Gainesville is a city in Hall County in Georgia, United States of America. The population was 25,578 at the 2000 census. Census estimates for 2005 show a population of 32,444. The city is the county seat of Hall County. Because of its large number of poultry processing plants, it is often called the chicken capital of the world. Gainesville is the principal city of and is included in the Gainesville, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Gainesville, Georgia-Alabama (part) Combined Statistical Area.

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,578 people, 8,537 households, and 5,438 families residing in the city. The population density was 364.7/km˛ (944.4/mi˛). There were 9,076 housing units at an average density of 129.4/km˛ (335.1/mi˛). The racial makeup of the city was 45.21% White, 15.73% African American, 0.30% Native American, 2.69% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 14.27% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 33.17% of the population.