Town of LaCrosse Florida.Home

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Welcome to the Town of LaCrosse, a small rural community situated in the northwest portion of Alachua County and within a few miles of both the Union County and Bradford County lines. Although settlers were in the area as early as the 1840s, LaCrosse did not establish a post office until April 22, 1881. It was located in the mercantile owned by local businessman and cotton buyer John Eli Futch. No one knows for sure how the town received its name but the state historical marker says it was either Mrs. Futch or Henry Clay Parker, the son of one of the first settlers .

There were schools for both black and white children, multiple churches, a wheelwright and blacksmith, multiple stores, two cotton gins, dentist, hotel, grist mill, and packing sheds.

In 1883 Carl Webber published his Eden of the South book about Alachua County but yet he left out LaCrosse. This left the citizens very angry. The town may not have been incorporated until December 17, 1897, but there was already a thriving community there in 1883. Something that may have affected Mr. Webber’s choice to leave out the town was that the purpose of his book was to give tourists a glimpse of the beauty to be seen in the county but LaCrosse wasn’t reachable by train until the 1890s.

Historically the town is based on agriculture and for many years the Packing Shed, has been a significant part of the town's history.

There are also other small businesses in town, and many of our residents work in the nearby City of Gainesville, home of the University of Florida and the University of Florida Medical Center, the VA Medical Center, and Santa Fe College. The town is also located conveniently close to shopping in both the City of Gainesville and the City of Alachua, and provides easy access to the many recreational activities offered in North Florida.

LaCrosse has its own fire department, and contracts with Alachua County to provide rural fire rescue services to county residents within an approximate 86 square mile area surrounding the town. The Town of LaCrosse Fire Department is staffed by certified paid firefighters 24-7, and had a longstanding support of actively involved volunteer firefighters in past years.

In the Town of La Crosse Florida, we are dedicated to providing our residents with dedicated service.

To learn more about the Town of La Crosse, please call us at 386.462.2784 .