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The Alachua area appears to have been the first area occupied by the immigrant Oconees, the original Seminoles, about 1740. Their first town was situated on or near the old Alachua plain, now called Payne's Prairie in homage to "King" Payne, chief of the Alachua settlements upon his death in 1812. Created in 1824 from part of Duval County. This section was visited by both Ponce de Leon and DeSoto and was the scene of much conflict during the early colonial strife, the Seminole Indian War and the Civil War. Chief Osceola was captured here and this had much to do with shortening the Seminole conflict. William Bartram, the botanist and traveler, spent some time in this area in 1774. The original county seat was Newnansville located near the current site of the city of Alachua. In 1853, the new railroad from Fernandina to Cedar Key bypassed Newnansville, and Gainesville, a new town that was located on the railroad, began to draw business and residents away from Newnansville. Gainesville became the county seat the following year. A Federal force that had take possession of Gainesville during the Civil War was defeated August 18 1864, and driven out with a loss of over 200 by Capt. J.J. Dickison with a small Confederate force.     We appreciate all help we can get to make this a better site. Anything sent to us that we use will have full credit given.   County Lists	This Alachua County website is available for adoption!   Adjacent Counties Bradford County - north Union County - north Putnam County - east Marion County - southeast Levy County - southwest Gilchrist County - west Columbia County - northwest The meaning of Alachua is suggested by a passage in the journal of Lieutenant Diego Peña, who on his expedition to Apalachee and Apalachicola in 1716, traversed the region, and of the area between the Ichetucknee and Suwannee Rivers in southern Suwannee County remarks: “ The 21st day I left the said site (adjacent to the Itchtucknee River) and camped at a place they call Aquilachua this day I marched five leagues. In this day's march no creeks were encountered but there are good springs of water, and the first (is) named Usichua, (and) the other Usiparachua, and another Afanochua. ” That the springs without effluent streams were sinkholes is consistent with the area, which has many. The names of these watering places all possess the terminator chua, which suggests that chua is the Timucuan name for "sinkhole".
Online Data Biographies Births Cemeteries Census Data Obituaries Marriages Newspaper Data History Military Data Death Index1887-1998 2 3 4 County Post Offices Marriage Records 1837-1973
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