Lake City, FL

7 Apartments for Rent

Lake City, Florida, rests on a site that used to be called Alligator Village, a Seminole settlement way back when. But don't worry, no alligators live here!

Located in Columbia County, Lake City spans 11.1 square miles and gives over 60,000 people a place to call home. It's a nice place to live if you like warm weather year-round and scorching heat in the dead of the summer. You probably won't see a whole lot of alligators, though, despite the city's former name -- but you will see a whole lot of tourists. Interstate 75 cuts a path through Lake City, taking people in straw hats and Bermuda shorts to popular vacation destinations; that's why the city is nicknamed The Gateway to Florida.

Moving to Lake City

You probably won't have to jump through many hoops to find a place to live here. Whether you're looking for rental houses or apartments for rent, landlords here want pretty much the same thing: cold, hard cash. Show up looking fairly decent with references and proof of income in hand, and you're pretty much a shoe-in. If your roommate has fur, claws, or a tail that never stops wagging, be prepared with an extra deposit. Many landlords allow pets, but you'll have to pay up for the privilege of keeping a roof over Buster's head.

Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods here are close to transportation and entertainment options -- there's no reason to stay glued to the couch. Parks and foliage abound, and no matter where you live, you'll be close to rivers and lakes. You'll have a number of neighborhoods to choose from, so here are just a few to get you started:

Pine Road / Brown Road: Look for a home for rent here if you want a single-family space or a mobile home. Apartment buildings are not in huge supply here, but homes converted to apartments round out the possibilities. This area offers the blue-light special of rents, too; rentals in this neighborhood are much cheaper than those elsewhere in Florida. Cuzin's Cafe and Hungry Howie's Pizzas and Subs are here to fill your empty stomach.

City Center: This part of town is just a little more expensive, and that's probably because there's more going on. You'll find more stores and entertainment here as well as homes, apartment complexes, and high-rises.

Ellisville / Mason: Choose this part of town if you prefer rural living to suburbia. Rents are somewhere between those in City Center and Pine Road / Brown Road. If you have your heart set on an apt for rent, you may find the pickings slim. Mobile homes and single-family houses rule the roost here.

Living in Lake City

Lake City would be a dream home for outdoorsy types. You can kayak, fish, boat, hike, fish some more, and camp until you feel entirely one with nature. When you've had enough of the bugs and the bees, catch a shower and fill your belly at restaurants like Moe's Southwest Grill and Phish Heads, which sells -- you guessed it -- seafood. The area has a couple of malls and UA Cinema 90 for movies. What it doesn't have is fabulous public transportation, so make sure you have a car.