Ocala, FL
Located on the the heart of central Florida, Ocala is home to around 57,500 residents. The city is best known for its temperate climate, its many horse farms, its many parks and green spaces and its collection of historic, late 19th-century and early-20th-century homes.
What's unique about Ocala, Florida
Ocala combines the relaxed feel of a small, rural town with easy access to big city sports, shopping, health care and education in nearby Orlando and Tampa. The city is located directly I-75, which connects Ocala to Gainesville to the north and Tampa to the south. The weather in central Florida is usually sunny and warm and there are abundant parks and green spaces.
Living in Ocala
Life in Ocala revolves around the outdoors, with Ocala National Forest and Silver Springs State Park nearby and a host of city parks. Of course, the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico are within an hour's drive and each spring, the region hosts major league baseball spring training for teams including the New York Yankees and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Cultural Activities
Ocala has a small but vibrant arts community. The Circle Square Cultural Center hosts and year-round schedule of musical, dramatic and artistic performances. Nearby Tampa is also home to the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, the Florida Orchestra and the Tampa Bay Opera. Each fall, Ocala hosts the Ocala Pumpkin Run, a classic car show and harvest festival.
Ocala schools
School-age children in Ocala attend Marion County Public Schools. The district, which has an enrollment of around 42,000 students, owns and manages 50 schools--30 elementary schools, 10 middle schools and 10 high schools. In addition to the public schools, there are several private schools in the Ocala area. These include Ocala Christian Academy, The Cornerstone School and Ambleside School of Ocala.
For higher education, Ocala is just a short drive away from a number of excellent colleges and universities, including the University of Central Florida, Webster University and Rasmussen University.
Working in Ocala
Although Ocala is a relatively small community, there are a number of companies with large operations in the city. Among these are AT&T and Lockhead Martin. The city's largest employers include the Marion County Public School System and Munroe Regional Medical Center.
Entertainment
There's always something fun to do in central Florida. The city is home to the Wild Waters theme park and the scenic Florida Trail. In addition, residents can explore the many horse farms in the region and visit the small, but interesting Appleton Museum of Art.
Parks and Recreation
The City of Ocala and surrounding Marion County own and maintain a large number of parks, walking trails, recreation centers and green spaces. Facilities include swimming pools, ball parks, picnic grounds, pet parks and children's playgrounds. Among the most popular is the 5,000-acre Silver Springs State Park, built around an natural artesian spring along the Silver River. (The spring was Florida's first tourist attraction.) The massive Ocala State Forest is only a short drive away.
Ocala Real Estate
Housing in Ocala consists mostly of single family homes. Homes range from manufactured homes to Florida-style cottages to lavish, multi-acre farms. There are also a few semi-detached condos. The median home value in Tampa is $117,300, but that figure masks the wide disparity in home prices.
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Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocala,_Florida
http://www.ocalafl.org/government/city-departments/recreation-parks