Gainesville is a city in Alachua County, Florida, United States. It is the county seat and the largest city in Alachua County, and the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Gainesville is home to the University of Florida, which is one of the largest universities in the United States. Santa Fe College is also located in Gainesville.The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville was 124,354. The Gainesville MSA was ranked as the #1 place to live in the 2007 edition of Cities Ranked and Rated. Gainesville was also ranked as one of the "best places to live and play" in 2007 by National Geographic Adventure.