North central Florida

North Central Florida is a region of the U.S. state of Florida which comprises the north-central part of the state and encompasses the Gainesville Metropolitan Statistical Area (Alachua and Gilchrist counties), and the North Florida counties of Bradford, Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Marion, Putnam, Suwannee and Union counties. The region's largest city is Gainesville (the home of the University of Florida). Other principal cities in the region include Ocala, Lake City, Live Oak, and Palatka.

Location of North Central Florida within Florida

Location of the Gainesville Metropolitan Statistical Area in Florida

North Central Florida
Counties	Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Marion, Putnam, Suwannee and Union
Major cities	Gainesville Ocala Palatka Lake City

Like the Florida Panhandle, this region is often reckoned as part of the Deep South, as compared to the rest of the state. The majority of white Americans in North Central Florida are traditionally of relatively unmixed English ancestry.

The landscape and climate of North Central Florida does not portray the sub-tropical environment most associate with Florida. The landscape of North Central Florida has gently rolling hills dominated by magnolia trees and large Southern live oak hammocks draped with Spanish moss.

The region also has large expanses of pine tree forests. The climate is quite mild throughout the year but has very distinct winters with temperatures dropping below freezing quite often.

Location

North Central Florida's southernmost county, Marion County, borders northern Central Florida and some regions of the Nature Coast area. Many other counties in the region border the Nature Coast area, Alachua, Gilchrist and Hamilton included. North Central Florida is not affected by hurricanes as much as its neighboring counties to the east and west

Cities and towns

North Central Florida has a few cities and many small towns or settlements, some of which are along rivers and lakes.

#	Incorporated Community	Designation	County	Population
9	Alachua	City	Alachua	9,272
28	Belleview	Town	Marion	4,509
11	Bell	Village	Gilchrist	549
14	Brooker	Village	Bradford	334
12	Fort White	Village	Columbia	556
3	Gainesville	City	Alachua	126,047
29	Greenville	Village	Madison	824
17	Hampton	Village	Bradford	495
8	Hawthorne	Town	Alachua	1,428
15	High Springs	Town	Alachua	5,494
18	Interlachen	Town	Putnam	1,396
26	Jasper	Town	Hamilton	5,452
0	LaCrosse	Village	Alachua	360
2	Lake City	City	Columbia	12,099
16	Lawtey	Village	Bradford	730
10	Lee	Village	Madison	386
27	Live Oak	City	Suwannee	6,919
10	Madison	Town	Madison	2,769
1	Micanopy	Village	Alachua	606
4	Ocala	City	Marion	56,945
5	Palatka	City	Putnam	10,472
6	Pomona Park	Village	Putnam	908
13	Reddick	Village	Marion	508
19	Starke	Town	Bradford	5,405
10	Trenton	Town	Gilchrist	1,988
20	Waldo	Town	Alachua	1,022

Attractions in North Central Florida

Unlike Central Florida and the Suncoast area, North Central Florida does not have many amusement parks or large theme parks. Instead, it features many parks with nature as their theme. North Central Florida also has many small turn-of-the-century towns that represent the culture of the Deep South. A significant attraction of North Central Florida is that it is the main location of the University of Florida, and the site of the stadiums for its sports teams, the Florida Gators.