Alachua County is one of about 3,141 counties and county equivalents in the United States. It has 874.2 sq. miles in land area and a population density of 276.1 per square mile. In the last three decades of the 1900s its population grew by 108.0%. On the 2000 census form, 98.0% of the population reported only one race, with 19.3% of these reporting African-American. The population of this county is 5.7% Hispanic (of any race). The average household size is 2.34 persons compared to an average family size of 2.94 persons. In 2007 health care and social assistance was the largest of 20 major sectors. It had an average wage per job of $45,351. Per capita income grew by 22.0% between 1997 and 2007 (adjusted for inflation).

People & Income Overview (By Place of Residence)	Value	Rank in U.S.	Industry Overview (2007) (By Place of Work)	Value	Rank in U.S.
Population (2008)	241,364	261	Covered Employment	124,701	222
Growth (%) since 1990	32.9%	581	Avg wage per job	$36,456	592
Households (2000)	87,509	248	Manufacturing - % all jobs in County	3.7%	2441
Labor Force (persons) (2008)	131,660	252	Avg wage per job	$41,682	1000
Unemployment Rate (2008)	4.2	2373	Transportation & Warehousing - % all jobs in County	1.7%	1833
Per Capita Personal Income (2007)	$32,968	842	Avg wage per job	$39,067	1252
Median Household Income (2007)	$38,075	1961	Health Care, Social Assist. - % all jobs in County	17.5%	196
Poverty Rate (2007)	22.8	336	Avg wage per job	$45,351	142
H.S. Diploma or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	88.1	240	Finance and Insurance - % all jobs in County	3.5%	679
Bachelor's Deg. or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	38.7	76	Avg wage per job	$48,135	467