Alachua has one of the largest bio and life sciences sectors in Florida and is the site for the Santa Fe College Perry Center for Emerging Technologies.

[5] Evidence of habitation by pre-historic Paleo-Indians exists in several documented locations within the San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park.

In the historic era, the primary town for the Potano tribe that lived throughout North Central Florida also was within San Felasco.

Many participants in the Patriot War that attempted to force the annexation of Florida to the United States from the Spanish resided there, including the Dell family.

A third rail line passed through the new city, and a booming cotton industry helped support the building of several lavish Queen Anne-style homes and brick businesses along Main Street at the turn of the century.

Alachua faced another downturn with the closing of Copeland Sausage in 1976, and by the 1980s the buildings and businesses on Main Street were in poor shape.

A concerted effort by the citizens and local government of Alachua focused on rehabilitating Downtown, and the construction of Progress Corporate Park with the University of Florida led to the creation of the UF Innovate Sid Martin Biotech Incubator which has resulted in the formation of one of the State's largest bio and life science business sectors.

Heading east on US 441 lies Progress Corporate Park, which is the heart of Alachua's bio and life sciences sector.

[23] The local economy is highlighted by one of the largest bio and life science business clusters in Florida[5] and a growing number of distribution centers located primarily in the southwest section of the City near its interchange with I-75.

[28][29] The Santa Fe College Perry Center for Emerging Technologies is located in Alachua across the street from Progress Corporate Park, which houses one of the largest bio and life science business clusters in the State.

Youth activities that are offered include baseball, softball, tackle football and cheerleading, girls volleyball, soccer, and basketball.

Adult activities include Zumba and karate as well as open gym availability at Legacy Park Multipurpose Center.

Senior activities offered at the Cleather Hathcock Community Center include bingo, arts and crafts, and food distribution in partnership with St. Matthew Baptist Church.