Railroads and rivers contributed to Gainesville’s growth in the early 19th century, and that network of transportation continues today through the roads leading to the city. The Gainesville area is a hub for jobs, Tim Evans, vice president for economic development for the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, said. Hall County has multiple assets, he said ­— more than 300 manufacturers and industrial businesses, major highways that converge here, the major medical center for a 15- or 16-county area and a growing retail base.