Ocala ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Marion County within the

northern Northern may refer to the following: Geography * North, a point in direction * Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe * Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States * Northern Province, Sri Lanka * Northern Range, a ra ...

region of Florida, United States. As of the

2020 United States Census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...

, the city's population was 63,591, making it the 54th most populated city in Florida. Home to over 400 thoroughbred farms and training centers, Ocala was officially named the Horse Capital of the World in 2007. Notable attractions include the Ocala National Forest, Silver Springs State Park, Rainbow Springs State Park, and the College of Central Florida. Ocala is the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2017 population of 354,353.

History

Ocala is located near what is thought to have been the site of '' Ocale'' or Ocali, a major Timucua village and chiefdom recorded in the 16th century. The modern city takes its name from the historical village, the name of which is believed to mean "Big Hammock" in the Timucua language. The Spaniard

Hernando de Soto Hernando de Soto (; ; 1500 – 21 May, 1542) was a Spanish explorer and '' conquistador'' who was involved in expeditions in Nicaragua and the Yucatan Peninsula. He played an important role in Francisco Pizarro's conquest of the Inca Empire ...

's expedition recorded Ocale in 1539 during his exploration through what is today the southeastern United States. Ocale is not mentioned in later Spanish accounts; it appears to have been abandoned in the wake of de Soto's attack. In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Creek people and other Native Americans, and free and fugitive African Americans sought refuge in Florida. The Seminole people formed. After foreign colonial rule shifted between Spain and Great Britain and back again, in 1821 the United States acquired the territory of Florida. After warfare to the north, in 1827 the U.S. Army built Fort King near the present site of Ocala as a buffer between the Seminole, who had long occupied the area, and white settlers moving into the region. The fort was an important base during the

Second Seminole War The Second Seminole War, also known as the Florida War, was a conflict from 1835 to 1842 in Florida between the United States and groups collectively known as Seminoles, consisting of Native Americans in the United States, Native Americans and ...

and later served in 1844 as the first courthouse for Marion County. The modern city of Ocala, which was established in 1849, developed around the fort site. Greater Ocala is known as the "Kingdom of the Sun".

Plantations A plantation is an agricultural estate, generally centered on a plantation house, meant for farming that specializes in cash crops, usually mainly planted with a single crop, with perhaps ancillary areas for vegetables for eating and so on. The ...

and other agricultural development dependent on

slave Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...

labor were prevalent in the region. Ocala was an important center of citrus production until the

Great Freeze The Great Freeze is the back-to-back freezes of 1894–1895 in Northern Florida, where the brutally cold weather destroyed much of the citrus crop. Entire communities, such as Earnestville, faded after the citrus crops and trees were lost to th ...

of 1894–1895. During the

Reconstruction era The Reconstruction era was a period in American history following the American Civil War (1861–1865) and lasting until approximately the Compromise of 1877. During Reconstruction, attempts were made to rebuild the country after the bloo ...

Ocala was represented by several African Americans in the Florida House of Representstives and on the local level.

Rail service Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...

reached Ocala in June 1881, encouraging economic development with greater access to markets for produce. Two years later, much of the Ocala downtown area was destroyed by fire on Thanksgiving Day, 1883. The city encouraged rebuilding with

brick A brick is a type of block used to build walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction. Properly, the term ''brick'' denotes a block composed of dried clay, but is now also used informally to denote other chemically cured cons ...

, granite and

steel Steel is an alloy made up of iron with added carbon to improve its strength and fracture resistance compared to other forms of iron. Many other elements may be present or added. Stainless steels that are corrosion- and oxidation-resistant ty ...

rather than lumber. By 1888, Ocala was known statewide as "The Brick City". In December 1890, the Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union, a forerunner of the Populist Party, held its national convention in Ocala. At the convention, the Alliance adopted a platform that would become known as the " Ocala Demands". This platform included abolition of national banks, promoting low-interest government loans, free and unlimited coinage of silver, reclamation of excess railroad lands by the government, a graduated income tax, and direct election of United States senators. Most of the "Ocala Demands" were to become part of the Populist Party platform.

Late 20th-century establishment as horse capital

The first thoroughbred horse farm in Florida was developed in Marion County in 1943 by

Carl G. Rose Carl may refer to: *Carl, Georgia, city in USA *Carl, West Virginia, an unincorporated community *Carl (name), includes info about the name, variations of the name, and a list of people with the name *Carl², a TV series * "Carl", an episode of tel ...

. Other farms were developed, making Ocala the center of a horse-breeding area. Local horses have won individual races of the Triple Crown series; in 1978, Affirmed, who was bred and trained in Marion County, won all three races, boosting interest in the industry there. Ocala is one of only five cities (four in the US and one in France) permitted under

Chamber of Commerce A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to ad ...

guidelines to use the title, "Horse Capital of the World", based on annual revenue produced by the horse industry. 44,000 jobs are sustained by breeding, training, and related support of the equine industry, which generates over $2.2 billion in annual revenue. Postime Farms and Ocala serve as host to one of the largest horse shows in the country: H.I.T.S or "Horses in the Sun", a

Dressage Dressage ( or ; a French term, most commonly translated to mean "training") is a form of horse riding performed in exhibition and competition, as well as an art sometimes pursued solely for the sake of mastery. As an equestrian sport defined b ...

/Jumper event lasting about two months. It generates some 6 to 7 million dollars for the local Marion County economy each year. The show features classes for over 100 different breeds, including

Tennessee Walker The Tennessee Walking Horse or Tennessee Walker is a breed of gaited horse known for its unique four-beat running-walk and flashy movement. It was originally developed as a riding horse on farms and plantations in the American South. It is a ...

, Paso Fino,

Morgan horse The Morgan horse is one of the earliest horse breeds developed in the United States. Tracing back to the foundation sire Figure, later named Justin Morgan after his best-known owner, Morgans served many roles in 19th-century American histo ...

Saddlebred The American Saddlebred is a horse breed from the United States. This breed is referred to as the "Horse America Made". Descended from riding-type horses bred at the time of the American Revolution, the American Saddlebred includes the Nar ...

, Draft horse and the

American Quarter Horse The American Quarter Horse, or Quarter Horse, is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name is derived from its ability to outrun other horse breeds in races of a quarter mile or less; some have been clocked at s ...

. Other equine events in the area include mounted shooting by the Florida Outlaws, as well as endurance rides, barrel races, extreme cowboy events, jumper shows, trick shows, parades, draft pulls, rodeo events and more.

Growth

In the last decades of the twentieth century, the greater Ocala area had one of the highest growth rates in the country for a city its size. The population of Marion County in 2000 was more than 250,000, up from under 100,000 in 1975.

Ocala Historic District

Many historic homes are preserved in Ocala's large residential

Historic District A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries or jurisdictions, historic districts receive legal protection from c ...

, designated in 1984. East Fort King Street features many excellent examples of Victorian architecture. Ocala structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places include the Coca-Cola Building, the E. C. Smith House, East Hall, the Marion Hotel, Mount Zion A.M.E. Church, the Ritz Historic Inn, and Union Train Station. The original Fort King site was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2004.

Government and politics

Ocala is governed by a five-member board of councillors and a mayor, all of which are elected on a nonpartisan basis. It has a council-manager form of government, relying on a manager hired by the city. The mayor sets policy but has few powers other than vetoing legislation passed by the council and tending to some duties involving the police department. The current mayor is Kent Guinn. The city manager handles most administrative and financial matters. A number of county offices are housed at the McPherson Governmental Complex. As of 2020, Republicans outnumber Democrats in Marion County, 112,000 to 80,000. In the 2008 presidential election,

John McCain John Sidney McCain III (August 29, 1936 – August 25, 2018) was an American politician and United States Navy officer who served as a United States senator from Arizona from 1987 until his death in 2018. He previously served two terms ...

carried both the city and the county, the latter by a landslide, although Florida as a whole voted for Democrat Barack Obama by a narrow margin.

Geography

Silver Springs State Park - Silver River Museum Entrance Sign

Ocala is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land. The surrounding farms are famous for their thoroughbred horses, in terrain similar to Kentucky bluegrass. Ocala is also known for nearby Silver Springs, site of one of the largest

artesian Artesian may refer to: * Someone from the County of Artois * Artesian aquifer, a source of water * Artesian Builds, a former computer building company * Artesian, South Dakota, United States * Great Artesian Basin, Australia * The Artesian Hotel ...

spring formations in the world and

Silver Springs Nature Theme Park Silver Springs is a group of artesian springs that feed into the Silver River in Marion County, Florida. It is the largest artesian spring in the world and the site of the oldest commercial tourist attraction in Florida, and was designated a Nat ...

, one of the earliest tourist attractions in Florida. The long Ocklawaha River passes east of Ocala, flowing north from Central Florida until it joins the

St. Johns River The St. Johns River ( es, Río San Juan) is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant one for commercial and recreational use. At long, it flows north and winds through or borders twelve counties. The drop in eleva ...

near Palatka. Marion County is also home to the Ocala National Forest which was established in 1908 and is now the second largest national forest in the state. The

Florida Trail The Florida Trail is one of eleven National Scenic Trails in the United States. It currently runs , from Big Cypress National Preserve (between Miami and Naples, Florida along the Tamiami Trail) to Fort Pickens at Gulf Islands National Seashore, ...

, also known as the Florida National Scenic Trail, cuts through Ocala National Forest. Silver Springs State Park was formed as Silver River State Park in 1987, out of land the state purchased around the Silver Springs attraction to spare it from development. The state took over Silver Springs itself in 1993 and incorporated it into the park in 2013.

Climate

Ocala has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...

( ''Cfa''), with hot, humid summers and mild winters.

Demographics

As of the 2010 through 2014 census, Ocala was 63.3% non Hispanic white, 20.4% African American, 11.7% Hispanic or Latino, 2.6% Asian, 2% all other. As of the census of 2000, there were 45,943 people, 18,646 households, and 11,280 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 20,501 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 72.9% White, 22.1% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.2%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 5.7% of the population. There were 18,646 households. 40.9% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.91. In the city the population was spread out, with 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% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.

Economy

The median income for a household in the city was $30,888, and the median income for a family was $38,190. Males had a median income of $29,739 versus $24,367 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,021. About 13.2% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over. Ocala is the headquarters of Emergency One, a worldwide designer and manufacturer of fire rescue vehicles.

Top employers

According to Ocala's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Education

The public schools in Ocala are run by the Marion County School Board. There are 30 elementary, ten middle and ten public high schools in Marion County, which include the following schools in Ocala: *

Elementary school A primary school (in Ireland, the United Kingdom, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, and South Africa), junior school (in Australia), elementary school or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ed ...

s :*Anthony Elementary School :*College Park :*Dr. N. H. Jones :*Eighth Street :*Evergreen :*Greenway :*Ward-Highlands :*Wyomina Park :*Emerald Shores Elementary School :*Fessenden Elementary School :*Fort McCoy School (K–8) :*Hammett Bowen Jr. Elementary School :*Madison Street Academy of Visual and Performing Arts (Magnet) :*Maplewood Elementary School :*Marion Oaks Elementary School :*Oakcrest Elementary School :*Ocala Springs Elementary School :*Reddick-Collier Elementary School :*Saddlewood Elementary School :*Shady Hill Elementary School :*South Ocala Elementary School :*Sparr Elementary School :*Sunrise Elementary School * Middle schools :*Fort King :*

Howard Howard is an English-language given name originating from Old French Huard (or Houard) from a Germanic source similar to Old High German ''*Hugihard'' "heart-brave", or ''*Hoh-ward'', literally "high defender; chief guardian". It is also probabl ...

:*Liberty Middle School :*Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks (5–8) :*Osceola Middle School :*North Marion Middle School * High schools :* Forest :*

Marion Technical Institute Marion Technical Institute (MTI) is Marion County's vocational school that offers 9 on-campus academies and coenrollment opportunities while students still earn their high school diploma A high school diploma or high school degree is a North Am ...

:* Vanguard :* West Port :*

Francis Marion Military Academy Francis may refer to: People *Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State and Bishop of Rome *Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters *Francis (surname) Places *Rural Mu ...

(now closed) :* North Marion High School :* Lake Weir High School * Private schools :*Ambleside School Of Ocala grades K–8 :*Blessed Trinity School grades K–9 :*Children's Palace East & Academy grades K–2 :*The Cornerstone School grades PK–8 :*Crossroads Academy grades 3–12 :*Grace Academy Grades K–2 :*Grace Christian School grades PK–8 :*Meadowbrook Academy grades K–12 :*Montessori Preparatory School grades K–5 :*New Generation School grades K–12 :*Ocala Christian Academy grades PK–12 :*Ocean's High School grades PK–12 :*Promiseland Academy grades K–7 :*First Assembly Christian School grades K–12 :*The Reading Clinic grades 2–6 :*Redeemer Christian School grades K3–12 :*The Rock Academy grades PK–9 :*The School of the Kingdom grades 1–12 :*Shiloh SDA Church School :*Belleview Christian Academy grades PK–12 :*St John Lutheran School grades PK–12 :* Trinity Catholic grades 9–12

Colleges and universities

Ocala is home to the College of Central Florida, a member of the Florida College System, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. CF offers bachelor's degrees in Business and Organizational Management, Early Childhood Education, and Nursing, as well as associate degrees and certificates. The college offers specialty programs in equine studies, agribusiness, and logistics and supply chain management. It also has one of 21 campuses of

Rasmussen College Rasmussen University is a private for-profit university with multiple locations throughout the United States. It offers associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees at 23 campuses in Minnesota, Illinois, North Dakota, Florida, Wisconsin ...

, a Higher Learning Commission regionally accredited post secondary institution. Webster University offers on-site, regionally accredited graduate degree programs in business and counseling at their Ocala Metropolitan Campus.

Libraries

Three of the eight libraries in the

Marion County Public Library System The Marion County Public Library System serves Marion County, Florida (located in central Florida) through eight library locations in the county. History The first circulating library in Ocala, Florida, Ocala opened in 1886 and was located in th ...

are located in Ocala. Those three libraries are: * Freedom Public Library * Marion Oaks Public Library * Ocala Public Library – Headquarters for the Marion County Public Library System.

Sister cities

Ocala has two sister cities: * Newbridge, County Kildare, in Ireland (2008) *

Pisa Pisa ( , or ) is a city and ''comune'' in Tuscany, central Italy, straddling the Arno just before it empties into the Ligurian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa. Although Pisa is known worldwide for its leaning tower, the cit ...

and San Rossore in Italy (2004)

Transportation

Major roads

Several major highways pass through Ocala, including Interstate 75,

U.S. Highway 27 U.S. Route 27 (US 27) is a north–south United States Highway in the southern and midwestern United States. The southern terminus is at US 1 in Miami, Florida. The northern terminus is at Interstate 69 (I-69) in Fort Wayne, Indiana. F ...

U.S. Route 301 U.S. Route 301 (US 301) is a spur of U.S. Route 1 running through the South Atlantic States. It runs from Biddles Corner, Delaware at Delaware Route 1 to Sarasota, Florida at U.S. Route 41. It passes through the states of Delaware, Mar ...

, and

U.S. Highway 441 U.S. Route 441 (US 441) is a auxiliary route of U.S. Route 41. It extends from US 41 in Miami, Florida to U.S. Route 25W, US 25W in Rocky Top, Tennessee. Between its termini, US 441 travels through the states of Florida, ...

. Ocala was on the western leg of the historic Dixie Highway. * Interstate 75 runs 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). *

U.S. Route 27 U.S. Route 27 (US 27) is a north–south United States Highway in the southern and midwestern United States. The southern terminus is at US 1 in Miami, Florida. The northern terminus is at Interstate 69 (I-69) in Fort Wayne, Indiana. F ...

runs north and south throughout Ocala. It is multiplexed with US 301 and 441 until it reaches SR 492(Northwest 10th Street), then makes a sharp turn onto NW 10th Street then curves northwest through Williston, Perry, Tallahassee, and beyond. *

is the main local north and south road through Ocala. It is multiplexed with US 27 until it reaches Northwest 10th Street, and with US 441 throughout the city. *

U.S. Route 441 U.S. Route 441 (US 441) is a auxiliary route of U.S. Route 41. It extends from US 41 in Miami, Florida to US 25W in Rocky Top, Tennessee. Between its termini, US 441 travels through the states of Florida, Georgia, North ...

is the main local north and south road through Ocala. It is multiplexed with US 27 until it reaches Northwest 10th Street, and with US 301 throughout the city. * State Road 492 runs east and west through the northern part of the city from the northern terminus of the US 27 multiplex with US 301–441 to SR 40 just southwest of the Silver Springs city limit. * State Road 40 runs east and west through Ocala. It spans from Rainbow Lakes Estates through Ocala National Forest to Ormond Beach in Volusia County, although a bi-county extension exists, spanning from Yankeetown in Levy County to Dunnellon, south of the western terminus of SR 40. * State Road 464 runs east and west from SR 200 through the southeastern part of the city. Beyond the city limits, it continues southeast towards State Road 35, and continues as County Road 464. * State Road 200 runs northeast and southwest from Hernando in Citrus County through US 27-301-441 where it becomes a "hidden state road" along US 301 until it reaches Callahan, and is multiplexed with SR A1A into Fernandina Beach.

Other transportation

Ocala International Airport provides general aviation services to the community.

Ocala Suntran The Ocala SunTran is the public transportation agency that serves the Marion County, Florida. Service operates Monday through Saturday. Route list External links SunTran Bus System (Official Website) Bus transportation in Florida Transpo ...

provides bus service throughout select parts of the city. One of the major hubs for Suntran is the former Ocala Union Station, which served Amtrak trains until November 2004. Amtrak serves Ocala by bus connection to Jacksonville and Lakeland. Ocala is also served by Greyhound Bus Lines. Marion Transit is the complementary ADA paratransit service for SunTran the fixed route in the City of Ocala. Marion Transit was established in 1976 and operates paratransit buses providing public transportation throughout Marion County for the Transportation Disadvantaged population.

Notable people

Antonio Allen Antonio Allen (born September 23, 1988) is a former American football free safety. Allen was drafted by the New York Jets in the seventh round, 242nd overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft. He played college football at South Carolina. Early yea ...

, NFL player *

Arthur I. Appleton Arthur Ivar Appleton (October 14, 1915 – January 15, 2008) was a businessman from the Northbrook area of Chicago. He lived part of the year in Chicago and split time between his Indian Creek estate near Miami Beach, Florida, and his thoroughbre ...

, businessman, racehorse owner * Elizabeth Ashley, actress *

Tony Beckham Antonio Dwight Beckham (born October 1, 1978) is a former American football cornerback. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in ...

, NFL cornerback *

Thelma Berlack Boozer Thelma Edna Berlack Boozer (September 26, 1906 – March 6, 2001) was an American journalist, publicist, and city official in New York. Early life and education Thelma Edna Berlack was born in Ocala, Florida, the daughter of Leonard Berlack and Sa ...

, journalist, publicist *

Brittany Bowe Brittany Starr Bowe (born February 24, 1988) is an American speed skater and former inline skater and basketball player. She has eight gold, one silver, and two bronze medals from the world inline speedskating championships. From her junior years, ...

, Olympic speed skater *

Emery N. Brown Emery Neal Brown (born 1957) is an American statistician, neuroscientist, and anesthesiologist. He is the Warren M. Zapol Professor of Anesthesia at Harvard Medical School and at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), and a practicing anesthesio ...

, Anesthesiologist and Neuroscientist *

Farris Bryant Cecil Farris Bryant (July 26, 1914 – March 1, 2002) was an American politician serving as the 34th Governor of Florida. He also served on the United States National Security Council as director of the Office of Emergency Planning during t ...

, former Governor *

Daunte Culpepper Daunte Rachard Culpepper (born January 28, 1977) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons, primarily with the Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at UCF and was selected ...

, NFL quarterback *

James Dean James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931September 30, 1955) was an American actor. He is remembered as a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment and social estrangement, as expressed in the title of his most celebrated film, ''Rebel Without a Cause' ...

, first African-American judge in Florida *

Caydee Denney Caydee Christine Denney (born June 22, 1993) is an American former competitive pair skater. With John Coughlin, she is the 2012 Four Continents silver medalist and 2012 U.S. national champion. With former partner Jeremy Barrett, Denney is the ...

, figure skater *

Haven Denney Haven Denney (born October 28, 1995) is an American pair skater. With former partner, Brandon Frazier, she is a two-time Skate America silver medalist (2014, 2016), the 2014 CS Lombardia Trophy champion, the 2013 World Junior champion, and the ...

, figure skater *

Drayton Florence Drayton Florence, Jr. (born December 19, 1980) is a former American football cornerback who played eleven seasons in the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played coll ...

, NFL cornerback * Dory Funk Jr., professional wrestler *

Don Garlits Donald Glenn Garlits (born January 14, 1932, Tampa, Florida) is an American race car driver and automotive engineer. Considered the father of drag racing, he is known as "Big Daddy" to drag racing fans around the world. A pioneer in the field o ...

, professional drag racer * Santana Garrett, professional wrestler *

Joey Gilmore Joshua Gilmore (born July 6, 1944), better known as Joey, is an American electric blues and soul blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He has shared the stage with James Brown, Etta James, Bobby Bland, Little Milton, and Little Johnny Taylor ...

, blues musician * Troy Glaus, former Major League Baseball player * Mitch Harris, Major League Baseball pitcher *

Josh Hart (racer) Josh Hart (born September 16, 1983) is an American self made entrepreneur, owner of Burnyzz Speed Shop in Ocala, Florida and owner/driver of the R+L Carriers / TechNet Professional NHRA Top Fuel Dragster in the Camping World NHRA Drag Racing S ...

, professional drag racer *

Erin Jackson Erin Jackson (born September 19, 1992) is an American speed skater, roller derby player, and Olympic gold medalist. Jackson is the first Black woman to win a Winter Olympic gold medal in an individual sport. She qualified for The World Games 201 ...

, Olympic gold medalist speed skater * Lee James, Olympic weightlifter 1976 silver medalist * Val James, professional ice hockey player * Eddie Johnson, NBA basketball player * Frank Johnson, NBA basketball player * John R. MacDougall, broadcast hijacker best known for the

Captain Midnight broadcast signal intrusion On April 27, 1986, American electrical engineer and business owner John R. MacDougall (using the pseudonym "Captain Midnight") jammed the Home Box Office (HBO) satellite signal on Galaxy 1 during a showing of the film ''The Falcon and the Sn ...

Buddy MacKay Kenneth Hood "Buddy" MacKay Jr. (born March 22, 1933) is an American politician and diplomat who served as the 42nd governor of Florida for 24 days from December 1998 to January 1999, upon the death of Lawton Chiles. A member of the Democratic P ...

, former governor of Florida * Travis Mays, NBA basketball player *

Jeremy McKinnon Jeremy Wade McKinnon (born December 17, 1985) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer, best known as a founding member and the lead vocalist of A Day to Remember. He has produced full-length albums for The Ghost Inside, Neck Dee ...

, musician *

Chris Meffert John Christian "Chris" Meffert (August 11, 1943 – November 13, 2014) was an American lawyer and politician. Born in Ocala, Florida, Meffert graduated from Ocala High School. He then received his bachelor's degree from Florida State Univer ...

, politician * James Melton, opera singer *

Eugene Milton Eugene (Gene) Milton (born September 28, 1944) is a former American football wide receiver and kick returner. Milton was born on September 28, 1944 in Ocala, Florida and attended segregated Howard High School, where he set numerous Florida Int ...

, NFL football player * Maxey Dell Moody, businessman *

Slomon Moody Slomon William Moody (February 16, 1834 – March 20, 1898), also known as S. W. Moody, Sloman Moody, or Dr. Moody, was a physician, farmer, and city treasurer of Ocala, Florida. Slomon was one of Ocala's first physicians and settlers of the town. ...

, physician and farmer * Steve Morse, composer/guitarist *

Reid Nichols Thomas Reid Nichols (born August 5, 1958) is a former outfielder and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Boston Red Sox (1980–1985), Chicago White Sox (1985–1986), and Montreal Expos (1987). Listed at and , he batted and ...

, Major League Baseball player *

Martha O'Driscoll Martha O'Driscoll (March 4, 1922 – November 3, 1998) was an American film actress from 1937 until 1947. She retired from the screen in 1947 after marrying her second husband, Arthur I. Appleton, president of Appleton Electric Company in Chic ...

, actress * Patrick O'Neal, actor *

Ted Potter Jr. Ted Potter Jr. (born November 9, 1983), official name Theodore Charles Potter Jr., is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. He is a left-handed golfer, but is naturally right-handed. He is a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, hav ...

, professional golfer * Kelly Preston, actress *

Jason Schappert Jason Schappert is an American pilot and entrepreneur. Schappert is a CFII and ATP rated pilot, founder of MzeroA.com, and author of eight aviation flight training books. Schappert was named AOPA's Top Collegiate Flight Instructor in 2008, Outs ...

, flight instructor * Elisa Rae Shupe, US Army sergeant, first in the US to obtain legal recognition of a non-binary gender *

Lamar Thomas Lamar Nathaniel Thomas (born February 12, 1970 in Ocala, Florida) is a former American football Wide Receiver and current Wide Receivers coach for the Orlando Guardians of the XFL. College career Thomas played college football and college bas ...

, NFL player and commentator *

Mava Lee Thomas Mava Lee Thomas ��′Tommie′′(September 1, 1929 – August 6, 2013) was an infielder and catcher who played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. She was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed. Born in Ocala, Florida, ...

, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player *

John Travolta John Joseph Travolta (born February 18, 1954) is an American actor. He came to public attention during the 1970s, appearing on the television sitcom ''Welcome Back, Kotter'' (1975–1979) and starring in the box office successes ''Carrie'' (19 ...

, actor * Jim Williams, former lieutenant governor of Florida *

P. J. Williams Kenneth Lamar "P. J." Williams (born June 1, 1993) is an American football free safety for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida State. He was the Defensive MVP of the 2014 BCS Nation ...

, NFL cornerback for the New Orleans Saints *

Walter Ray Williams Jr. Walter Ray Williams Jr. (born October 6, 1959) is an American professional bowler and competitive horseshoes pitcher. He currently holds the record for all-time standard PBA Tour career titles (47) and total PBA earnings (over $4.9 million throu ...

, professional PBA bowler *

Tyrone Young Tyrone Donnive Young (April 29, 1960 – October 15, 2015) was an American college and professional American football, football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for two seasons during the 1980s. Young played ...

, NFL wide receiver

Notable musical groups

A Day to Remember A Day to Remember (often abbreviated ADTR, and previously known as End of an Era) is an American rock band from Ocala, Florida, founded in 2003 by guitarist Tom Denney and drummer Bobby Scruggs. They are known for their amalgamation of meta ...

, pop-punk/metalcore band * The Royal Guardsmen, band originating in the 1960s * Seventh Star, Christian metalcore band * Wage War, metalcore band * Underoath, metalcore band