Home › Florida › Ocala

Ocala, Florida

Located in Marion County, Florida, Ocala was established in 1846. Known as the 'Horse Capital of the World' with over 1,200 horse farms. Silver Springs is one of Florida's oldest tourist attractions.
Trending in Ocala
Latest updates coming soon
2 hours ago
More local news on the way
5 hours ago
Founded 1846 | Population 68,000 | Peak 68,000 (2024) | County Marion County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Ocala, Florida

undefined
1846 Founded: Named for Timucuan chief.
undefined
1861 Railroad Era: Railroad connections spurred growth and commerce in Ocala.
undefined
1943 Horse Country: Thoroughbred horse farms established.
undefined
2010 Modern Era: Ocala continued to develop as part of the region, with new infrastructure and community amenities.
🧠
How Well Do You Know Ocala?
5 questions • 2 minutes
Take the Quiz →

Latest News in Ocala

May 15, 2026
Wheel of Fortune Player Wins $75k After Solving This Tough Puzzle Super Fast
Fans of Wheel of Fortune are in for a major surprise this week as the long-running game show rolls out a high-stakes tournament fe…
May 1, 2026
‘Wheel of Fortune’ Player Loses $55,000 After Failing To Solve This Difficult Puzzle
“Wheel of Fortune” viewers are once again crying foul after a contestant came painfully close to winning big — only to lose …
Apr 30, 2026
From a Prison Cell Birth To Hollywood Royalty: She’s Now a True Screen Legend & Married To Her Co-Star
Leighton Meester may always be remembered as Blair Waldorf — the impeccably dressed, sharp-tongued queen of Manhattan’s elite …
Mar 31, 2026
Random Stabbing of Pregnant Woman in Parking Lot Underscores Persistent Risks of Everyday Urban Violence
In broad daylight on March 18, 2026, a 38-year-old pregnant woman loading her 3-year-old child into her car in the parking lot of …
Mar 7, 2026
Southwest Flight 2094 Diverted Over Bomb Threat Claim
Southwest Airlines Flight 2094, en route from Nashville to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, encountered a harrowing situation late last n…
Mar 5, 2026
Oregon Democrats Block ICE Notification for Felony Convicts
Oregon Democratic senators have unanimously blocked a bill that would have mandated state authorities to notify U.S. Immigration a…

Complete Historical Timeline

1846 Culture
Founded
1861 Transport
Railroad Era
1943 Business
Horse Country
2010 Culture
Modern Era

Did You Know?

1
Known as the 'Horse Capital of the World' with over 1,200 horse farms.
2
Silver Springs is one of Florida's oldest tourist attractions.
3
Marion County has more horses than any other county east of the Mississippi.
4
Ocala was founded in 1846.
5
Ocala has a population of approximately 68,000.

Famous People from Ocala, Florida

EA
Elizabeth Ashley
Stage Actor, Television Actor · Born Aug 30, 1939 · Age 86
EJ
Erin Jackson
Speed Skater, Inline Speed Skater · Born Sep 19, 1992 · Age 33
BB
Brittany Bowe
Basketball Player, Speed Skater · Born Feb 24, 1988 · Age 38
BM
Buddy MacKay
Lawyer, Politician · Born Mar 22, 1933 · Died Dec 31, 2024 (age 91)
PO
Patrick O'Neal
Stage Actor, Restaurateur · Born Sep 26, 1927 · Died Sep 9, 1994 (age 66)

Other Cities in Florida

View all Florida cities →
J
Jacksonville
Pop. 949,611
M
Miami
Pop. 442,241
T
Tampa
Pop. 384,959
O
Orlando
Pop. 307,573
PS
Port St. Lucie
Pop. 284,448
SP
St. Petersburg
Pop. 271,017
See something that needs correcting?
We take accuracy seriously. Help us keep Ocala's history right.