Ocala ( oh- KAL -? ) is located in Marion County, Florida, which is part of the northern part of the state. At the 2013 census, its population, estimated by the US Census Bureau, is 57,468, making it the 45th most populated city in Florida.
This is the seat of Marion County and the main city of Ocala, the Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has an estimated 2013 population of 337,362.
Video Ocala, Florida
History
Archaeological investigations have revealed that the area was inhabited by indigenous cultures since 6500 BC, and there were two long periods of occupation. The second lasted up to 500 A. In early historical times, Timucua inhabited the area.
Ocala is located near what is considered an Ocale location or Ocali, a major village of Timucua and the main area recorded in the 16th century. The modern city takes its name from a historic village, a name believed to mean "Big Hammock" in Timucua. The Spanish Hernandio de Soto expedition recorded the Ocale in 1539 during his explorations through what is now called the southeastern United States. Ocale is not mentioned in later Spanish accounts; seems to have been left behind the de Soto attack.
By the end of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the people of Creek and other Native Americans, and African Americans were free and fugitive seeking refuge in Florida. Seminole people are formed. After a foreign colonial government shifted between Spain and Great Britain and back again, in 1821 the United States acquired the territory of Florida. After the war to the north, in 1827 the US Army built Fort King near the present location of Ocala as a buffer between Seminole, which had long occupied the area, and white settlers moved into the area. The fort was an important base during the Second Seminole War and then served in 1844 as the first courthouse for Marion County.
The modern city of Ocala, founded in 1849, developed around the site of the castle. Greater Ocala is known as the "Kingdom of the Sun". Plantations and other agricultural development depend on forced labor that is prevalent in the region. Ocala was an important center of citrus production until the Great Freeze of 1894-1895.
The rail service reached Ocala in June 1881, encouraging economic development with greater access to markets for products. Two years later, most of the downtown area of ​​Ocala was destroyed by fire on Thanksgiving Day, 1883. The city encouraged rebuilding with bricks, granite and steel rather than wood. In 1888, Ocala was known throughout the state as "The Brick City".
In December 1890, the Farmers' and Industrial Union Alliance, the pioneer of the Populist Party, held its national convention in Ocala. At the convention, the Alliance adopted a platform to be known as the "Ocala Demand". This platform includes the removal of national banks, promoting low-interest government loans, free and unlimited silver coins, over-government railway reclamation, tiered income tax, and direct election of US senators. Most of the "Ocala demands" are part of the Populist Party platform.
the founding of the 20th century as horse capital
The first horse racing horse farm in Florida was developed at Marion County in 1943 by Carl G. Rose. Another farm was developed, making Ocala the center of the horse farm area. Local horses have won an individual race from the Triple Crown series; in 1978 Affirmed, raised and trained in Marion County, winning all three races, raising interest in the industry here.
Ocala is one of only five cities (four in the US and one in France) allowed under the Chamber of Commerce guidelines to use the title, "The Capital of the World Horse", based on the annual revenue generated by the horse industry. 44,000 jobs are supported by breeding, training, and related support from the horse industry, which generates over $ 2.2 billion in annual revenue. Postime Farms and Ocala serve as hosts for one of the country's biggest horse shows: H.I.T.S or "Horses in the Sun", a Dressage/Jumper event that lasts about two months. It generates about 6 to 7 million dollars to Marion County's local economy each year. The show features classes for over 100 different races, including Tennessee Walker, Paso Fino, Morgan horses, SaddleBred, Draft horses and the American Quarter Horse. Other horse shows in this area include the Florida Outlaws cowboy shooting, as well as endurance races, barrel races, cowboy events "extreme", jumper shows, fake shows, parades, draft thrusts, rodeo shows, and more.
Growth
In the last decade of the 20th century, the larger Ocala area has one of the highest growth rates in the country for a city of its size. Marion County population in 2000 was over 250,000, up from less than 100,000 in 1975.
Ocala Historic District
Many historic homes are preserved in the large residential Historic District of Ocala, set in 1984. East Fort King Street features many excellent examples of Victorian-style architecture. Ocala Structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places including the Coca Cola Building, E. C. Smith's House, East Hall, Marion Hotel, Mount Zion A.M.E. Church, Ritz Historic Inn, and Union Train Station.
The original Fort King site was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2004.
Maps Ocala, Florida
Government and politics
Ocala is governed by five councilors and mayors, all of whom are elected on a non-partisan basis. It has a council-manager form of government, relying on a manager hired by the city. The mayor establishes a policy but has several powers besides vetoing laws passed by the council and taking care of some tasks involving the police department. The city manager handles most of the administrative and financial issues.
Although a small percentage of registered voters of the city are Democrats, Ocala voters have chosen many Republican members to office. Many conservative whites have shifted to Republicans since the late 20th century. In the 2008 presidential election, John McCain brought both the city and the county, the latter with a landslide, although Florida as a whole voted Democrat Barack Obama a narrow margin.
Geography
Ocala is located on 29Ã, Â ° 11? 16? N 82Ã, Â ° 07? 50? W .
According to the US Census Bureau, the city has a total area of ​​38.63 square miles (100.1 km 2 ), all land. The surrounding farms are famous for their horses, in a field similar to Kentucky bluegrass. Ocala is also known as Silver Springs, Florida, the site of one of the largest artesian spring formations in the world and the Silver Springs Nature Theme Park, one of Florida's earliest attractions.
The 110-mile (180 km) Ocklawaha River flows north from Central Florida to join the River St. Johns near Palatka, Florida.
Marion County is also home to the Ocala National Forest which was established in 1908 and is now the nation's second largest forest in the state. The Florida Trail, also known as the Florida National Landscape Trail, cuts through the Ocala National Forest. Silver Springs State Park was formed as Silver River State Park in 1987, from state land purchased around Silver Springs attractions to keep it from development. The State took over Silver Springs himself in 1993 and put it into the park in 2013.
Climate
Ocala has two distinct seasons: the dry season (October-May) and the rainy season (June-September). During the dry season, almost no sunlight is disturbed with very little rain. In January, low morning temperatures are often in their 30s and 40s, but clear, cloudless weather usually warms dry air to close to 70 in the afternoon. During the rainy season, the afternoon lightning storm is a daily occurrence. This storm is often severe (unofficially, Ocala is known to have more cloud-to-earth lightning per square mile than any other city in the world). The low morning temperatures during the rainy season are in the 70s and the typical daytime high temperatures were in the 90s. Because the city is relatively far away from the moderating influences of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, Ocala high summer temperatures are often the highest in the state while winter night temperatures are often the lowest in comparison with other cities on the peninsula.
Demographics
In the 2010 to 2014 census, Ocala is 63.3% not Hispanic whites, 20.4% African American, 11.7% Hispanic or Latin, 2.6% Asian, 2% others. In the 2000 census, there were 45,943 people, 18,646 households, and 11,280 families living in the city. Population density was 1,189.2 per square mile (459.2/km 2 ). There are 20,501 housing units with an average density of 530.7 per square mile (204.9/km 2 ). City's racial makeup is 72.86% White, 22.14% African American, 0.36% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Island, 1.81% of other races, and 1.59 % of two or more races. Hispanic or Latin of any race is 5.74% of the population.
There are 18,646 households. 40.9% are married couples who live together, 15.9% have married women without husband's presence, and 39.5% are non-family. 33.0% of all households are individuals and 15.0% have a single person who is 65 or older. The average household size is 2.29 and the average family size is 2.91.
In urban areas the population is spread by 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% 65-year-olds or more. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 women, there are 89.7 men. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there are 85.5 men.
Economy
The average income for households in the city is $ 30,888, and the average income for families is $ 38,190. Men have an average income of $ 29,739 compared to $ 24,367 for women. The per capita income for the city is $ 18,021. Approximately 13.2% of families and 18.1% of the population are below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under the age of 18 and 9.8% of those aged 65 and older.
Ocala is the headquarters of Emergency One, the designer and manufacturer of fire rescue vehicles around the world.
Top entrepreneurs
According to Ocala's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of 2016, the top companies in the city are:
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 schools, ten high schools and ten public high schools in Marion County, which include the following schools in Ocala:
- Primary school
- High school
- High School
- Private school
Colleges and universities
Ocala is home to the College of Central Florida, a member of the Florida College System, accredited by the South High School Association and School Commissions at High School. The CF offers bachelor's degrees in Business and Organizational Management, Early Childhood Education, and Nursing, as well as degree of association and certificate. Colleges offer specialized courses in horses, agribusiness, and logistics studies. It also has one of 21 campuses from Rasmussen College, a Higher Learning Commission that is regionally accredited after a secondary institution. Webster University offers a regional accredited graduate degree program in business and counseling at the Metropolitan Ocala Campus.
Library
Three of the eight libraries in Marion County Public Library System are located in Ocala. The three libraries are:
- Freedom Public Library
- Marion Oaks Public Library
- Ocala Public Library - Headquarters for Marion County Public Library System.
All-America City
In 1995, Ocala was named the winner of the All-America City Award.
Twin Cities
Ocala has two twin cities:
- Newbridge, County Kildare, in Ireland (2008)
- Pisa and San Rossore in Italy (2004)
Transportation
Main road
Several major highways pass through Ocala, including Interstate 75, US Highway 27, U.S. Route. 301, and US Highway 441. Ocala is at the western foot of the historic Dixie Highway. Interstate 75 extends 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).
Other transportation
Ocala International Airport provides public flight services to the public. Ocala Suntran provides bus services throughout selected parts of the city. One of the main centers for Suntran is the former Union Ocala Station, which serves the Amtrak train until November 2004. Amtrak serves Ocala with bus connections to Jacksonville and Lakeland. Ocala is also served by Greyhound Bus Lines.
Famous people
Famous bands
Pure art
- Ocala Symphony Orchestra
- Ocala City Theater
- Fine Arts for Ocala, Inc. (FAFO)
- Ocala Outdoor Statue Competition
- First Friday Art
West Port High School offers an art-affiliated magnet program known as the MCCA (Marion County Center for the Arts), and focuses on teaching students in art. This is one of the better known magnet art programs in Florida.
See also
- Appleton Art Museum
- Jumbolair
- List of sites and people visited by Hernando de Soto Expedition
- Ocala National Forest
- Star Banner
- Hebrew English from Ocala
- Sholom Park
References
External links
- Ocala City, Florida
- Historic Ocala Preservation Society
- Marion County Library System
- Ocala Banners, East Florida Banner, and Southern Sun , historical newspapers serving Ocala, Florida, full text and images openly online at Florida Digital Libraries Library
- Ocala/Marion Chamber of Commerce
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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