Ocala, Fla.

At the heart of Florida horse country, the city of Ocala is named after a native Timucuan tribal village named Ocali that existed during the 1600s. The village disappeared soon after being attacked by Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto. Modern settlement of the area began in the 1830s, and today Ocala is the Marion County seat covering about 37 square miles.

Ocala weather is typical north central Florida, with a pleasant spring and humid hot summers with frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Enjoyable mild winters sometimes drop into the 30s.

Ocala attractions include hundreds of horse paddocks and breeders in the area. The Paddock Mall was built on the site of the first horse farm in Ocala.

In recent decades the area has become a popular retirement destination, primarily along the south side of town. A large historic district anchored by East King Street contains many Victorian homes and buildings, while the Fort King site is a National Historic Landmark.

Construction of Disney World only 70 miles to the southeast also fueled growth of the area. The Ocala National Forest is a nearby outdoor paradise, a stop on the Florida National Scenic Trail. The Ocklawaha River covers about 110 miles through central Florida before joining the St. John's River near Jacksonville. To the east of Ocala is the Silver River State Park, near the town of Silver Springs. The Silver Springs Nature Theme Park was among the earliest tourist attractions in Florida.

The major central Florida highways intersect in Ocala. Interstate highway I-75 runs north-south just west of town. U.S. highways 41, 441, 27, and 301 all go through the city. Surrounded by shops and restaurants, the historic Ocala Union Station downtown is now a bus depot for the local Suntran bus system, Greyhound Bus lines, and Shuttleline, which provides daily service to Orlando International Airport.

There is no airline service in Ocala, but a large private airport is now a residential development for aircraft owners. Emergency One is a rescue vehicle builder based in Ocala, which is also home to the College of Central Florida.