Ocala | |
|---|---|
 Top, left to right: Downtown Ocala, horse on a farm,Marion Hotel, Marion Theatre | |
 Seal | |
| Nicknames: | |
| Motto: "God Be With Us" | |
 Interactive map of Ocala | |
  Ocala  Ocala | |
| Coordinates:29°11′16″N82°7′50″W / 29.18778°N 82.13056°W /29.18778; -82.13056 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Marion |
| Founded | 1849 |
| Incorporated (town) | February 4, 1869 |
| Incorporated (city) | January 28, 1885 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–Manager |
| • Mayor | Ben Marciano |
| • Councilmembers | Barry Mansfield, Kristen Dreyer, Jay Musleh, James Hilty, Sr., and Ire J. Bethea, Sr. |
| • City Manager | Peter Lee |
| • City Clerk | Angel B. Jacobs |
| • City Attorney | William E. Sexton |
| Area | |
• City | 47.2 sq mi (122.3 km2) |
| • Land | 47.2 sq mi (122.3 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0012 sq mi (0.003 km2) |
| Elevation | 69 ft (21 m) |
| Population | |
• City | 63,591 |
• Estimate (2022)[4] | 65,478 |
| • Rank | US: 586th FL:43rd |
| • Density | 1,390/sq mi (535/km2) |
| • Urban | 182,647 (US:202nd) |
| • Urban density | 1,460/sq mi (564/km2) |
| • Metro | 396,415 (US:138th) |
| • Metro density | 249.6/sq mi (96.36/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 34470-34483 |
| Area code | 352 |
| FIPS code | 12-50750 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0288030[6] |
| Sales tax | 7.0%[7] |
| Website | ocalafl.gov |
Ocala (/oʊˈkælə/oh-KAL-ə) is a city in and thecounty seat ofMarion County, Florida, United States.[8] Located inNorth Central Florida, the city's population was 63,591 as of the2020 census, up from 56,315 at the 2010 census and making it the43rd-most populated city in Florida.[5] Ocala is the principal city of the Ocalametropolitan area, which had a population of 375,908 in 2020.
Home to over 400thoroughbred farms and training centers, Ocala is considered the "Horse Capital of the World".[9][10] Notable attractions include theOcala National Forest,Silver Springs State Park,Rainbow Springs State Park, theCollege of Central Florida, and the World Equestrian Center.
Ocala is named afterOcale (also Cale, Etocale, and other variants), a Timucua village andchiefdom recorded in the 16th century, the name of which is believed to mean "Big Hammock" in theTimucua language.[11] Another possible meaning of the name is "song or singer of admiration or glorification".[12] SpaniardHernando de Soto's expedition recorded Ocale in 1539 during his exploration through what is today theSoutheastern United States. The site of Ocale has not been found, but historians believe it was located in southwestern Marion County, near theWithlacoochee River.[13][14] References to Ocale, Olagale, and Etoquale occur in 16th and early 17th century sources, but do not specify a location.[13][15] A Spanish mission named San Luis de Eloquale was established by 1630. Milanich believes the mission was near the Withlacoochee River. Eloquale is not named in a 1655 list of missions, and Ocale (and its variants) disappeared from history.[16]
In the late 18th and early 19th centuries,Creek people and other Native Americans, as well as free and fugitive African Americans sought refuge in Florida. TheSeminole people formed. After foreign colonial rule shifted between Spain and Great Britain and back again, in 1821, the United States acquired the territory of Florida. After warfare to the north, in 1827, the U.S. Army builtFort King near the present site of Ocala as a buffer between the Seminole, who had long occupied the area, and white settlers moving into the region. The fort was an important base during theSecond Seminole War and later served in 1844 as the first courthouse for Marion County.[17]
The modern city of Ocala, which was established in 1849, developed around the fort site. Greater Ocala is known as the "Kingdom of the Sun".[18]Plantations and other agricultural development dependent onslave labor were prevalent in the region. Ocala was an important center of citrus production until theGreat Freeze of 1894–1895.[19][20][21] During theReconstruction Era, Ocala was represented by several African Americans in the Florida House of Representatives and on the local level.[22]
Rail service reached Ocala in June 1881, encouraging economic development with greater access to markets for produce. Two years later, much of the Ocala downtown area was destroyed by fire onThanksgiving Day, 1883. The city encouraged rebuilding withbrick,granite, andsteel rather thanlumber. By 1888, Ocala was known statewide as the "Brick City".[1][2]
In December 1890, theFarmers' Alliance and Industrial Union, a forerunner of thePopulist Party, held its national convention in Ocala. At the convention, the alliance adopted a platform that would become known as the "Ocala Demands". This platform included abolition of national banks, promoting low-interest government loans, free and unlimited coinage of silver, reclamation of excess railroad lands by the government, a graduatedincome tax, and direct election of United States senators. Most of the "Ocala Demands" were to become part of the Populist Party platform.[citation needed]
In the last decades of the 20th century, the greater Ocala area had one of the highest growth rates in the country for a city its size.[23]
Many historic homes are preserved in Ocala's large residentialHistoric District, designated in 1984. East Fort King Street features many excellent examples ofVictorian architecture. Ocala structures listed on theNational Register of Historic Places include theCoca-Cola Building,E. C. Smith House,East Hall,Marion Hotel,Mount Zion A.M.E. Church,Ritz Historic Inn, andUnion Train Station. The originalFort King site was designated as aNational Historic Landmark in 2004.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 47.79 square miles (123.8 km2), all land. The surrounding farms are famous for theirThoroughbred Horses, in terrain similar toKentucky bluegrass. Ocala is also known for nearbySilver Springs, site of one of the largestartesian spring formations in the world andSilver Springs Nature Theme Park, one of the earliest tourist attractions in Florida.
The 110-mile (180 km) longOcklawaha River passes 10 mi (16 km) east of Ocala, flowing north fromCentral Florida until it joins theSt. Johns River nearPalatka.
Marion County is also home to theOcala National Forest, which was established in 1908, and is now the second-largest national forest in the state. TheFlorida Trail, also known as theFlorida National Scenic Trail, cuts through Ocala National Forest.[24]Silver Springs State Park was formed as Silver River State Park in 1987, from land the state purchased around theSilver Springs attraction to spare it from development. The state took over Silver Springs itself in 1993 and incorporated it into the park in 2013.[25]
Ocala has ahumid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classificationCfa), with hot, humid summers and mild winters.
| Climate data for Ocala, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 88 (31) | 90 (32) | 97 (36) | 98 (37) | 102 (39) | 105 (41) | 104 (40) | 103 (39) | 101 (38) | 98 (37) | 94 (34) | 90 (32) | 105 (41) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 81.9 (27.7) | 84.0 (28.9) | 87.3 (30.7) | 90.8 (32.7) | 95.1 (35.1) | 96.8 (36.0) | 96.6 (35.9) | 95.8 (35.4) | 94.2 (34.6) | 90.8 (32.7) | 86.3 (30.2) | 82.3 (27.9) | 98.0 (36.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 70.6 (21.4) | 73.7 (23.2) | 78.6 (25.9) | 83.9 (28.8) | 88.9 (31.6) | 91.0 (32.8) | 92.0 (33.3) | 91.6 (33.1) | 89.5 (31.9) | 84.3 (29.1) | 77.2 (25.1) | 72.2 (22.3) | 82.8 (28.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 58.1 (14.5) | 61.0 (16.1) | 65.3 (18.5) | 70.7 (21.5) | 76.4 (24.7) | 80.7 (27.1) | 82.1 (27.8) | 82.0 (27.8) | 79.9 (26.6) | 73.5 (23.1) | 65.4 (18.6) | 60.3 (15.7) | 71.3 (21.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 45.6 (7.6) | 48.4 (9.1) | 52.1 (11.2) | 57.4 (14.1) | 63.9 (17.7) | 70.4 (21.3) | 72.2 (22.3) | 72.5 (22.5) | 70.3 (21.3) | 62.7 (17.1) | 53.5 (11.9) | 48.3 (9.1) | 59.8 (15.4) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 27.1 (−2.7) | 29.3 (−1.5) | 33.5 (0.8) | 42.7 (5.9) | 52.8 (11.6) | 64.5 (18.1) | 68.6 (20.3) | 68.4 (20.2) | 61.9 (16.6) | 46.4 (8.0) | 35.8 (2.1) | 30.4 (−0.9) | 24.7 (−4.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 11 (−12) | 12 (−11) | 23 (−5) | 30 (−1) | 44 (7) | 48 (9) | 58 (14) | 60 (16) | 52 (11) | 32 (0) | 22 (−6) | 15 (−9) | 11 (−12) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.38 (86) | 2.94 (75) | 3.68 (93) | 2.22 (56) | 3.53 (90) | 7.41 (188) | 6.94 (176) | 7.07 (180) | 6.49 (165) | 3.21 (82) | 2.09 (53) | 2.68 (68) | 51.64 (1,312) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 8.6 | 7.7 | 7.2 | 6.3 | 6.9 | 15.6 | 16.8 | 18.0 | 13.1 | 8.2 | 6.1 | 6.9 | 121.4 |
| Source: NOAA[26][27] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 243 | — | |
| 1870 | 600 | — | |
| 1880 | 803 | 33.8% | |
| 1890 | 2,904 | 261.6% | |
| 1900 | 3,380 | 16.4% | |
| 1910 | 4,370 | 29.3% | |
| 1920 | 4,914 | 12.4% | |
| 1930 | 7,281 | 48.2% | |
| 1940 | 8,986 | 23.4% | |
| 1950 | 11,741 | 30.7% | |
| 1960 | 13,598 | 15.8% | |
| 1970 | 22,583 | 66.1% | |
| 1980 | 37,170 | 64.6% | |
| 1990 | 42,045 | 13.1% | |
| 2000 | 45,943 | 9.3% | |
| 2010 | 56,315 | 22.6% | |
| 2020 | 63,591 | 12.9% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 65,478 | [4] | 3.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[28] 2020 Census[5] | |||
Ocala first appeared in the 1850 U.S. Census, with a total recorded population of 243.[29] Ocala did not report separately in 1860.[30]
| Race | Pop 2010[31] | Pop 2020[32] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 35,623 | 35,478 | 63.26% | 55.79% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 11,497 | 11,909 | 20.42% | 18.73% |
| Native American orAlaska Native (NH) | 117 | 104 | 0.21% | 0.16% |
| Asian (NH) | 1,455 | 2,436 | 2.58% | 3.83% |
| Pacific Islander orNative Hawaiian (NH) | 9 | 17 | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Some other race (NH) | 118 | 255 | 0.21% | 0.40% |
| Two or more races/multiracial (NH) | 910 | 2,499 | 1.62% | 3.93% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 6,586 | 10,893 | 11.69% | 17.13% |
| Total | 56,315 | 63,591 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, 63,591 people, 23,893 households, and 13,239 families were residing in the city.[33]
As of the2010 census, 56,315 people, 21,722 households, and 12,945 families lived in the city.[34]
As of the2000 census, 45,943 people, 18,646 households, and 11,280 families resided in the city. The population density was 1,189.2 inhabitants per square mile (459.2/km2). The 20,501 housing units had an average density of 530.7 per square mile (204.9/km2). Theracial makeup of the city was 72.9% White, 22.1% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 1.8% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 5.7% of the population.
Of the 18,646 households, 40.9% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were not families. About 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.91. The city's age distribution was 23.2% under 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,888, and for a family was $38,190. Males had a median income of $29,739 versus $24,367 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $18,021. About 13.2% of families and 18.1% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 28.6% of those under 18 and 9.8% of those 65 or over.
Ocala is the headquarters of Emergency One, a worldwide designer and manufacturer of fire-rescue vehicles.
According to the City's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[35] the largest employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | Type of business | Number of employees | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marion County Public Schools | Education | 7,000 | 4.70% |
| 2 | Ocala Health | Health care | 2,712 | 1.82% |
| 3 | AdventHealth Ocala | Health care | 2,648 | 1.78% |
| 4 | State of Florida | Government | 2,600 | 1.74% |
| 5 | Walmart (five locations) | Retail | 2,583 | 1.73% |
| 6 | Lockheed Martin | Aerospace | 1,600 | 1.07% |
| 7 | FedEx | E-Commerce | 1,500 | 1.01% |
| 8 | Publix | Retail grocery | 1,488 | 1.00% |
| 9 | Marion County Board of Commissioners | Government | 1,368 | 0.92% |
| 10 | E-One, Inc. | Manufacturer | 1,200 | 0.81% |
| — | Total | — | 24,699 | 16.57% |
Horses have a prominent role in Ocala's cultural makeup.[36] The firstThoroughbred horse farm in Florida was developed in Marion County in 1943 by Carl G. Rose. Other farms were developed, making Ocala the center of a horse-breeding area. Local horses have won individual races of the Triple Crown series; in 1978,Affirmed, bred and trained in Marion County, won all three races, boosting interest in the industry there.
Ocala is one of only five cities (four in the US and one in France) permitted underChamber of Commerce guidelines to use the title, "Horse Capital of the World",[37] based on annual revenue produced by the horse industry. About 44,000 jobs are sustained by breeding, training, and related support of the equine industry, which generates over $2.2 billion in annual revenue. Postime Farms and Ocala serve as host to one of the largest horse shows in the country: H.I.T.S or "Horses in the Sun", adressage/jumper event lasting about two months. It generates some $6 to 7 million for the local economy each year. The show features classes for over 100 different breeds, includingTennessee Walker,Paso Fino,Morgan,Saddlebred, andAmerican Quarter Horse, as well as some draft breeds. Other equine events in the area include mounted shooting by the Florida Outlaws, as well as endurance rides, barrel races, extreme cowboy events, jumper shows, trick shows, parades, draft pulls, and rodeo events. In 2022, Ocala was the site of the inaugural point-to-point Florida Steeplechase at the Florida Horse Park.[38]
Ocala is governed by a five-member board of councillors and a mayor, all of whom are elected on a nonpartisan basis. It has acouncil-manager form of government, relying on a manager hired by the city. The mayor sets policy, but has few powers other than vetoing legislation passed by the council and tending to some duties involving the police department. The current mayor is Ben Marciano.[39] The city manager handles most administrative and financial matters.[40]
A number of county offices are housed at the McPherson Governmental Complex.[41]
As of 2020, Republicans outnumber Democrats in Marion County, roughly 112,000 to 80,000.[42] In the2008 presidential election,John McCain carried both the city and the county, the latter by a landslide, although Florida as a whole voted for DemocratBarack Obama by a narrow margin.[43]
The public schools in Ocala are run by theMarion County School Board.
Ocala is home to theCollege of Central Florida, a member of the Florida College System, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. CF offers bachelor's degrees in business and organizational management, early-childhood education, and nursing, as well as associate degrees and certificates. The college offers specialty programs in equine studies,agribusiness, and logistics and supply-chain management.[44] It also has one of 21 campuses ofRasmussen College, aHigher Learning Commission, regionally accreditedpost-secondary institution.[45][46]Webster University offers on-site, regionally accredited graduate degree programs in business and counseling at their Ocala Metropolitan Campus.[47]
Three of the eight libraries in theMarion County Public Library System are located in Ocala.[48]
Several major highways pass through Ocala, includingI-75,US 27,US 301, andUS 441. Ocala was on the western leg of the historicDixie Highway.
I-75 (I-75) runs north and south across the western edge of the city, with interchanges at SR 200 (exit 350), SR 40 (exit 352), and US 27 (exit 354).
US 27 runs north and south throughout Ocala. It is multiplexed with US 301 and 441 until it reaches SR 492(Northwest 10th Street), then makes a sharp turn onto NW 10th Street then curves northwest through Williston, Perry, Tallahassee, and beyond.
US 301 is the main local north and south road through Ocala. It is multiplexed with US 27 until it reaches NW 10th Street, and with US 441 throughout the city.
US 441 is the main local north and south road through Ocala. It is multiplexed with US 27 until it reaches NW 10th Street, and with US 301 throughout the city.
SR 492 runs east and west through the northern part of the city from the northern terminus of the US 27 multiplex with US 301–441 to SR 40 just southwest of theSilver Springs city limit.
SR 40 runs east and west through Ocala. It spans from Rainbow Lakes Estates throughOcala National Forest to Ormond Beach in Volusia County, although a bi-county extension exists, spanning from Yankeetown in Levy County to Dunnellon, south of the western terminus of SR 40.
SR 464 runs east and west from SR 200 through the southeastern part of the city. Beyond the city limits, it continues southeast towardsSR 35, and continues asCR 464.
SR 200 runs northeast and southwest from Hernando in Citrus County through US 27-301-441 where it becomes a "hidden state road" along US 301 until it reaches Callahan, and is multiplexed with SR A1A into Fernandina Beach.
Ocala International Airport provides general-aviation services to the community.Ocala Suntran provides bus service through select parts of the city. One of the major hubs for Suntran is the formerOcala Union Station, which served Amtrak trains until November 2004. Amtrak serves Ocala by bus connection to Jacksonville and Lakeland.
Ocala is also served by Greyhound Bus Lines. Marion Transit is the complementary ADA paratransit service for SunTran, the fixed route in the City of Ocala. Marion Transit was established in 1976, and operates paratransit buses providing public transportation throughout Marion County for the transportation of the disadvantaged population.
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding missing information.(July 2025) |
As of 2025[update] the city of Ocala has 43 park facilities.[49]
The Marion County Museum of History is located in Ocala.[50] The current facility opened in 2011.[51] The museum is a part of the McPherson Governmental Complex.[52]
Hospitals in Ocala include:AdventHealth Ocala, HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital.[53]
Ocala has twosister cities:
"This event is just the beginning of a nice relationship between the city of Ocala and the city of Pisa and San Rossore," Fontanelli said in Italian during the ceremony.
Municipalities and communities ofMarion County, Florida,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| Topics |  Map of North Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| Counties | ||
| Major cities | ||
| Cities and towns 50k–100k | ||
| Cities and towns 10k–40k | ||
| Metro areas | ||
| Regions | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
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