In 1822, John J. Triggs was sent as a Methodist missionary to a new mission called Alapaha, which extended from south Georgia into parts of north Florida on both sides of the Suwanee River. Four missions were established in this northeast section of Florida, and one of them was known as Dell, named for early settler Maxey Dell. Dell's Courthouse became one of the first meeting places for Methodist circuit riders in the area. In November of 1828, the Florida Territorial Council changed the community's name from Dell to Newnansville and established it as the seat of Alachua County. Home churches and circuit riders continued to serve the people of Newnansville until 1865, when services began after a church building was erected. In 1882, the Florida Railroad came through the area, missing Newnansville by 1.5 miles, leading to the new community of Alachua and the Methodist church's move to its current location in 1897. In 1910, fire destroyed the church building, and a new brick building was erected and consecrated in 1912. Alachua Methodist Church is one of the longest, continuously operating churches in Florida.