| The City of Ocala is located in Marion County, Florida. | | | | include Emergency One (which manufactures fire |
| The city is also the county seat of Marion County. | | | | rescue vehicles), Closet Maid (producer of vinyl coated |
| The city's surrounding farms and residences are | | | | shelving), Cingular Wireless (call center), KMart |
| famous for their thoroughbred horses, and they have | | | | (distribution center), Mark IV (automotive hoses), |
| a terrain similar to Kentucky bluegrass. Ocala is also | | | | Lockheed Martin (circuit boards), Signature Brands |
| known for nearby Silver Springs, which is the site of | | | | (cake decoration manufacturer/Hero), Taylor, Bean |
| one of the largest artesian spring formations in the | | | | & Whitaker Mortgage Corp, as well as On Top of |
| world, and Silver Springs Nature Theme Park, which is | | | | the World Communities Inc. (an adult retirement |
| one of the earliest tourist attractions in Florida. | | | | community). |
| The city's median household is currently pegged at | | | | Ocala Is A Haven For Horse And Nature Lovers, As |
| $30,888, and the median income for a family was | | | | Well As Property Investors |
| $38,190. The per capita income for the city was | | | | The city prides itself as a perfect haven for horse |
| $18,021. Around 13.2% of families and 18.1% of the total | | | | lovers. The area is famed for its hundreds of fenced |
| population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% | | | | horse farms, lovely rolling terrain and thousands of |
| of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or | | | | acres of green pastures. The city is blessed with |
| over. | | | | adequate groundwater and has a limestone soil, which |
| Ocala Has Experienced Rapid Growth | | | | is good for farming. Along with having prolific blend of |
| Ocala began undergoing rapid economic growth in the | | | | year-round equine events, which include the famous |
| 1970s with the construction of the Interstate 75 and | | | | H.I.T.S. (Horses In The Sun) winter circuit and regular |
| the founding of Disney World. In the final decades of | | | | Ocala Breeders Sales, a lot of outdoor activities are in |
| the twentieth century, the metropolitan Ocala area has | | | | store for visitors and real estate investors. |
| seen one of the highest growth rates in the country | | | | Horseback riding is also a common activity here, with |
| for a city its size. | | | | access to the Cross-Florida Greenway and the Ocala |
| The population of Marion County in 2000 was over | | | | National Forest, which offer lots of trails for visitors. |
| 250,000, which was up from under 100,000 in 1975. | | | | Analysts estimate that the state's horse industry adds |
| Most of the county's growth is attributed to the city's | | | | a whopping $6 billion to the annual economy of Florida, |
| increasing popularity as a retirement destination, | | | | which has created an estimated 72,000 jobs. Property |
| particularly in two areas southwest and south of the | | | | analysts are also pointing out that the Ocala real |
| city. | | | | estate market is a thriving one, and is far from |
| In 1995, the city was named an All-America-City | | | | collapsing, as naysayers might forecast for other parts |
| winner. The city's major private-sector employers | | | | of the state. |