Ocklawaha, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ocklawaha, Florida
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Ocklawaha Post Office
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 Ocklawaha, Florida
Location in Florida
Ocklawaha, Florida
Location in the United States
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| Area | |
| • Total | 3.39 sq mi (8.8 km2) |
| • Land | 2.39 sq mi (6.2 km2) |
| • Water | 1.00 sq mi (2.6 km2) |
| Elevation | 65 ft (20 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,508 |
| • Density | 630.7/sq mi (243.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
32179, 32183
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| Area code(s) | 352 |
| FIPS code | 12-51050 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2805183 |
Ocklawaha (sometimes spelled Oklawaha) is a small community in Marion County, Florida, United States. It's known as an "unincorporated community" and a "census-designated place" (CDP). This means it's a recognized area for counting people, but it doesn't have its own city government. In 2020, about 1,508 people lived there. Ocklawaha is also part of the larger Ocala area.
History of Ocklawaha
Ocklawaha got its first post office in 1884. The community is named after the nearby Ocklawaha River. It even has its own postal district.
The Famous Shootout of 1935
29°02′29″N 81°56′00″W / 29.041319°N 81.933408°W
In 1935, Ocklawaha was the site of a dramatic event involving federal agents and a member of the famous Barker-Karpis Gang, Fred Barker. This event is often called "The Shootout."
FBI agents found the gang's hideout after another gang member, Arthur "Doc" Barker, was arrested in Chicago. A map found with Arthur showed that other gang members were in Ocklawaha. The FBI soon located the house where the gang was staying. They found it by looking for clues in a letter that mentioned a local alligator named "Gator Joe." The gang had rented the house using a fake name, pretending to be a mother and her sons on vacation.
On the morning of January 16, 1935, agents surrounded the house. They didn't know that most of the gang, including Alvin Karpis, had left three days earlier. Only Fred Barker and his mother, Kate "Ma" Barker, were left inside.
The agents told them to give up, but Fred Barker (and possibly Ma Barker) started shooting at 7 A.M. The shootout lasted for about four and a half hours. During this time, agents fired around 500 bullets, and about 250 shots were fired back from the house. Both Fred and Ma Barker were killed by the federal agents.
Many local people came to watch the event, some even having picnics nearby. The shooting from the house stopped at 11:30 A.M. An estate handyman, Willie Woodbury, was sent into the house wearing a bulletproof vest. He reported that no one inside was alive. It's believed that Fred and Ma were killed by the heavy gunfire.
It's not known for sure if Ma Barker ever fired a gun during the shootout. It's also unclear how much she was directly involved in any criminal activities, though she certainly knew her sons were involved in crime.
Both bodies were found in the same front bedroom. Fred had been shot many times, and Ma appeared to have died from a single bullet wound. According to the FBI, a Tommy gun was found near her. Their bodies were later buried in Welch, Oklahoma.
The FBI agents involved in this historic shootout included:
- Special Agent in Charge Earl "E.J." Connelley
- Special Agent James Campbell “Doc” White
- Special Agent John Madala
- Special Agent Ralph D. Brown
- Special Agent Samuel K. McKee, Jr.
- Special Agent Daniel P. Sullivan
- Special Agent Thomas M. McDade
- Special Agent Alexander A. Muzzey
- Special Agent Charles Gerald "Jerry" Campbell
- Special Agent Grier Cornelius Woltz
- Special Agent Charles Winstead
- Special Agent Richard L. Jones
- Special Agent Thomas Melvin
- Special Agent Joseph Thomas McLaughlin
Geography of Ocklawaha
Ocklawaha is located in the southeastern part of Marion County, Florida. It sits on the north shore of Lake Weir. To its east is another community called Silver Springs Shores East. The city of Ocala, which is the county seat, is about 18 miles (29 km) to the northwest. Leesburg is the same distance to the south.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Ocklawaha area covers about 3.4 square miles (8.8 square kilometers). Most of this area is land (2.4 sq mi or 6.2 km²), but a good portion (1.0 sq mi or 2.6 km²) is water. This water area mainly includes parts of Lake Weir to the south and Bowers Lake on the western side of the community.
