| Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. The county is | | | | traditional neighborhoods, gated subdivisions to |
| one of the major Thoroughbred centers of the world, | | | | sprawling retirement communities, those in search for |
| and has over 1,200 horse farms in total and about 600 | | | | homes can find it all in Marion County, specifically in |
| Thoroughbred farms. Ocala began undergoing rapid | | | | areas like Silver Springs Shores and Marion Oaks, |
| growth in the 1970s with the development of the | | | | which are older, more established residential |
| Interstate 75 and the construction of Disney World. | | | | communities and both are still experiencing growth. |
| In recent decades, the greater Ocala area | | | | Others areas like Fore Ranch and Heath Brook are |
| experienced one of the highest growth rates in the | | | | newer subdivisions. |
| country for a city its size. The population of the county | | | | The county's southern portion is also home to a |
| in 2000 was over 250,000, which was up from under | | | | section of the massive Villages retirement community, |
| 100,000 in 1975. A large part of the county's growth is | | | | along with several other gated retirement communities |
| attributed to the area's growing popularity as a | | | | nearby. Just west of the city, the State Road 200 |
| retirement haven, primarily in two areas southwest and | | | | corridor is also a retiree haven, with On Top of the |
| south of the city, which are the SR 200 corridor and | | | | World, and Oak Run to name a few. |
| The Villages, respectively. | | | | The City's Economy Is On The Upswing |
| Marion County Has Thriving Housing Market | | | | Ocala, as well as Marion County's economy has had |
| While the housing markets in the coastal areas and | | | | its ups and downs over the past decades, however, it |
| southern Florida have seen major declines, Marion | | | | still remains relatively strong. The area's economic |
| County, including Ocala, has seen positive values | | | | diversity helps to effectively insulate the area from the |
| maintained, however since most consumers are | | | | worst shocks. No single sector dominates the |
| looking at national and state numbers and are being a | | | | economy, which ranges between tourism, |
| bit cautious, these have quite affected the movement | | | | manufacturing, equine, construction, health care, retail |
| of home sales in this area. Marion County however, | | | | and service industries. |
| offers homes in a variety of price ranges, from | | | | Technology and a stable manufacturing industry sector |
| single-family starter homes to luxurious upper-end | | | | were major factors in the recent decision by |
| estates. | | | | California-based Milken Institute to rank Ocala as |
| According to housing observers, Ocala is a unique | | | | 2007's top city in the nation for job growth. The city's |
| place for those looking for a starter home or those | | | | median income for a household is $30,888, and the |
| wanting a second or third home. Home buyers coming | | | | median income for a family was $38,190. |
| to this place will find a wide array, ranging from | | | | |