Ocala, Florida - wikipedia Ocala, Florida Ocala, Florida City Downtown Ocala Seal Nickname ( s ) : Horse Capital of the World Motto ( s ) : `` God Be With Us '' Location in Marion County and the state of Florida Coordinates : 29 ° 11 ′ 16 '' N 82 ° 7 ′ 50 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 29.18778 ° N 82.13056 ° W ﻿ / 29.18778 ; - 82.13056 Coordinates : 29 ° 11 ′ 16 '' N 82 ° 7 ′ 50 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 29.18778 ° N 82.13056 ° W ﻿ / 29.18778 ; - 82.13056 Country United States State Florida County Marion Settled 1849 Incorporated ( town ) February 4, 1869 Incorporated ( city ) January 28, 1885 Government Type Council - manager Mayor Kent Guinn ( R ) City Manager John Zobler Area City 45.85 sq mi ( 118.75 km ) Land 45.85 sq mi ( 118.75 km ) Water 0.00 sq mi ( 0.00 km ) Elevation 104 ft ( 32 m ) Population ( 2010 ) City 56,315 Estimate ( 2016 ) 59,253 Rank US : 629th Density 1,292.32 / sq mi ( 498.97 / km ) Urban 156,909 ( US : 211th ) Metro 337,362 ( US : 150th ) Time zone Eastern ( EST ) ( UTC - 5 ) Summer ( DST ) EDT ( UTC - 4 ) ZIP codes 34470 - 34483 Area code ( s ) 352 FIPS code 12 - 50750 GNIS feature ID 0288030 Website City of Ocala Ocala ( / oʊ ˈkælə / oh - KAL - ə ) is a city located in Northern Florida. As of the 2013 census, its population, estimated by the United States Census Bureau, was 57,468, making it the 45th most populated city in Florida. It is the seat of Marion County and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2013 population of 337,362. Contents 1 History 1.1 20th - century establishment as horse capital 1.2 Growth 1.3 Ocala Historic District 2 Government and politics 3 Geography 3.1 Climate 4 Demographics 5 Economy 5.1 Top employers 5.2 The Ocala Pumpkin Run 5.3 Taylor, Bean & Whitaker 5.4 ABCO Transportation 6 Education 6.1 Colleges and universities 6.2 Libraries 7 All - America City 8 Sister cities 9 Transportation 9.1 Major roads 9.2 Other transportation 10 Notable people 10.1 Notable musical groups 11 Fine arts 12 See also 13 References 14 External links History Archeological investigation has revealed that the area was inhabited by varying cultures of indigenous peoples from as early as 6500 B.C., and there were two lengthy periods of occupation. The second lasted through 500 A.D. In early historic times, the Timucua inhabited the area. Ocala is located near what is thought to have been the site of Ocale or Ocali, a major Timucua village and chiefdom recorded in the 16th century. The modern city takes its name from the historical village, the name of which is believed to mean `` Big Hammock '' in the Timucua language. The Spaniard Hernando de Soto 's expedition recorded Ocale in 1539 during his exploration through what is today the southeastern United States. Ocale is not mentioned in later Spanish accounts ; it appears to have been abandoned in the wake of de Soto 's attack. In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Creek people and other Native Americans, and free and fugitive African Americans sought refuge in Florida. The Seminole 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 built Fort 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 the Second Seminole War and later served in 1844 as the first courthouse for Marion County. 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 ''. Plantations and other agricultural development dependent on slave labor were prevalent in the region. Ocala was an important center of citrus production until the Great Freeze of 1894 -- 1895. 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 on Thanksgiving Day, 1883. The city encouraged rebuilding with brick, granite and steel rather than lumber. By 1888, Ocala was known statewide as `` The Brick City ''. Downtown Ocala in 1883 In December 1890, the Farmers ' Alliance and Industrial Union, a forerunner of the Populist 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 graduated income tax, and direct election of United States senators. Most of the `` Ocala Demands '' were to become part of the Populist Party platform. 20th - century establishment as horse Capital The first thoroughbred 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 here. Ocala is one of only five cities ( four in the US and one in France ) permitted under Chamber of Commerce guidelines to use the title, `` Horse Capital of the World '', based on annual revenue produced by the horse industry. 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 '', a Dressage / Jumper event lasting about two months. It generates some 6 to 7 million dollars for the local Marion County economy each year. The show features classes for over 100 different breeds, including Tennessee Walker, Paso Fino, Morgan horse, SaddleBred, Draft horse and the American Quarter Horse. Other equine events in the area include cowboy mounted shooting by the Florida Outlaws, as well as endurance rides, barrel races, `` extreme '' cowboy events, jumper shows, trick shows, parades, draft pulls, rodeo events and more. Growth Fort King Street in c. 1920 In the last decades of the twentieth century, the greater Ocala area had one of the highest growth rates in the country for a city its size. The population of Marion County in 2000 was more than 250,000, up from under 100,000 in 1975. Ocala Historic District Many historic homes are preserved in Ocala 's large residential Historic District, designated in 1984. East Fort King Street features many excellent examples of Victorian architecture. Ocala structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places 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 designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2004. Government and politics Ocala is governed by a five - member board of councillors and a mayor, all of which are elected on a nonpartisan basis. It has a council - 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 city manager handles most administrative and financial matters. Although a small majority of the city 's registered voters are Democrats, Ocala voters have elected many Republicans to office. Many conservative whites have shifted to the Republican Party since the late 20th century. In the 2008 presidential election, John McCain carried both the city and the county, the latter by a landslide, although Florida as a whole voted for Democrat Barack Obama by a narrow margin. Geography 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. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 38.63 square miles ( 100.1 km ), all land. The surrounding farms are famous for their thoroughbred horses, in terrain similar to Kentucky bluegrass. Ocala is also known for nearby Silver Springs, Florida, site of one of the largest artesian spring formations in the world and Silver Springs Nature Theme Park, one of the earliest tourist attractions in Florida. The 110 - mile ( 180 km ) long Ocklawaha River flows north from Central Florida until it joins the St. Johns River near Palatka, Florida. Marion County is also home to the Ocala National Forest which was established in 1908 and is now the second largest national forest in the state. The Florida Trail, also known as the Florida National Scenic Trail, cuts through Ocala National Forest. Silver Springs State Park was formed as Silver River State Park in 1987, out of land the state purchased around the Silver Springs attraction to spare it from development. The state took over Silver Springs itself in 1993 and incorporated it into the park in 2013. Climate Ocala has two distinct seasons : the dry season ( October -- May ) and the wet season ( June -- September ). During the dry season, there is almost uninterrupted sunshine with very little rainfall. In January, the morning low temperatures are often in the 30s and 40s, but the cloudless sunny weather typically warms the dry air up to near 70 by the afternoon. During the wet season, afternoon thunderstorms are a daily occurrence. These storms are often severe ( unofficially, Ocala is known to have more cloud - to - ground lightning per square mile than any other city in the world ). The typical morning low temperatures during the wet season are in the 70s and typical daytime high temperatures are in the 90s. Due to the city being relatively far away from the moderating influence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, Ocala 's summertime high temperatures are often the highest in the state while winter night temperatures are often the lowest compared to other cities on the peninsula. Climate data for Ocala, Florida ( 1981 -- 2010 normals ) 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 ) Average high ° F ( ° C ) 71.3 ( 21.8 ) 74.5 ( 23.6 ) 78.9 ( 26.1 ) 84.0 ( 28.9 ) 89.8 ( 32.1 ) 92.2 ( 33.4 ) 93.2 ( 34 ) 92.6 ( 33.7 ) 90.5 ( 32.5 ) 85.3 ( 29.6 ) 78.6 ( 25.9 ) 72.6 ( 22.6 ) 83.6 ( 28.7 ) Average low ° F ( ° C ) 44.8 ( 7.1 ) 47.5 ( 8.6 ) 51.7 ( 10.9 ) 56.2 ( 13.4 ) 63.2 ( 17.3 ) 69.7 ( 20.9 ) 71.4 ( 21.9 ) 71.6 ( 22 ) 69.2 ( 20.7 ) 61.8 ( 16.6 ) 53.5 ( 11.9 ) 47.0 ( 8.3 ) 59.0 ( 15 ) Record low ° F ( ° C ) 11 ( − 12 ) 12 ( − 11 ) 23 ( − 5 ) 30 ( − 1 ) 44 ( 7 ) 48 ( 9 ) 58 ( 14 ) 60 ( 16 ) 45 ( 7 ) 32 ( 0 ) 22 ( − 6 ) 15 ( − 9 ) 11 ( − 12 ) Average precipitation inches ( mm ) 3.17 ( 80.5 ) 3.27 ( 83.1 ) 4.56 ( 115.8 ) 2.40 ( 61 ) 2.98 ( 75.7 ) 7.42 ( 188.5 ) 6.71 ( 170.4 ) 6.32 ( 160.5 ) 6.07 ( 154.2 ) 3.03 ( 77 ) 2.10 ( 53.3 ) 2.57 ( 65.3 ) 50.6 ( 1,285.2 ) Average precipitation days ( ≥ 0.01 in ) 8.5 7.7 8.0 5.6 6.5 14.5 15.4 17.5 12.3 7.8 6.5 7.1 117.4 Source : NOAA ( extremes 1893 -- present ) Demographics Historical population Census Pop. % ± 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 % 42,045 13.1 % 2000 45,943 9.3 % 56,315 22.6 % Est. 2016 59,253 5.2 % U.S. Decennial Census As of the 2010 through 2014 census, Ocala was 63.3 % non Hispanic white, 20.4 % African American, 11.7 % Hispanic or Latino, 2.6 % Asian, 2 % all other. As of the census of 2000, there were 45,943 people, 18,646 households, and 11,280 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,189.2 per square mile ( 459.2 / km ). There were 20,501 housing units at an average density of 530.7 per square mile ( 204.9 / km ). The racial makeup of the city was 72.86 % White, 22.14 % African American, 0.36 % Native American, 1.22 % Asian, 0.02 % Pacific Islander, 1.81 % from other races, and 1.59 % from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.74 % of the population. There were 18,646 households. 40.9 % were married couples living together, 15.9 % had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5 % were non-families. 33.0 % of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0 % had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.91. In the city the population was spread out with 23.2 % under the age of 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 years of age 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. Economy The median income for a household in the city was $30,888, and the median income for a family was $38,190. Males had a median income of $29,739 versus $24,367 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,021. About 13.2 % of families and 18.1 % of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6 % of those under age 18 and 9.8 % of those age 65 or over. Ocala is the headquarters of Emergency One, a worldwide designer and manufacturer of fire rescue vehicles. Top employers According to Ocala 's 2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are : # Employer # of employees Marion County Public Schools 6,070 Munroe Regional Medical Center 2,648 State of Florida 2,600 Walmart 2,370 5 Ocala Regional Medical Center & West Marion Community Hospital 2,200 6 Publix 1,488 7 Marion County Government 1,368 8 AT&T 1,000 9 City of Ocala 989 10 Lockheed Martin 981 The Ocala Pumpkin Run The Ocala Pumpkin Run Classic Car Show and Fall Festival takes place each year on the 400 acre Castro Farm just off Highway 27 and has become a premier destination car show, hosting more than 1,000 classics and customs each year and spectators from all over the southeast. Marion County proclaimed October as ' Ocala Pumpkin Run Month ' due to the impact the event has had on the community each year. Taylor, Bean & Whitaker Ocala was the headquarters of Taylor, Bean & Whitaker, formerly a 2,000 - employee top - 10 wholesale mortgage lending firm, and the fifth - largest issuer of GNMA securities, that ceased business operations in 2011 due to investigations relating to fraudulent activity. ABCO Transportation Ocala is the headquarters of ABCO Transportation. Education The public schools in Ocala are run by the Marion County School Board. There are 30 elementary, ten middle and ten public high schools in Marion County, which include the following schools in Ocala : Elementary schools Anthony Elementary School College Park Dr. N.H. Jones Eighth Street Evergreen Greenway Ward - Highlands Wyomina Park Emerald Shores Elementary School Fessenden Elementary School Fort McCoy School ( K -- 8 ) Hammett Bowen Jr. Elementary School Madison Street Academy of Visual and Performing Arts ( Magnet ) Maplewood Elementary School Marion Oaks Elementary School Oakcrest Elementary School Ocala Springs Elementary School Reddick - Collier Elementary School Saddlewood Elementary School Shady Hill Elementary School South Ocala Elementary School Sparr Elementary School Sunrise Elementary School Middle schools Fort King Howard Liberty Middle School Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks ( 5 -- 8 ) Osceola Middle School North Marion Middle School High schools Forest Marion Technical Institute Vanguard West Port Francis Marion Military Academy North Marion High School Lake Weir High School Private schools Ambleside School Of Ocala grades K -- 8 Blessed Trinity School grades K -- 9 Children 's Palace East & Academy grades K -- 2 The Cornerstone School grades PK - 8 Crossroads Academy grades 3 -- 12 Grace Academy Grades K -- 2 Grace Christian School grades PK -- 8 Meadowbrook Academy grades K -- 12 Montessori Preparatory School grades K -- 5 New Generation School grades K -- 12 Ocala Christian Academy grades PK -- 12 Ocean 's High School grades PK -- 12 Promiseland Academy grades K -- 7 First Assembly Christian School grades K -- 9 The Reading Clinic grades 2 -- 6 Redeemer Christian School grades K -- 9 The Rock Academy grades PK -- 9 The School of the Kingdom grades 1 -- 12 Shiloh SDA Church School Belleview Christian Academy grades PK -- 12 St John Lutheran School grades PK -- 12 Trinity Catholic grades 9 -- 12 Colleges and universities Ocala is home to the College 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. It also has one of 21 campuses of Rasmussen College, a Higher Learning Commission regionally accredited post secondary institution. Webster University offers on - site, regionally accredited graduate degree programs in business and counseling at their Ocala Metropolitan Campus. Libraries Three of the eight libraries in the Marion County Public Library System are located in Ocala. Those three libraries are : Freedom Public Library Marion Oaks Public Library Ocala Public Library - Headquarters for the Marion County Public Library System. All - America city In 1995, Ocala was named an All - America City Award winner. Sister cities See also : List of sister cities in Florida Ocala has two sister cities : Newbridge, County Kildare, in Ireland ( 2008 ) Pisa and San Rossore in Italy ( 2004 ) Transportation Major roads Eastbound SR 40 as it approaches US 27 - 301 - 441 in Ocala. Several major highways pass through Ocala, including Interstate 75, U.S. Highway 27, U.S. Route 301, and U.S. Highway 441. Ocala was on the western leg of the historic Dixie Highway. See also : List of county roads in Marion County, Florida Interstate 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 ). U.S. Route 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. U.S. Route 301 is the main local north and south road through Ocala. It is multiplexed with US 27 until it reaches Northwest 10th Street, and with US 441 throughout the city. U.S. Route 441 is the main local north and south road through Ocala. It is multiplexed with US 27 until it reaches Northwest 10th Street, and with US 301 throughout the city. State Road 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 the Silver Springs city limit. State Road 40 runs east and west through Ocala. It spans from Rainbow Lakes Estates through Ocala 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. State Road 464 runs east and west from SR 200 through the southeastern part of the city. Beyond the city limits, it continues southeast towards State Road 35, and continues as County Road 464. State Road 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. Other transportation Ocala International Airport provides general aviation services to the community. Ocala Suntran provides bus service throughout select parts of the city. One of the major hubs for Suntran is the former Ocala 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. Notable people Antonio Allen -- NFL player Arthur I. Appleton -- businessman, racehorse owner Elizabeth Ashley -- actress Tony Beckham -- NFL cornerback Brittany Bowe -- speed skater Emery N. Brown -- Anesthesiologist and Neuroscientist Farris Bryant -- former Governor Daunte Culpepper -- NFL quarterback Caydee Denney -- figure skater Haven Denney -- figure skater Drayton Florence -- NFL cornerback Dory Funk Jr. -- professional wrestler Don Garlits -- professional drag racer Santana Garrett - professional wrestler Joey Gilmore -- blues musician Troy Glaus -- former Major League Baseball player Mitch Harris -- Major League Baseball pitcher Val James -- professional ice hockey player Eddie Johnson - NBA Basketball player Frank Johnson - NBA Basketball player Travis Mays -- basketball player Buddy McKay -- former Governor Jeremy McKinnon -- musician Chris Meffert -- politician Maxey Dell Moody -- businessman Sloman Moody -- physician and farmer Steve Morse -- composer / guitarist Reid Nichols -- Major League Baseball player Martha O'Driscoll -- actress Patrick O'Neal -- actor Ted Potter, Jr. -- professional golfer Kelly Preston -- actress Jason Schappert -- flight instructor Lamar Thomas -- NFL player and commentator Mava Lee Thomas -- All - American Girls Professional Baseball League player Lee James -- Olympic weightlifter 1976 silver medalist John Travolta -- actor Jim Williams -- former Lt. Governor Walter Ray Williams, Jr. -- professional PBA bowler Tyrone Young -- NFL wide receiver Notable musical groups The Royal Guardsmen -- band originating in the 1960s Wage War - metalcore band A Day to Remember -- pop - punk / post-hardcore / metalcore band Fine arts This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( August 2011 ) The Marion Theater Ocala Symphony Orchestra Ocala Civic Theatre Fine Arts for Ocala, Inc. ( FAFO ) The Ocala Outdoor Sculpture Competition First Friday Art Walk West Port High School offers an arts - affiliated magnet program known as MCCA ( Marion County Center for the Arts ), and it focuses on instructing students in the arts. It is one of the better known arts magnet programs in Florida. See also Florida portal Appleton Museum of Art Jumbolair List of sites and peoples visited by the Hernando de Soto Expedition Ocala National Forest Star - Banner United Hebrews of Ocala Sholom Park References Jump up ^ `` 2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files ''. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Jul 7, 2017. Jump up ^ `` American FactFinder ''. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2014 - 08 - 01. ^ Jump up to : `` Population and Housing Unit Estimates ''. Retrieved June 9, 2017. Jump up ^ `` US Board on Geographic Names ''. United States Geological Survey. 2007 - 10 - 25. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 31. Jump up ^ `` Population Estimates ''. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2014 - 05 - 22. Retrieved 2014 - 08 - 01. Jump up ^ `` Find a County ''. National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011 - 06 - 07. Jump up ^ `` Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas ''. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 27, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Historic Highlights ''. City of Ocala. Archived from the original on January 14, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2007. Jump up ^ McCarthy, Kevin ; Jernigan, Ernest ( 2001 ). Ocala. p. 11. ISBN 0 - 7385 - 1377 - 6. Jump up ^ `` Ocala City Charter '' ( PDF ). City of Ocala. Archived from the original ( XLS ) on June 13, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2010. Jump up ^ `` 2009 City of Ocala Run - Off Election Results '' ( XLS ). Marion County Department of Elections. Retrieved February 3, 2010. Jump up ^ `` 2008 General Election Results '' ( XLS ). Marion County Department of Elections. Retrieved February 3, 2010. Jump up ^ `` US Gazetteer files : 2010, 2000, and 1990 ''. United States Census Bureau. 2011 - 02 - 12. Retrieved 2011 - 04 - 23. Jump up ^ `` The Florida Trail in the Ocala National Forest ''. Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Retrieved November 17, 2007. Jump up ^ `` History ''. Thefriendsofsilverriver.org. Friends of Silver River. 2014. Retrieved April 8, 2014. Jump up ^ `` NowData -- NOAA Online Weather Data ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 28, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Census of Population and Housing ''. Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Archived March 5, 2014, at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` City of Ocala, Florida : Comprehensive Annual Financial Report - For September 30, 2016 '' ( PDF ). ocalafl.org. p. 175. Retrieved June 12, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Ocala Pumpkin Run LLC ''. Ocalapumpkinrun.com. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 17. Jump up ^ Schoenberg, Tom ( August 9, 2012 ). `` BofA Can Pursue FDIC for Taylor Bean Fraud Losses, Judge Says ''. Bloomberg. Retrieved December 18, 2012. Jump up ^ `` A living education ''. Amblesideocala.com. Archived from the original on 2015 - 12 - 14. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Home ''. Thecornerstoneschool.org. 2015 - 12 - 08. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Meadowbrook Academy : Home ''. Mbaocala.org. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Home - Ocala Christian Academy ''. Ocacrusaders.com. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Ocala First Assembly of God - An A / G Church in North Central Florida - Ocala, FL ''. Ocalafirst.org. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 17. Jump up ^ `` Shiloh SDA Church School : Home ''. Antt40.adventistschoolconnect.org. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 17. Jump up ^ `` College of Central Florida ''. Cf.edu. Retrieved January 2, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Rasmussen College Campuses ''. Rasmussen.edu. Retrieved January 11, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Accreditation ''. Rasmussen.edu. Retrieved January 11, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Webster University : Webster University : Ocala Metro Campus ''. Webster.edu. Retrieved December 18, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Marion County Public Library System library directory ''. Marioncountyfl.org. Retrieved January 11, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Past Winners of the All - America City Award ''. National Civic League. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Friends Across the Ocean ''. City of Ocala. Archived from the original on March 11, 2012. Retrieved April 18, 2011. Jump up ^ `` San Rossore Officially Sister City To Ocala ''. Thoroughbred Times. Retrieved July 16, 2007. `` 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. Jump up ^ `` Joey Gilmore Biography & History ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 2015 - 12 - 17. Jump up ^ Bohls, Kirk ( 13 May 2012 ). `` Travis Mays - Horns ' ' home run hire ' - has hit the recruiting trail running ''. statesman.com. Retrieved 27 June 2014. External links Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Ocala. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ocala, Florida. City of Ocala, Florida Historic Ocala Preservation Society Marion County Library System Ocala Banner, the East Florida Banner, and the Southern Sun, historical newspapers serving Ocala, Florida, full text and images openly online in the Florida Digital Newspaper Library Ocala / Marion Chamber of Commerce Municipalities and communities of Marion County, Florida, United States County seat : Ocala Cities Belleview Dunnellon Ocala Towns McIntosh Reddick CDPs Silver Springs Shores The Villages ‡ Unincorporated communities Anthony Blitchton Boardman Candler Citra Dallas Early Bird East Lake Weir Emathla Eureka Evinston ‡ Fairfield Fellowship Flemington Fort McCoy Huntington Irvine Kendrick Lowell Lynne Maricamp Marion Oaks Martel Martin Moss Bluff Ocklawaha Orange Lake Orange Springs Rainbow Lakes Estates Romeo Salt Springs Santos Shady Silver Springs Sparr Summerfield Weirsdale Zuber Footnotes ‡ This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties State of Florida Tallahassee ( capital ) Topics Climate Delegations Environment Geography Geology Government History Law Media Newspapers Radio TV State parks Symbols Flag Seal Tourist attractions Transportation Seal of Florida Society Floridians Culture Crime Demographics Economy Education Politics Sports Regions Big Bend Central Florida Emerald Coast First Coast Florida Heartland Florida Keys Florida Panhandle Forgotten Coast Glades Gold Coast Halifax area Nature Coast North Central Florida North Florida South Florida Southwest Florida Space Coast Suncoast Tampa Bay Area Treasure Coast Metro areas Cape Coral -- Fort Myers Deltona -- Daytona Beach -- Ormond Beach Fort Walton Beach -- Crestview -- Destin Gainesville Jacksonville Lakeland -- Winter Haven Miami -- Fort Lauderdale -- Pompano Beach Naples -- Marco Island North Port -- Bradenton -- Sarasota Ocala Orlando -- Kissimmee -- Sanford Palm Bay -- Melbourne -- Titusville West Palm Beach - Boca Raton Panama City -- Lynn Haven -- Panama City Beach Pensacola -- Ferry Pass -- Brent Port St. Lucie Punta Gorda Sebastian -- Vero Beach Tallahassee Tampa - St. Petersburg -- Clearwater Largest cities Jacksonville Miami Tampa Orlando St. Petersburg Hialeah Tallahassee Port St. Lucie Fort Lauderdale West Palm Beach Cape Coral Pembroke Pines Hollywood Counties Alachua Baker Bay Bradford Brevard Broward Calhoun Charlotte Citrus Clay Collier Columbia DeSoto Dixie Duval Escambia Flagler Franklin Gadsden Gilchrist Glades Gulf Hamilton Hardee Hendry Hernando Highlands Hillsborough Holmes Indian River Jackson Jefferson Lafayette Lake Lee Leon Levy Liberty Madison Manatee Marion Martin Miami ‐ Dade Monroe Nassau Okaloosa Okeechobee Orange Osceola Palm Beach Pasco Pinellas Polk Putnam Santa Rosa Sarasota Seminole St. Johns St. Lucie Sumter Suwannee Taylor Union Volusia Wakulla Walton Washington Former counties Mosquito VIAF : 234784195 LCCN : n81118463 GND : 4831018 - 9 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ocala,_Florida&oldid=831903348 '' Categories : Ocala, Florida Cities in Florida Cities in Marion County, Florida County seats in Florida Populated places established in 1836 1836 establishments in Florida Territory Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Coordinates on Wikidata All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from September 2014 Articles with unsourced statements from June 2017 Pages using div col with deprecated parameters Articles needing additional references from August 2011 All articles needing additional references Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikivoyage تۆرکجه Bân - lâm - gú Català Cebuano Deutsch Español Euskara فارسی Français 한국어 Ido Italiano Kreyòl ayisyen Nederlands नेपाल भाषा 日本 語 Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча Polski Português Русский Simple English Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Svenska Türkçe Українська اردو Volapük Winaray 中文 22 more Edit links This page was last edited on 22 March 2018, at 19 : 11. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: where is ocala in the state of florida
Answer: in Northern Florida