Gainesville is the largest city and county seat of Alachua County. It serves as the cultural, educational and commercial center for the North Central Florida Region. The City provides a full range of municipal services, including police and fire protection; comprehensive land use planning and zoning services; code enforcement and neighborhood improvement; streets and drainage construction and maintenance; traffic engineering services; refuse and recycling services through a franchised operator; recreation and parks; cultural and nature services; and necessary administrative services to support these activities. Additionally, the City owns a regional transit system, a municipal airport, a 72-par championship golf course, and a utility.

Gainesville is home to Florida's largest and oldest university, and is one of the state's centers of education, medicine, cultural events and athletics. The University of Florida and Shands Hospital at UF are the leading employers in Gainesville and provide jobs for many residents of surrounding counties. Known for its preservation of historic buildings and the beauty of its natural surroundings, Gainesville's numerous parks, museums and lakes provide entertainment to thousands of visitors. Because of its beautiful landscape and urban "forest," Gainesville is one of the most attractive cities in Florida. Some of the awards and recognitions Gainesville and its community has received in recent years include:

• Gainesville's Eastside High School Ranks Top Six in the Nation, Newsweek's Best High Schools rankings, 2006
• Nineteen Gainesville Area Schools Receive Most Improved in FCAT writing scores, 2006
• Top Ten Cities in the USA for Outdoor Activities, Sperling’s Best Places, 2005
• Most Technologically Advanced City in Florida (30th in the nation), 2005
• Growth Management Pilot Community, 2005 
• Downtown Festival & Art Show ranked #40 in nation by Greg Lawler’s Art Fair Sourcebook, 2005
• Tree City USA and Tree City USA Growth Award, National Arbor Day Foundation, 2005 
• 1st Place media awards for its annual Hoggetowne Medieval Faire, 2005
• Downtown Festival & Art Show 2005 Commemorative Poster Award
• Silver-Level Bicycle-Friendly Community Award, League of American Bicyclists, 2004, 2005 and 2006
• #3 Mid-Market City, 100 Top Deals and Hot Markets, Southern Business & Development Magazine, 2004
• #11 of the Top 15 Best Places to Reinvent Your Life, AARP Magazine, 2003
• Gold Well City USA Award, Wellness Councils of America, 2003
• #1 Best Place to Live in America, Money Magazine, 1995