Ocala Facts
Fact 1: Ocala offers a range of exciting experiences. One of the most intriguing is Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing, which features memorabilia and artifacts collected by drag racer Don Garlits. Racing enthusiasts can even catch a glimpse of such vintage treasures as a 1963 Pontiac Firebird Jet.
Fact 2: A peculiar geographic feature of the area around Ocala is its many natural springs. Endlessly flowing and pristine in water quality, they produce millions of gallons an hour and give rise to many notable rivers. The largest, Silver Springs, is a marvel to behold and has been a tourist attraction for decades. Its waters are so clear that you can effortlessly see 80 feet to the bottom.
Fact 3: As of the 2000 census, cozy Ocala registered just under 46,000 residents. And while it has been perceived in the past as "God's Waiting Room," the town boasts a median age of 39 years – a far cry from the realm of nursing homes.
Fact 4: Although Florida may evoke images of beaches and theme parks, the portion that includes Ocala is more famous as the "Horse Capital of the World." A huge number of horses and of people connected to the industry live in the area and help promote business. As a result, Ocala finds itself comparable to the world's most recognized horse centers: Lexington, Kentucky; Chantilly, France; and Newmarket, England.
Fact 5: Ocala is the seat of Marion County and is its largest city. The county, formed in 1844, takes its name from General Francis Marion, known in the Revolutionary War as the "Swamp Fox."
Fact 6: The initial settlers of this part of northern Florida were the Timucuan Indians, who named the area "Ocali," meaning "big hammock" or "fair land." Their title evolved into the town's present name. Street names also recall the Native American heritage and the presence of Spanish explorers.
Fact 7: Thanks to its beautiful vegetation and pristine waters, Silver Springs has been a favored locale for movie-making since cinema's early days. Among the more familiar films set in the area are several "Tarzan" movies with Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan, "The Yearling" with Gregory Peck and Jane Wyman, "Rebel without a Cause" with James Dean and Natalie Wood, and "Legend," with Tom Cruise and Mia Sara.
Fact 8: With Marion County's surfeit of horse farms, you know that racing champions have to have been bred locally. And they have! Equines who've gone on to fame by winning such races as the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes include Silver Charm, Real Quiet and Affirmed.
Fact 9: Strolling through Ocala's historic district, you'll likely encounter a road named Fort King. It recalls the actual military post that once existed in the vicinity and which was intended to mitigate potential conflicts between the area's white homesteaders and the Indians who had been displaced into a nearby reservation.
Fact 10: Among Ocala's famous sons and daughters is Tony Award-winning actress, Elizabeth Ashley. A talented Broadway performer, she became particularly adept at portraying Southern women as envisioned by playwright Tennessee Williams. Audiences in more recent years remember Ashley best from her role in the Burt Reynolds sit-com, "Evening Shade."
