Ocala, Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ocala
City
Top, left to right: Downtown Ocala, horse on a farm, Marion Hotel, Marion Theatre
Seal
Nickname(s):  "Horse Capital of the World" "Brick City"
Motto(s):  "God Be With Us"
Ocala, Florida Location in Florida Show map of Florida Ocala, Florida Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Marion
Founded	1849
Incorporated (town)	February 4, 1869
Incorporated (city)	January 28, 1885
Government
• Type	Council–Manager
Area
• City	47.79 sq mi (122.42 km2)
• Land	47.78 sq mi (122.40 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation	69 ft (21 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	63,591
• Estimate  (2022)	65,478
• Rank	US: 586th FL: 43rd
• Density	1,386.0/sq mi (535.0/km2)
• Urban	182,647 (US: 202nd)
• Urban density	1,460.9/sq mi (564.0/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(s)	352
FIPS code	12-50750
GNIS feature ID	0288030
Sales tax	7.0%

Ocala (/oʊˈkælə/ oh-KAL-ə) is a city in Marion County, Florida, United States. It is also the county seat, which means it's where the main government offices for the county are located. The city is in North Central Florida. In 2020, about 63,591 people lived there. This makes Ocala the 43rd most populated city in Florida. Ocala is the main city in the Ocala metropolitan area, which had a population of 375,908 in 2020.

Ocala is known as the "Horse Capital of the World." This is because it has over 400 farms and training centers for thoroughbred horses. Some popular places to visit include the Ocala National Forest, Silver Springs State Park, Rainbow Springs State Park, the College of Central Florida, and the World Equestrian Center.

History of Ocala

The Fort King reconstructed fortress in Ocala, Florida

Ocala gets its name from Ocale. This was a Timucua village and chiefdom (a group of villages led by a chief) in the 1500s. The name likely means "Big Hammock" or "song of admiration." The Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto wrote about Ocale in 1539. He was exploring what is now the southeastern United States. Historians think Ocale was in southwestern Marion County, near the Withlacoochee River.

Later, in the late 1700s and early 1800s, Creek people and other Native Americans, along with free and runaway African Americans, found safety in Florida. This led to the formation of the Seminole people. In 1821, the United States took control of Florida from Spain. In 1827, the U.S. Army built Fort King near where Ocala is today. This fort helped separate the Seminole people from new white settlers. Fort King was important during the Second Seminole War. In 1844, it became the first courthouse for Marion County.

The modern city of Ocala started in 1849 around the fort. The area is sometimes called the "Kingdom of the Sun." In the past, large farms called plantations were common. These farms used enslaved people for labor. Ocala was a big center for growing citrus fruits. But a very cold period in 1894–1895, called the Great Freeze, damaged the crops. After the Reconstruction era (a time after the Civil War), several African Americans from Ocala served in Florida's government.

Downtown Ocala in 1883

Train service came to Ocala in 1881. This helped the economy grow by making it easier to sell farm products. In 1883, a big fire destroyed much of downtown Ocala. The city decided to rebuild using brick, granite, and steel instead of lumber. By 1888, Ocala was known as "The Brick City."

In 1890, a group called the Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union held a big meeting in Ocala. This group was a start for the Populist Party. At the meeting, they created a list of goals known as the "Ocala Demands." These goals included:

• Getting rid of national banks.
• Offering low-interest government loans.
• Allowing unlimited coinage of silver (making more money from silver).
• Having the government take back extra railroad lands.
• Creating a graduated income tax (where people with higher incomes pay a higher percentage in taxes).
• Allowing people to directly elect their United States senators.

Many of these ideas later became part of the Populist Party's plan.

Fort King Street around 1920

In the late 1900s, the Ocala area grew very quickly. It became one of the fastest-growing cities of its size in the country.

Ocala's Historic Places

Ocala has a large Historic District with many old homes. This district was created in 1984 to protect these buildings. East Fort King Street has many beautiful examples of Victorian architecture. Several Ocala buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Coca-Cola Building, the E. C. Smith House, East Hall, the Marion Hotel, Mount Zion A.M.E. Church, the Ritz Historic Inn, and Union Train Station.

The original Fort King site was recognized as a very important historical place in 2004. It is now a National Historic Landmark.

Geography of Ocala

A portion of the Silver River located in Silver Springs State Park

Ocala is located at 29°11′16″N 82°07′50″W / 29.187704°N 82.130613°W / 29.187704; -82.130613.

The city covers about 47.79 square miles (123.8 square kilometers) of land. The farms around Ocala are famous for their thoroughbred horses. The land here is similar to the "bluegrass" region of Kentucky. Ocala is also known for Silver Springs. This is where one of the largest artesian spring systems in the world is found. An artesian spring is a natural spring where water flows up from underground without needing a pump. Silver Springs Nature Theme Park was one of Florida's first tourist spots.

The Ocklawaha River is 110 miles (180 km) long. It flows about 10 miles (16 km) east of Ocala. The river flows north from Central Florida and joins the St. Johns River near Palatka.

Marion County is also home to the Ocala National Forest. This forest was created in 1908 and is the second largest national forest in Florida. The Florida Trail, a long hiking path, goes through the Ocala National Forest. Silver Springs State Park was created in 1987. The state bought land around the Silver Springs attraction to protect it. In 2013, the state took over Silver Springs itself and made it part of the park.

Ocala's Climate

Ocala has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters.

Ocala's Population and People

Ocala first appeared in the U.S. Census in 1850 with 243 people. The city's population has grown a lot since then.

Recent Census Information

In 2020, Ocala had 63,591 people. There were 23,893 households (places where people live) and 13,239 families in the city.

Ocala's Economy

The median income for a household in Ocala was $30,888. This means half of the households earned more than this amount, and half earned less. For families, the median income was $38,190. The per capita income (average income per person) was $18,021. About 18.1% of the people in Ocala lived below the poverty line. This includes 28.6% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or older.

Ocala is home to Emergency One. This company designs and builds fire rescue vehicles for the whole world.

Major Employers in Ocala

Here are the largest employers in Ocala, based on a 2022 report:

Ocala's Culture and Horses

Gypsy Gold Farm, Ocala

Horses are a very important part of Ocala's culture. The first farm for thoroughbred horses in Florida was started in Marion County in 1943 by Carl G. Rose. Many other horse farms followed, making Ocala a major center for horse breeding. In 1978, a horse named Affirmed, who was bred and trained in Marion County, won all three races in the Triple Crown series (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes). This made the horse industry in Ocala even more popular.

Ocala is one of only five cities in the world allowed to call itself the "Horse Capital of the World." This is based on how much money the horse industry brings in each year. The horse industry creates about 44,000 jobs. It brings in over $2.2 billion in money every year. Postime Farms in Ocala hosts one of the biggest horse shows in the country called H.I.T.S. (Horses in the Sun). This event lasts about two months and features Dressage (horse dancing) and Jumper (horse jumping) competitions. It brings in about $6 to $7 million for Marion County each year. The show includes over 100 different horse breeds. Other horse events in the area include:

• Mounted shooting (riding horses while shooting targets)
• Endurance rides (long-distance horse riding)
• Barrel races (horses running around barrels)
• Extreme cowboy events
• Jumper shows
• Trick shows
• Parades
• Draft pulls (horses pulling heavy weights)
• Rodeo events

In 2022, Ocala also hosted the first Florida Steeplechase, a horse race with obstacles, at the Florida Horse Park.

Education in Ocala

Eighth Street Elementary School, located within the Ocala Historic District

The public schools in Ocala are managed by the Marion County School Board. Marion County has 30 elementary schools, ten middle schools, and ten public high schools. Here are some of the schools in Ocala:

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

High Schools

Private Schools

Colleges and Universities

Ocala is home to the College of Central Florida. This college is part of the Florida College System. It is accredited, meaning it meets high standards for education. The college offers:

• Bachelor's degrees in Business and Organizational Management, Early Childhood Education, and Nursing.
• Associate degrees (two-year degrees).
• Certificates for special skills.

The college also has special programs in horse studies, agribusiness (farming business), and managing how goods are moved and stored (logistics and supply chain management).

Ocala also has a campus of Rasmussen College. This is a post secondary (after high school) school that is also accredited. Webster University offers graduate degree programs (degrees you get after a bachelor's degree) in business and counseling at its Ocala campus.

Libraries in Ocala

Three of the eight libraries in the Marion County Public Library System are in Ocala:

• Freedom Public Library
• Marion Oaks Public Library
• Ocala Public Library – This is the main library for the Marion County Public Library System.

Transportation in Ocala

Main Roads

Eastbound SR 40 as it approaches US 27-301-441 in Ocala.

Several important highways go through Ocala:

• Interstate 75 (I-75) runs north and south on the west side of the city.
• U.S. Highway 27 (US 27) runs north and south through Ocala.
• U.S. Route 301 (US 301) is a main north and south road.
• U.S. Highway 441 (US 441) is another main north and south road.

Ocala was also part of the historic Dixie Highway.

• I-75 (Interstate 75) runs north and south across the western edge of the city.
• US 27 runs north and south throughout Ocala.
• US 301 is the main local north and south road through Ocala.
• US 441 is the main local north and south road through Ocala.
• SR 492 runs east and west through the northern part of the city.
• SR 40 runs east and west through Ocala.
• SR 464 runs east and west through the southeastern part of the city.
• SR 200 runs northeast and southwest.

Airport, Bus, and Other Transport

The Ocala International Airport offers general aviation services. This means it handles private planes and smaller flights. Ocala Suntran provides bus service in parts of the city. A main bus stop for Suntran is the old Ocala Union Station. This station used to serve Amtrak trains until 2004. Now, Amtrak serves Ocala with bus connections to Jacksonville and Lakeland.

Ocala also has service from Greyhound Bus Lines. Marion Transit is a special bus service for people with disabilities. It provides public transportation throughout Marion County.

Healthcare in Ocala

Hospitals in Ocala include:

• AdventHealth Ocala
• HCA Florida Ocala Hospital
• HCA Florida West Marion Hospital

Notable People from Ocala

Notable Musical Groups from Ocala

Sister Cities

Ocala has two sister cities. These are cities that partner with Ocala to promote cultural ties and understanding:

• Newbridge, County Kildare, in Ireland (since 2008)
• Pisa and San Rossore in Italy (since 2004)

See also

In Spanish: Ocala para niños