The City of Ocala is located in Marion County, Florida. The city is also the county seat of Marion County.

The city's surrounding farms and residences are famous for their thoroughbred horses, and they have a terrain similar to Kentucky bluegrass. Ocala is also known for nearby Silver Springs, which is the site of one of the largest artesian spring formations in the world, and Silver Springs Nature Theme Park, which is one of the earliest tourist attractions in Florida.

The city's median household is currently pegged at $30,888, and the median income for a family was $38,190. The per capita income for the city was $18,021. Around 13.2% of families and 18.1% of the total population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

Ocala Has Experienced Rapid Growth

Ocala began undergoing rapid economic growth in the 1970s with the construction of the Interstate 75 and the founding of Disney World. In the final decades of the twentieth century, the metropolitan Ocala area has seen one of the highest growth rates in the country for a city its size.

The population of Marion County in 2000 was over 250,000, which was up from under 100,000 in 1975. Most of the county's growth is attributed to the city's increasing popularity as a retirement destination, particularly in two areas southwest and south of the city.

In 1995, the city was named an All-America-City winner. The city's major private-sector employers include Emergency One (which manufactures fire rescue vehicles), Closet Maid (producer of vinyl coated shelving), Cingular Wireless (call center), KMart (distribution center), Mark IV (automotive hoses), Lockheed Martin (circuit boards), Signature Brands (cake decoration manufacturer/Hero), Taylor, Bean & Whitaker Mortgage Corp, as well as On Top of the World Communities Inc. (an adult retirement community).

Ocala Is A Haven For Horse And Nature Lovers, As Well As Property Investors

The city prides itself as a perfect haven for horse lovers. The area is famed for its hundreds of fenced horse farms, lovely rolling terrain and thousands of acres of green pastures. The city is blessed with adequate groundwater and has a limestone soil, which is good for farming. Along with having prolific blend of year-round equine events, which include the famous H.I.T.S. (Horses In The Sun) winter circuit and regular Ocala Breeders Sales, a lot of outdoor activities are in store for visitors and real estate investors.

Horseback riding is also a common activity here, with access to the Cross-Florida Greenway and the Ocala National Forest, which offer lots of trails for visitors. Analysts estimate that the state's horse industry adds a whopping $6 billion to the annual economy of Florida, which has created an estimated 72,000 jobs. Property analysts are also pointing out that the Ocala real estate market is a thriving one, and is far from collapsing, as naysayers might forecast for other parts of the state.

The city also offers an array of recreational activities and sporting competitions. The area's full calendar of events includes wonderful theatrical productions at the Ocala Civic Theater, Appleton Museum art festivals, Ocala Dance Theater and the Marion County Performing Ballet performances,as well as concerts by the Ocala Festival Orchestra.

http://www.fountainsatgolfpark.com/fountains/index.htm - Ocala Real Estate

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