Ocala Florida History

Nearly five centuries have passed since Ponce de Leon claimed for the king of Spain the area that is now Ocala. Since that time, three other national flags have flown over this stretch of land. Spain traded Florida to Britain in 1763. Just over 20 years later, the British returned it to Spain. The United States of America acquired the area in 1821. In 1861, Florida seceded to join the Confederate States of America. That lasted until 1865 when our predecessors rejoined the Union.

Although many of Ocala's early records have been lost or destroyed over the years, we know that the Marion County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution that "From and after May 28, 1846, the county seat shall be known by the name of Ocala."

On May 15, 1852, President Millard Filmore signed a certificate that granted to the Marion County Board of Commissioners a 1,200-acre site to be established as the county's center of government.

Records indicate that the city was approved by the state in 1869. However official records of the incorporation were lost and there was some question about their legality. Therefore, the city

reapplied and was declared "legally incorporated" January 28, 1885. At that time, with a city population of 803 inhabitants, governing authority was vested in a mayor, nine members of council, a clerk and a treasurer. Today voters elect a five-member city council and a mayor. The council appoints a city manager who is responsible for carrying out council's policies. Ocala's early city limits were 1,000 yards from the downtown square in all directions. These boundaries were changed over the next few years and the city limits were extended to one mile in each direction.

At the turn of the century, the city covered four square miles with a population of 4,597, making Ocala the fifth largest town in Florida. Only Jacksonville, Pensacola, Tampa and Key West were larger.

During the decade of the 1950s, major roads were constructed in and around the community. U.S. 301 and U.S. 441 were connected and

U.S. 27 was built during this same period. The city annexed over a square mile during the decade, and the 1960 Census showed Ocala's population as 13,598, triple the population at the turn of the century.

East Ocala, an area of more than 10 square miles, became part of Ocala by special election in 1964. The annexation tripled the city's area to 16 square miles. West Ocala was annexed in 1975, and added another 7.5 square miles to the city's boundaries.

Numerous smaller annexations have taken place through the years, and have brought us to the current total of 38 square miles and an estimated population of 43,600. The most recent annexation occurred on July 14, 1998. It added 900 acres of agricultural land to the southwest quadrant of the City of Ocala