Community Description
Short Description: Ocala, the county seat of Marion County is 35 miles west of Gainesville is 35 miles east of Gainesville, 70 miles northwest of Orlando, 75 miles northeast of Tampa, and 65 miles due west of Daytona. This racehorse capital was established in February 1846. The Timucuan Indians were the first settlers in the area they named "Ocali”. The literal meaning of this Indian word is "heavily clouded."
Ocala is home of Florida's "original attraction," Silver Springs, home of jeep safari adventures and the world-famous glass-bottomed boats that were invented there in 1878. Downtown Ocala was destroyed by fire on Thanksgiving Day in 1883. The town's commercial center was rebuilt in brick, thus the city became known as "The Brick City." At the turn of the century, the city of Ocala covered four square miles and with a population of 4,700 and in the state only Jacksonville, Pensacola, Tampa and Key West were larger.
Local attractions include the Ocala historic district and the Tuscawilla Historic District, the 350-acre theme park, Silver Springs and the 9-acre Wild Waters theme parks.
Nearby communities include Silver Springs Shores (10 miles), Belleview (10 miles), Reddick (13.5 miles), Mcintosh (19 miles), The Villages (20.5 miles), Lady Lake (22.5 miles), Wildwood (23.5 miles) and East Williston (24 miles).
Population: 47,371
Year of Incorporation: 1885
Location: Central Florida
Median Home Price: $169,500
Tax Rate: 5.7784
Taxes Levied (per capita): $273.99
Total Area: 38 square miles
City Hall: City of Ocala
151 SE Osceola Ave, PO Box 1270
Ocala, FL 3478-1270
352.629.8401; 352.629.8391 Fax
Email Contact
Chamber of Commerce: Ocala-Marion County Chamber
110 E Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala, FL 34470-6613
352.629.8051; 352.629.7651 Fax
Email Contact
Ocala/Marion County Visitor's Center
110 East Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala, FL
352.629.8051 x 239
Library:
(Marion County Main Library)
2720 East Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala, FL 34470
352.671.8551
294 Marion Oaks Ln, Ocala, FL 34473
352.347.2179
5870 SW 95 St, Ocala, FL 34476
352.291.6040
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