Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida, United States, which is part of the northern region of the state. As of the 2019 census, its population, estimated by the United States Census Bureau, was 60,786, making it the 49th most populated city in Florida.
It is the seat of Marion County and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2017 population of 354,353.
The modern city of Ocala, which was established in 1849, developed around the fort site. Greater Ocala is known as the "Kingdom of the Sun". Plantations and other agricultural development dependent on slave labor were prevalent in the region. Ocala was an important center of citrus production until the Great Freeze of 1894–1895.
Rail service reached Ocala in June 1881, encouraging economic development with greater access to markets for produce. Two years later, much of the Ocala downtown area was destroyed by fire on Thanksgiving Day, 1883. The city encouraged rebuilding with brick, granite and steel rather than lumber. By 1888, Ocala was known statewide as "The Brick City".
In December 1890, the Farmers' Alliance and Industrial Union, a forerunner of the Populist Party, held its national convention in Ocala. At the convention, the Alliance adopted a platform that would become known as the "Ocala Demands". This platform included abolition of national banks, promoting low-interest government loans, free and unlimited coinage of silver, reclamation of excess railroad lands by the government, a graduated income tax, and direct election of United States senators. Most of the "Ocala Demands" were to become part of the Populist Party platform.
The first thoroughbred horse farm in Florida was developed in Marion County in 1943 by Carl G. Rose. Other farms were developed, making Ocala the center of a horse-breeding area. Local horses have won individual races of the Triple Crown series; in 1978, Affirmed, who was bred and trained in Marion County, won all three races, boosting interest in the industry there.
Ocala is one of only five cities (four in the US and one in France) permitted under Chamber of Commerce guidelines to use the title, "Horse Capital of the World", based on annual revenue produced by the horse industry. 44,000 jobs are sustained by breeding, training, and related support of the equine industry, which generates over $2.2 billion in annual revenue. Pastime Farms LLC and Ocala serve as host to one of the largest horse shows in the country: H.I.T.S or "Horses in the Sun", a Dressage/Jumper event lasting about two months. It generates some 6 to 7 million dollars for the local Marion County economy each year. The show features classes for over 100 different breeds, including Tennessee Walker, Paso Fino, Morgan horse, Saddlebred, Draft horse and the American Quarter Horse. Other equine events in the area include mounted shooting by the Florida Outlaws, as well as endurance rides, barrel races, extreme cowboy events, jumper shows, trick shows, parades, draft pulls, rodeo events and more.
Many historic homes are preserved in Ocala's large residential Historic District, designated in 1984. East Fort King Street features many excellent examples of Victorian architecture. Ocala structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places include the Coca-Cola Building, the E. C. Smith House, East Hall, the Marion Hotel, Mount Zion A.M.E. Church, the Ritz Historic Inn, and Union Train Station.
Credit for the data above is given to the following website:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ocala,_Florida
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Tags: Ocala Marion County north Florida Sunshine State urban downtown street photography historic Florida architecture building structure commercial property real estate government office old Florida Ocala Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area Kingdom of the Sun The Brick City Carl G Rose Horse Capital of the World Pastime Farms LLC Tennessee Walker Paso Fino Morgan horse Saddlebred Draft American Quarter Horse Coca-Cola Building E C Smith House East Hall the Marion Hotel Mount Zion AME Church Ritz Historic Inn Union Train Station Horses in the Sun
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This is currently the highest building downtown. It is located directly east of the Marion County Courthouse & Federal Courthouse. One block north of Ocala's Downtown Square.
In 1980, this building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
This former Marion Hotel building, today known as the Sovereign Building, was designed by the Philadelphia architectural firm of Peebles and Ferguson who designed a number of hotels throughout the south, including Hotel Lorraine and the Hotel Monticello in Norfolk, Virginia.
The hotel's builder was Day and Zimmerman, Inc. The costs of construction were completely financed by the sale of stock certificates to local citizens by the Community Hotel Corporation. Dr. James E. Chace, a former mayor of Ocala, and Horace L. Smith, Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, led the effort to have a first-class hotel erected in the city to accommodate tourists and traveling salesmen. A decision was made to construct a 100 room fireproof hotel and supporting structures. A method of financing the hotel was developed and the Hotel Committee of the Chamber of Commerce formed a Citizens Sales Organization with 140 volunteers who sold stock in the Community Hotel Corporation. Funding for construction was raised in less than six weeks, for a total amount of $500,000, with most of the shares being purchased by local residents.
The design of the seven-story concrete and steel hotel included stucco walls, with decorative Spanish elements. A central tower rises above the top floor of the main block flanked by two-story wings. At the time of completion, an automobile garage for the use by guests, the Hotel Marion Garage, was also erected adjacent to the main structure.
The hotel opened with a gala celebration in early March of the year 1927 with 300 people in attendance. When the hotel first opened it was managed by Griner Corporation, of which movie actor Thomas Meighan and Governor John W. Martin served on the Board of Directors.
Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Hotel_(Ocala,_Florida)
www.emporis.com/buildings/241684/sovereign-building-ocala...
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
Tags: downtown cityscape urban city Marion County Ocala Florida 108 North Magnolia Avenue Sunshine State North Florida Historical building Marion Sovereign Building USA Completed: 1927 Peebles and Ferguson Floors: 7 Height: 98 ft. Spanish Colonial Revival Style Added NRHP: 1980 building architecture concrete old Florida historic Florida street photography north central Florida real estate commercial property office building condominium U.S. National Register of Historic Places Marion Hotel building Day and Zimmerman Inc. . Dr. James E. Chace Horace L. Smith 100 room fireproof hotel steel stucco decorative Spanish elements. two-story wings. two-story wings Thomas Meighan Governor John W. Martin
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This building was designed to accommodate the judicial requirements of the fast-growing Ocala area, the expansion project is a five-story, 150,000-square-foot structure that will house the State Attorney’s Office and new courts and related services.
Tags: Marion County Marion County Judicial Center Clerk of the Courts 110 NW 1st Avenue Ocala Florida U.S.A.
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This is currently the highest building downtown. It is located directly east of the Marion County Courthouse & Federal Courthouse. One block north of Ocala's Downtown Square.
In 1980, this building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
This former Marion Hotel building, today known as the Sovereign Building, was designed by the Philadelphia architectural firm of Peebles and Ferguson who designed a number of hotels throughout the south, including Hotel Lorraine and the Hotel Monticello in Norfolk, Virginia.
The hotel's builder was Day and Zimmerman, Inc. The costs of construction were completely financed by the sale of stock certificates to local citizens by the Community Hotel Corporation. Dr. James E. Chace, a former mayor of Ocala, and Horace L. Smith, Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, led the effort to have a first-class hotel erected in the city to accommodate tourists and traveling salesmen. A decision was made to construct a 100 room fireproof hotel and supporting structures. A method of financing the hotel was developed and the Hotel Committee of the Chamber of Commerce formed a Citizens Sales Organization with 140 volunteers who sold stock in the Community Hotel Corporation. Funding for construction was raised in less than six weeks, for a total amount of $500,000, with most of the shares being purchased by local residents.
The design of the seven-story concrete and steel hotel included stucco walls, with decorative Spanish elements. A central tower rises above the top floor of the main block flanked by two-story wings. At the time of completion, an automobile garage for the use by guests, the Hotel Marion Garage, was also erected adjacent to the main structure.
The hotel opened with a gala celebration in early March of the year 1927 with 300 people in attendance. When the hotel first opened it was managed by Griner Corporation, of which movie actor Thomas Meighan and Governor John W. Martin served on the Board of Directors.
Credit for the data above is given to the following websites:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion_Hotel_(Ocala,_Florida)
www.emporis.com/buildings/241684/sovereign-building-ocala...
© All Rights Reserved - you may not use this image in any form without my prior permission.
Tags: National landmark Sovereign Building 108 North Magnolia Avenue Ocala Florida Marion County Sunshine State North Florida high-rise historical structure architecture Ocala National Bank Building Spanish Colonial Revival Style Peebles and Ferguson Nikon D90 Jorge Molina Day and Zimmerman Inc Marion Sovereign Building USA Completed: 1927 Floors: 7 Height: 98 ft. Spanish Colonial Revival Style Added NRHP: 1980 building downtown concrete old Florida historic Florida street photography north central Florida real estate commercial property office building condominium U.S. National Register of Historic Places Marion Hotel building Day and Zimmerman Inc. . Dr. James E. Chace Horace L. Smith 100 room fireproof hotel steel stucco decorative Spanish elements. two-story wings. two-story wings Thomas Meighan Governor John W. Martin urban city cityscape
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Welcome to north central Florida, a place known as "horse country," The beautiful city of Ocala offers visitors winding community pathways lined with oak trees and dangling trellises of Spanish moss, and the opportunity to explore miles of untainted nature. If the prospect of canoeing down a crystal clear stream amid the largest sand pine forest in the world sounds tempting, Ocala and surrounding Marion County are more than worth your time. The region's freshwater streams, rolling hills and fresh clean air remain unspoiled and have been used for various Hollywood movies. Nearby is Silver Springs, a national landmark and nature theme park on 350 acres. Silver Springs is Florida's "original attraction."
Tags: Ocala Florida U.S.A. urban downtown skyline Sunshine State Marion County real estate central financial district historical
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