Marion County Fact Sheet
More About Marion County
Marion County stands unique among Florida destinations, yielding gently rolling countryside punctuated with horse farms, family attractions, renowned springs and charming communities filled with friendly people who welcome thousands of visitors ever year. With its laid-back lifestyle and Old Florida charm, the county truly offers a decidedly Different Pace that makes it a Better Place for one-of-a-kind vacation getaways.
Native Americans lived in the region in North Central Florida that is now Marion County for centuries, but the first recognizable town began to form near the Seminole Wars outpost Fort King during the early 1840s. On March 25, 1844, Florida’s territorial government authorized the creation of Marion County from portions of Alachua, Mosquito (now Orange) and Hillsborough Counties.
Marion County has a total area of 1,663 square miles and a population estimated at 316,183 in 2006. The county also has the nation’s highest number of horses and ponies, earning the title Horse Capital of the World.
Incorporated Communities
Ocala grew up around Fort King and a nearby spring, becoming Marion’s county seat in 1846. The city remains the county’s most populous region. Visitors enjoy strolling the area’s Historic Downtown Square, experiencing cultural purists such as the Appleton Museum, hiking in the nearby Ocala National Forest or taking the family to Silver Springs (one of the state’s earliest tourist attractions and home to famous glass-bottom boats and the world’s largest artesian spring formation) and Wild Waters Waterpark just outside of town. The county’s second most populous incorporated community, Belleview, appeared around Lake Lillian in the southern part of the county in the mid-1880s. Period homes and numerous special events appeal to guests today.
Another city born of the 1880s is Dunnellon, which lies southwest of Ocala. In 1889, the discovery of phosphate in the area propelled what had been seven distinct farming communities together into a prosperous boomtown. Dunnellon is boarded on one side by the Rainbow River, which has scenic Rainbow Springs at its head, and the Withlacoochee River. These beautiful waterways and local trails make it a center for outdoor activities.
Just inside the border with Alachua County, the quaint hamlet of McIntosh offers guests a charming glimpse of a community relatively unchanged over the last century and opportunities for fishing and boating on Orange Lake. Reddick, in the northwest of the county on Route 25A, is another largely untouched community and is known for its beautiful horse farms.
Please direct media inquiries to Ann Sternal, Executive Director of the Ocala/Marion County Visitors & Convention Bureau at 352-873-1368 or ann.sternal@marioncountyfl.org or Keith Gold at GOLD & Associates at 904-285-5669 or gold@strikegold.com.
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