Baird Hardware is the largest in the state and becomes Gainesville’s largest business for 40 years.

1911-64 The Federal Building in Gainesville houses the U.S. Post Office, the Federal Court, the District Attorney and the U.S. Land Office. It is the future home of the Hippodrome State Theatre.

1912 The fire department receives its first Model T Vehicle and an airplane makes its first appearance above Gainesville at 50 mph.

1913 Some of the downtown streets are bricked over.

1917 A Public Library is erected.

1920 The first highway paved into Gainesville is Waldo Road.

1928 Alachua General Hospital is Gainesville’s first hospital.

1947 Women are admitted to the University of Florida.

1970s Historic districts are formed around Gainesville and preservation and restoration begin on historic buildings, including the Thomas Center and Seagle Building.

1972 The Hippodrome is founded to create the best in contemporary theatre. Its first home is in a converted hardware/convenience store on Hawthorne Road. Its first mainstage production was Did You Hear Something? an original mime show.

1975 The Hippodrome’s growth prompts a move to a new space – an empty warehouse on NW 53rd Avenue. Staging was flexible there, allowing for the seating capacity to vary from 280-375 per show.

1979 The City of Gainesville purchases the Old Federal Building with the purpose of leasing it to the Hippodrome theatre.

1981 After restoration of the Old Federal Building, the Hippodrome findsits new permanent home. A production of The Elephant Man inaugurates the new space on January 16.