Newberry, Florida

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Newberry is a small city in the southwest corner of Alachua County, Florida, near Gainesville. It had 7,342 people in 2020 and covers about 60 square miles, mostly land.

History in brief
- Newberry grew as a mining and railroad town in the late 1800s after phosphate was found in the area. A railroad reached the town in 1893.
- A post office was named Newton in March 1894, then changed to Newberry later that year.
- By 1896 there were many phosphate mines nearby. The mine boom ended around 1914, and the town shifted to farming, especially watermelons.
- The Watermelon Festival began in 1946 and continues as a yearly event.
- In 1984, Freddie Warmack became Newberry’s first Black mayor.
- The historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
- In 2019, the city commission added a National Development Officer for the John Birch Society.

What you can see and do today
- Champions Park of Newberry has 16 fields and hosts games and tournaments, drawing more than 30,000 visitors each year.
- Easton-Newberry Sports Complex combines an archery center with the city’s recreation programs and was designated by the US Olympic Committee as a Community Olympic Development Program. It covers about 100 acres and serves around 6,200 people annually.
- Gatorback Cycle Park offers off-road riding nearby.
- The city has local schools (an elementary, a middle school, and Newberry High School) and a branch of the Alachua County Library District.