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 2008 health care and social assistance was the largest of 20 major sectors. It had an average wage per job of $46,494. 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 (2008) (By Place of Work)	Value	Rank in U.S.
Population (2008)	241,364	261	Covered Employment	122,362	228
Growth (%) since 1990	32.9%	581	Avg wage per job	$37,487	616
Households (2000)	87,509	248	Manufacturing - % all jobs in County	3.9%	2386
Labor Force (persons) (2008)	131,660	252	Avg wage per job	$42,580	997
Unemployment Rate (2008)	4.2	2373	Transportation & Warehousing - % all jobs in County	2.4%	1415
Per Capita Personal Income (2007)	$32,968	842	Avg wage per job	$37,922	1670
Median Household Income (2007)	$38,075	1961	Health Care, Social Assist. - % all jobs in County	18.6%	166
Poverty Rate (2007)	22.8	336	Avg wage per job	$46,494	164
H.S. Diploma or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	88.1	240	Finance and Insurance - % all jobs in County	3.4%	708
Bachelor's Deg. or More - % of Adults 25+ (2000)	38.7	76	Avg wage per job	$49,047	452