City of Alachua Downtown Historic District
a.k.a. AL3780
Roughly bounded by NW 150th Ave., NW 145th Terrace, NW 143rd Place and NW 138th Terrace, Alachua, FLThe City of Alachua Downtown Historic District is significant at the local level for community planning development and architecture. Alachua's collection of late nineteenth and early twentieth-century commercial buildings and period houses reflects the growth and development of this center of commerce for the surrounding agricultural region between 1898 and 1949. The work of master masons and builders has been reflected in the extant buildings as well as the skill of carpenters who built many of the frame and masonry vernacular structures.
Members of the Dell family were among the local pioneers of the territorial period. The first settlement, located about a mile northeast of the present site of the City of Alachua, was called Dell's CourtHouse; it was established as a post office in 1831. The name was changed to Newnansville in 1837, in honor of Indian fighter Daniel Newnan, under whom three of the Dell brothers had served. The history of Newnansville, which became the first county seat of Alachua County, has been extensively researched, including the Newnansville Town Site. The frontier village, located at the junction of the east-west Bellamy Road and the north-south road between Lake City and Micanopy, became a military post and a refuge for scattered farm families when their lives were threatened by roaming Indians during the Seminole Wars in the 1830s and early 1840s. When peace came to the area, more settlers poured into Florida, and Newnansville, as the county seat, became a busy center of business and politics. Many of the early land grants were recorded in the wood-frame courthouse. The Methodist congregation outgrew its log cabin and built a new church with a steeple and classical facade in the 1850s. The town cemetery was laid out beside this church. The rich soil, gentle climate, and other natural advantages drew cotton planters as well as small farmers, and agricultural pursuits flourished.
Newnansville would have continued to grow had it not been for the routing of the Florida Railroad many miles to the south as it linked the state's coasts, running from Fernandina on the Atlantic to Cedar Key on the Gulf of Mexico. Bypassed by the cross-state railroad, Newnansville lost out to the new town of Gainesville, created about fifteen miles to the south in the 1850s, and became the new seat of government for Alachua County in 1854.
Local significance of the district:
Historic Context
When Florida became a United States territory in 1821, white settlers from states north of the border began to claim land in the 1820s. The Bellamy Road, authorized by Congress in 1824 as the first federal highway project in Florida, passed near this area as it stretched from St. Augustine to Pensacola. The Bellamy Road, which closely followed the pathways created by early native peoples and the Spanish who ruled Florida for more than three centuries, crossed the Santa Fe River over the natural land bridge and linked the remote inland heart of Florida to both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts.Members of the Dell family were among the local pioneers of the territorial period. The first settlement, located about a mile northeast of the present site of the City of Alachua, was called Dell's CourtHouse; it was established as a post office in 1831. The name was changed to Newnansville in 1837, in honor of Indian fighter Daniel Newnan, under whom three of the Dell brothers had served. The history of Newnansville, which became the first county seat of Alachua County, has been extensively researched, including the Newnansville Town Site. The frontier village, located at the junction of the east-west Bellamy Road and the north-south road between Lake City and Micanopy, became a military post and a refuge for scattered farm families when their lives were threatened by roaming Indians during the Seminole Wars in the 1830s and early 1840s. When peace came to the area, more settlers poured into Florida, and Newnansville, as the county seat, became a busy center of business and politics. Many of the early land grants were recorded in the wood-frame courthouse. The Methodist congregation outgrew its log cabin and built a new church with a steeple and classical facade in the 1850s. The town cemetery was laid out beside this church. The rich soil, gentle climate, and other natural advantages drew cotton planters as well as small farmers, and agricultural pursuits flourished.
Newnansville would have continued to grow had it not been for the routing of the Florida Railroad many miles to the south as it linked the state's coasts, running from Fernandina on the Atlantic to Cedar Key on the Gulf of Mexico. Bypassed by the cross-state railroad, Newnansville lost out to the new town of Gainesville, created about fifteen miles to the south in the 1850s, and became the new seat of government for Alachua County in 1854.
Architecture; Community Planning And Development
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
The Seminole Wars, a series of conflicts between the United States government and the Seminole Tribe of Florida, lasted for over 40 years from 1817 to 1858. The wars were some of the longest and most expensive conflicts in American history.
About Alachua County
Alachua County Timeline
Alachua County, located in northern Florida, has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Timucua and Seminole people. They relied on the fertile soil and abundant water sources for their sustenance and developed intricate cultural practices.
In the 16th century, Spanish explorers ventured into the region, establishing missions and attempting to colonize the area. However, conflicts with the Native Americans and the lack of resources hindered their efforts. The territory eventually came under British control in the late 18th century, followed by transfer to the United States after the Revolutionary War.
During the mid-19th century, Alachua County experienced a boom as many settlers arrived, drawn by the promise of fertile lands for farming and the expanding railroad system. The city of Gainesville, Alachua County's seat, was established in 1854 and became an economic and cultural hub in the region.
However, the county also faced turbulent times during the Civil War, with significant impact and casualties endured. The University of Florida was founded in Gainesville in 1905, marking a turning point for education and intellectual growth in the region. Today, Alachua County continues to thrive as a diverse and dynamic community, preserving its history while embracing progress and growth.
In the 16th century, Spanish explorers ventured into the region, establishing missions and attempting to colonize the area. However, conflicts with the Native Americans and the lack of resources hindered their efforts. The territory eventually came under British control in the late 18th century, followed by transfer to the United States after the Revolutionary War.
During the mid-19th century, Alachua County experienced a boom as many settlers arrived, drawn by the promise of fertile lands for farming and the expanding railroad system. The city of Gainesville, Alachua County's seat, was established in 1854 and became an economic and cultural hub in the region.
However, the county also faced turbulent times during the Civil War, with significant impact and casualties endured. The University of Florida was founded in Gainesville in 1905, marking a turning point for education and intellectual growth in the region. Today, Alachua County continues to thrive as a diverse and dynamic community, preserving its history while embracing progress and growth.
Alachua County Timeline
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Alachua County, Florida.
- 1824 - Alachua County is established on December 29, 1824, as Florida's first inland county.
- 1832 - The first courthouse in the county is constructed in Newnansville.
- 1837 - Newnansville becomes the county seat.
- 1853 - Gainesville is established as a railroad depot, leading to the decline of Newnansville.
- 1868 - Gainesville becomes the county seat.
- 1905 - The University of Florida is established in Gainesville.
- 1915 - The Seagle Building, the first skyscraper in Gainesville, is completed.
- 1930s - The Great Depression impacts the county, leading to economic struggles.
- 1950s - Growth of the University of Florida and postwar development fuel population growth.
- 1969 - Santa Fe Community College is established.
- 1990s - A period of rapid growth and urbanization begins.
- 2001 - Celebration Pointe, a major mixed-use development, breaks ground.