About Ocala
Ocala welcomes you to come discover all this beautiful city has to offer. Ocala is the county seat to Marion County and is best known for its thoroughbred center. The downtown area has been undergoing revitalization for years now. Historic buildings and the local square are the most recent to be renovated, making the community an even more appealing place to call home. A drive through the historic district is sure to impress anyone with its preservation of Victorian homes and stately neighborhoods. Lovely homes in distinctive neighborhoods are scattered throughout the city with a price for every budget.
Marion County is known as the Horse Capital of the World, with more horses than any other county in the United States. Almost every breed of horse is represented here, throughout the miles and miles of horse farms that are used to breed, train and show champion horses. Ocala real estate contains some of the most beautiful horse farms in the world.
Population: 45,943
Median Household Income:
$34,900.00
Median Home Value:
$111,100.00
History of Ocala
The name Ocala derives from the Timucua word Ocali, which means Big Hammock. Ocala was founded in 1539 by Hernando de Soto, but was not established until 1846. Economic development was encouraged in June 1881, when the railroad reached Ocala. The town grew quickly but was destroyed by fire in 1883 on Thanksgiving Day. Ocala was quickly rebuilt with brick, steel and granite instead of lumber, which gave Ocala the nickname “The Brick City.” Ocala was a big part of citrus production until the Big Freeze of 1895. During the 1970s, Ocala saw rapid growth, Interstate 75 was developed and Disney World was funded. By 2000, the county had over 250,000 residents. Today, the area continues to grow with a stable economy, excellent quality of life, a pristine environment, an array of recreational activities and friendly residents on every corner.
Ocala Schools
Ocala real estate is served by the Marion County Schools system. The schools system is made up of 28 elementary schools, eight middle schools, one combination elementary/middle school, eight high schools, two charter schools and 14 special needs schools. Marion County Schools believes every child can learn if given the proper time and resources. The district provides excellent educational programs from early childhood through young adults.
For an alternative to public education, there are several private schools in the Ocala area. And, for higher educational needs, there are the Central Florida Community College, Webster University and St. Leo University. All of these schools are within ten miles of Ocala.
Ocala’s Climate
The area sees two very distinct seasons. One is dry and lasts from November through May and the other is wet lasting from June though October. The dry season sees lots of sunshine with very little rain. High temperatures during this season are often in the 70s and lows dip into the 40s. The wet season brings afternoon thunderstorms. High temperatures in this season often reach into the 90s, while lows are in the 70s. The location of Ocala in the central part of the state means the city sees more sunshine than any other city in the state. Ocala is also called “Kingdom of the Sun”.
Things to See and Do in Ocala
With a great subtropical climate like that of Ocala, residents and visitors alike spend as much time as possible outside. There are tons of places to go and things to do. Some outdoor activities include water sports, boating, fishing, swimming, kayaking and canoing. These recreational opportunities are plentiful since there are many lakes, streams and rivers, such as Withlacoochee River, Ocklawaha Lake, Juniper Springs and many more. The pure clean waters are perfect for water-lovers. Silver Springs Nature Theme Park is another popular spot for recreation. The park is the largest artesian spring system in the world. It’s made up of 350 acres of beautiful nature and is adjacent to Wild Waters water park. At the park, you’ll find glass-bottom boats offering views of the underwater life in the Silver Springs. You will also find the World of Bears and the Panther Prowl. The Panther Prowl is the largest exhibit in the world and gives you an opportunity to see the rare Florida panther up close.
The Ocala National Forest offers 389,000 acres of natural springs, walking trails, biking, camping and canoing for hours of outdoor fun. Other activities in the area include golf, play day at the park, a game of ball and walking trails. The list is endless. There are also plenty of hot spots for shopping and a restaurant to satisfy every taste-bud. Ocala is 45 minutes from the Gulf of Mexico, 1 hour 10 minutes to Daytona and 1 hour 15 minutes to all Disney World attractions, giving you even more recreational opportunities close by. Ocala real estate is the best place to call home.
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