North Central Florida

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North Central Florida is a region of the U.S. state of Florida. It comprises the north-central part of the state and encompasses Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Marion, Putnam, Suwannee and Union counties. The region's principal cities include Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Live Oak, and Palatka. The City of Gainesville is the largest city in the region. It serves as the cultural, educational and commercial center for the North Central Florida Region. It is also the home of the University of Florida, the fourth-largest university in the United States. The landscape and climate of North Central Florida does somewhat portray the sub-tropical environment most associate with Florida. The landscape of North Central Florida has gently rolling hills dominated by magnolia trees and large Southern live oak hammocks draped with Spanish moss.

The region also has large expanses of pine tree forests. The climate is quite mild throughout the year.

[edit] Location

North Central Florida's southernmost county, Marion County, borders northern Central Florida and some regions of the Nature Coast area. Many other counties in the region border the Nature Coast area, Alachua, Gilchrist and Hamilton included. North Central Florida is not affected by hurricanes as much as its neighboring counties to the east and west.

[edit] Attractions in North Central Florida

Unlike Central Florida and the Suncoast area, North Central Florida does not have many amusement parks or large theme parks. Instead, it features many parks with nature as their theme. North Central Florida also has many small turn of the century towns that represent the culture of the Deep South.