During the time it was owned by the Pepper family (specifically in 1922) an editor at the paper openly admitted his membership in the Ku Klux Klan and praised the Klan in print.

[6] This attitude helps to explain the editorial published in the paper following the Rosewood massacre justifying the actions of the whites, saying "Let it be understood now and forever that he, whether white or black, who brutally assaults an innocent and helpless woman, shall die the death of a dog."

Conversely, the Tampa Tribune of the time called it "a lasting blot on the people of Levy county",[7] clearly condemning rather than justifying the massacre.

[4] On January 6, 2012, The Gainesville Sun was purchased by Halifax Media Group.

[9] An online edition was launched in 1995, initially called SunOne, and later simply GainesvilleSun.com.