Jump to content

Ocala, Florida: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Monkbot (talk | contribs)
Notable people: added famous journalist.
Line 474: Line 474:
*[[Walter Ray Williams, Jr.]] – professional PBA bowler
*[[Walter Ray Williams, Jr.]] – professional PBA bowler
*[[Deanna Wright]] – actress and fashion model
*[[Deanna Wright]] – actress and fashion model
*[[Miss Jefferson Bell]] - society editor and feature writer on the staff of the Miami Herald for 23 years.
{{Div col end}}
{{Div col end}}



Revision as of 17:05, 31 March 2014

Ocala, Florida
Downtown Ocala
Downtown Ocala
Official seal of Ocala, Florida
Nickname: 
Horse Capital of the World
Motto: 
"God Be With Us"
Location in Marion County and the state of Florida
Location in Marion County and the state of Florida
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountyFile:Marion County FL Seal.png Marion
Settled1836
Incorporated (town)February 4, 1869
Incorporated (city)January 28, 1885
Government
 • TypeCouncil-manager
 • MayorKent Guinn (R)
 • City ManagerMatt Brower
Area
 • City
38.63 sq mi (100.1 km2)
 • Land38.63 sq mi (100.1 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation
104 ft (32 m)
Population
 • City
56,945 (US: 627th)
 • Metro
335,125 (US: 149th)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
34470-34483
Area code352
FIPS code12-50750
GNIS feature ID0288030Template:GR
Websitewww.ocalafl.org

Ocala (/ˈkælə/, oh-KA-lə) is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of the 2012, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau was 56,945, making it the 45th most populated city in Florida.[1]

It is the county seat of Marion CountyTemplate:GR and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2012 population of 335,125.[2]

History

Archeological investigation has revealed that the area was inhabited by varying cultures of indigenous peoples from as early as 6500 B.C., and there were two lengthy periods of occupation. The second lasted through 500 A.D. In early historic times, the Timucua inhabited the area.

Ocala is located near what is thought to have been the site of Ocale or Ocali, a major Timucua village and chiefdom recorded in the 16th century. The modern city takes its name from the historical village, the name of which is believed to mean "Big Hammock" in the Timucua language.[3] The Spanish Hernando de Soto's expedition recorded Ocale in 1539 during his exploration through what is today the southeastern United States. Ocale is not mentioned in later Spanish accounts; it appears to have been abandoned in the wake of de Soto's attack.

In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Creek people and other Native Americans, and free and fugitive African Americans sought refuge in Florida. The Seminole people formed. After foreign colonial rule shifted between Spain and Great Britain and back again, in 1821 the United States acquired the territory of Florida. After warfare to the north, in 1827 the U.S. Army built Fort King near the present site of Ocala as a buffer between the Seminole, who had long occupied the area, and white settlers moving into the region. The fort was an important base during the Second Seminole War and later served in 1844 as the first courthouse for Marion County.

The modern city of Ocala, which was established in 1846, developed around the fort site. Greater Ocala is known as the "Kingdom of the Sun".[4] 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 state-wide as "The Brick City".

Downtown Ocala in 1883.

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.

20th century establishment as horse capital

The first thoroughbred horse farm in Florida was developed in 1943 by Carl G. Rose. He had come to Florida in 1916 from Indiana to oversee construction of the first asphalt road in the state. When he ran into problems with the asphalt, he improvised and experimented with limestone, an abundant resource in the state. He also realized that the limestone would support good pasture for raising strong horses. For instance, limestone nurtures the Bluegrass Region of Kentucky, long a center of thoroughbred horse farms. In 1943, Rose took a gamble and bought acreage along State Highway 200 at $10 per acre, which became Rosemere Farm. The next year one of his horses, Gornil, won at Miami's Tropical Park, becoming the first Florida-raised thoroughbred to win a Florida race.

Close on Rose's heels, the entrepreneur Bonnie Heath soon set up his own thoroughbred horse farm. He produced the state's first winner of the Kentucky Derby. Highways were named in Ocala after each of these men. Bonnie Heath Farm is now owned and operated by Bonnie Heath, III, and his wife Kim. Rosemere Farm was sold long ago. The large site has been redeveloped as the retail center, Paddock Mall, and College of Central Florida.

In 1956, the Ocala-area Thoroughbred industry received a boost when Needles became the first Florida-bred to win the Kentucky Derby. In 1978, Marion County-bred and -raised Affirmed won the Triple Crown. Today, Marion County is one of the major thoroughbred centers of the world. It has more than 1,200 horse farms, including about 900 thoroughbred farms, totaling some 77,000 acres (310 km2). Ocala is well known as a "horse capital of the world."[5]

Ocala is one of only five cities (four in the USA and one in France) permitted under Chamber of Commerce guidelines to use this title, based on annual revenue produced by the horse industry. 44,000 jobs are created by the breeding, training and related support of the local equine industry, which generates over $2.2 billion in annual revenue. "Postime Farms" and Ocala serve as host to one of the largest horse shows in the country: H.I.T.S or "Horses in the Sun." It is a Dressage/Jumper event lasting about two months; it generates some 6 to 7 million dollars to the local Marion County economy each year. The show features classes with more than 100 different breeds, including the Tennessee Walker, Paso Fino, Morgan horse, SaddleBred, Drafthorse, and the American Quarter Horse. Other equine events in the area include cowboy 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.

Tourist and retirement center

Since the late twentieth century, Ocala has increased in prominence as a destination for tourism in Florida. Important attractions included the Silver Springs Nature Theme Park, Wild Waters water park, and the now-defunct Western-themed Six Gun Territory, all in nearby Silver Springs, Florida. (See Six Gun Territory Gallery.) Silver Springs is a 350-acre (1.4 km2) nature theme park that surrounds the headwaters of the Silver River (Florida), the largest artesian spring formation in the world.

Ocala began undergoing rapid growth in the 1970s with the development of the Interstate 75 and the founding of the Disney World entertainment complex, located some 70 miles (110 km) southeast.

Fort King Street in c. 1920

In the last decades of the twentieth century, the greater Ocala area had one of the highest growth rates in the country for a city its size. The population of Marion County in 2000 was more than 250,000, up from under 100,000 in 1975. Much of the county's growth is attributable to the area's growing popularity as a retirement destination. Two areas have been developed as retirement communities southwest and south of the city: the SR 200 corridor and The Villages, respectively.

Ocala Historic District

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.

The original Fort King site was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2004.

Government and politics

Ocala is governed by a five member board of councillors and a mayor, all of which are elected on a nonpartisan basis. Its charter was written in the council-manager form, leaving the mayor with few powers other than vetoing legislation passed by the council and tending to some duties involving the police department. The city manager handles most administrative and financial matters.[6] Although a small majority of the city's registered voters are Democrats,[7] Ocala's politics match those of the rest of Marion County in that all of its elected legislators – with one exception – are registered Republicans. In the 2008 presidential election, John McCain carried both the city and the county, the latter by a landslide, despite losing Florida as a whole to Barack Obama by a narrow margin.[8]

Geography

Silver River State Park

Ocala is located at 29°11′16″N 82°07′50″W / 29.187704°N 82.130613°W / 29.187704; -82.130613.Template:GR

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 38.63 square miles (100.1 km2), all land. The surrounding farms are famous for their thoroughbred horses, in terrain similar to Kentucky bluegrass. Ocala is also known for nearby Silver Springs, Florida, site of one of the largest artesian spring formations in the world and Silver Springs Nature Theme Park, one of the earliest tourist attractions in Florida.

The 110-mile (180 km) long Ocklawaha River flows north from Central Florida until it joins the St. Johns River near Palatka, Florida.

Marion County is also home to the Ocala National Forest which was established in 1908 and is now the second largest national forest in the state. The Florida Trail, also known as the Florida National Scenic Trail, cuts through Ocala National Forest.[9]

Silver River State Park was established in the early 1990s to preserve the areas around the Silver River to the east of Ocala near Silver Springs.

Climate

Ocala has two distinct seasons: the dry season (October–May) and the wet season (June–September). During the dry season, there is almost uninterrupted sunshine with very little rainfall. In January, the morning low temperatures are often in the 30s and 40s, but the cloudless sunny weather typically warms the dry air up to near 70 by the afternoon. During the wet season, afternoon thunderstorms are a daily occurrence. These storms are often severe (unofficially, Ocala is known to have more cloud-to-ground lightning per square mile than any other city in the world). The typical morning low temperatures during the wet season are in the 70's and typical daytime high temperatures are in the 90s. Due to the city being relatively far away from the moderating influence of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, Ocala's summertime temperatures are often the highest in the state while winter temperatures are often the lowest compared to other cities on the peninsula. Also, Ocala's distance from the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico means the city has more days of sunshine than Florida's coastal cities. This is, in part, why the Ocala/Marion County area is called "the kingdom of the sun." The last snowfall of any significance fell on December 24, 1989,[citation needed] when the city was struck by an ice and snow storm. However, the morning of January 9, 2010, there was a dusting of snow on the ground in city center. A plume of record cold air mixed with moisture caused wintry precipitation to erupt across northern and central Florida.

Climate data for Ocala, Florida (1981–2010 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 88
(31)
90
(32)
97
(36)
98
(37)
102
(39)
105
(41)
104
(40)
103
(39)
101
(38)
98
(37)
94
(34)
90
(32)
105
(41)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 71.3
(21.8)
74.5
(23.6)
78.9
(26.1)
84.0
(28.9)
89.8
(32.1)
92.2
(33.4)
93.2
(34.0)
92.6
(33.7)
90.5
(32.5)
85.3
(29.6)
78.6
(25.9)
72.6
(22.6)
83.6
(28.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 44.8
(7.1)
47.5
(8.6)
51.7
(10.9)
56.2
(13.4)
63.2
(17.3)
69.7
(20.9)
71.4
(21.9)
71.6
(22.0)
69.2
(20.7)
61.8
(16.6)
53.5
(11.9)
47.0
(8.3)
59.0
(15.0)
Record low °F (°C) 11
(−12)
12
(−11)
23
(−5)
30
(−1)
44
(7)
48
(9)
58
(14)
60
(16)
45
(7)
32
(0)
22
(−6)
15
(−9)
11
(−12)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.17
(81)
3.27
(83)
4.56
(116)
2.40
(61)
2.98
(76)
7.42
(188)
6.71
(170)
6.32
(161)
6.07
(154)
3.03
(77)
2.10
(53)
2.57
(65)
50.60
(1,285)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 8.5 7.7 8.0 5.6 6.5 14.5 15.4 17.5 12.3 7.8 6.5 7.1 117.4
Source: NOAA (extremes 1893–present)[10]

Crime

Ocala
Crime rates* (2012)
Violent crimes
Homicide6
Rape42
Robbery92
Aggravated assault235
Total violent crime375
Property crimes
Burglary606
Larceny-theft2,431
Motor vehicle theft60
Arson7
Total property crime3,097
Notes

*Number of reported crimes per 100,000 population.

2012 population: 57,288

Source: 2012 FBI UCR Data

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880803
18902,904261.6%
19003,38016.4%
19104,37029.3%
19204,91412.4%
19307,28148.2%
19408,98623.4%
195011,74130.7%
196013,59815.8%
197022,58366.1%
198037,17064.6%
199042,04513.1%
200045,9439.3%
201056,31522.6%
2012 (est.)56,9451.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
2012 Estimate[12]

As of the census of 2000, there were 45,943 people, 18,646 households, and 11,280 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,189.2 per square mile (459.2/km2). There were 20,501 housing units at an average density of 530.7 per square mile (204.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 72.86% White, 22.14% African American, 0.36% Native American, 1.22% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.81% from other races, and 1.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.74% of the population.

There were 18,646 households. 40.9% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.

Economy

The median income for a household in the city was $30,888, and the median income for a family was $38,190. Males had a median income of $29,739 versus $24,367 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,021. About 13.2% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

Ocala is the headquarters of Emergency One, a worldwide designer and manufacturer of fire rescue vehicles.

Top employers

According to Ocala's 2012 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[13] the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of employees
1 Marion County Public Schools 6,071
2 Munroe Regional Medical Center 2,648
3 State of Florida 2,600
4 Walmart 2,370
5 Ocala Health System 1,725
6 Publix 1,488
7 Marion County 1,462
8 AT&T Southeast 1,000
9 City of Ocala 970
10 Lockheed Martin 929

Ocala was the headquarters of Taylor, Bean & Whitaker, formerly a 2,000-employee top-10 wholesale mortgage lending firm, and the fifth-largest issuer of GNMA securities, that ceased business operations in 2011 due to investigations relating to fraudulent activity.[14]

Education

The public schools in Ocala are run by the Marion County School Board. There are 30 elementary, 10 middle, and 10 ten public high schools in Marion County, which include the following schools in Ocala:

  • College Park
  • Dr. N. H. Jones
  • Eighth Street
  • Evergreen
  • Greenway
  • Ward-Highlands
  • Wyomina Park
  • Emerald Shores Elementary School
  • Fessenden Elementary School
  • Fort McCoy School (K-8)
  • Hammett Bowen Jr. Elementary School
  • Madison Street Academy of Visual and Performing Arts (Magnet)
  • Maplewood Elementary School
  • Marion Oaks Elementary School
  • Oakcrest Elementary School
  • Ocala Springs Elementary School
  • Reddick-Collier Elementary School
  • Saddlewood Elementary School
  • Shady Hill Elementary School
  • South Ocala Elementary School
  • Sparr Elementary School
  • Sunrise Elementary School
  • Middle schools
  • High schools
  • Private schools
  • Ambleside School Of Ocala grades K-8[15]
  • Blessed Trinity School grades K-9
  • Children's Palace East & Academy grades K-2
  • The Cornerstone School grades PK-8[16]
  • Crossroads Academy grades 3-12
  • Grace Building Blocks School Grades K-2
  • Grace School grades PK-8
  • Hale Academy grades PK-12
  • Meadowbrook Academy grades K-12[17]
  • Montessori Preparatory School grades K-5
  • New Generation School grades K-12
  • Ocala Christian Academy grades PK-12[18]
  • Ocean's High School grades PK-12
  • Promiseland Academy grades K-7
  • First Assembly Christian School grades K-9[19]
  • The Reading Clinic grades 2-6
  • Redeemer Christian School grades K-9
  • The Rock Academy grades PK-9
  • The School of the Kingdom grades 1-12
  • Shiloh SDA Church School[20]
  • Shores Christian Academy grades PK-12
  • St John Lutheran School grades PK-12
  • Trinity Catholic grades 9-12

Colleges and universities

Ocala is home to the College of Central Florida.[21] It also has one of 21 campuses of Rasmussen College, a Higher Learning Commission regionally accredited post secondary institution.[22][23] Webster University offers on-site, regionally accredited graduate degree programs in business and counseling at their Ocala Metropolitan Campus.[24]

Libraries

Three of the eight libraries in the Marion County Public Library System are located in Ocala.[25] Those three libraries are:

Sports

Ocala is home to Trinity Catholic High School, which holds the record for the longest high school football championship game in Florida history, going into triple overtime. On January 6, 2011, the mayor declared January 6 as Trinity Catholic Celtics Day, in honor of this feat.

Ocala, Florida was home to the Belleview Bulldogs in the FCSL before the league folded in 2008. It is also home to one of the largest youth football leagues in the state in the MCYFL. Ocala is hosting the regional events for the Junior League in the Little League World Series in August 2010.

Ocala is also home to the Funking Conservatory, a professional wrestling school managed by Dory Funk, Jr., which boasts alumni such as Kurt Angle, Edge, Ted DiBiase, Sr., and Bob Backlund.

All-America City

In 1995, Ocala was named an All-America City Award winner.[26]

Sister cities

Ocala has two sister cities:

Transportation

Major roads

Eastbound SR 40 as it approaches US 27-301-441 in Ocala.

Several major highways pass through Ocala, including Interstate 75, U.S. Highway 27, U.S. Route 301, and U.S. Highway 441. Ocala was on the western leg of the historic Dixie Highway.

  • Interstate 75 runs north and south across the western edge of the city, with interchanges at SR 200 (exit 350), SR 40 (exit 352), and US 27 (exit 354).
  • U.S. Route 27 runs north and south throughout Ocala. It is multiplexed with US 301 and 441 until it reaches SR 492(Northwest 10th Street), then makes a sharp turn onto NW 10th Street then curves northwest through Williston, Perry, Tallahassee, and beyond.
  • U.S. Route 301 is the main local north and south road through Ocala. It is multiplexed with US 27 until it reaches Northwest 10th Street, and with US 441 throughout the city.
  • U.S. Route 441 is the main local north and south road through Ocala. It is multiplexed with US 27 until it reaches Northwest 10th Street, and with US 301 throughout the city.
  • State Road 492 runs east and west through the northern part of the city from the northern terminus of the US 27 multiplex with US 301–441 to close to the Silver Springs City Line.
  • State Road 40 runs east and west through Ocala. It spans from Rainbow Lake Estates through Ocala National Forest to Ormond Beach in Volusia County, although a bi-county extension exists, spanning from Yankeetown in Levy County to Dunnellon, south of the western terminus of SR 40.
  • State Road 464 runs east and west from SR 200 through the southeastern part of the city. Beyond the city limits, it continues southeast towards State Road 35, and continues as County Road 464.
  • State Road 200 runs northeast and southwest from Hernando in Citrus County through US 27-301-441 where it becomes a "hidden state road" along US 301 until it reaches Callahan, and is multiplexed with SR A1A into Fernandina Beach.

Other transportation

Ocala International Airport provides general aviation services to the community. Ocala Suntran provides bus service throughout select parts of the city. One of the major hubs for Suntran is the former Ocala Union Station, which served Amtrak trains until November 2004. Amtrak serves Ocala by bus connection to Jacksonville and Lakeland. Ocala is also served by Greyhound Bus Lines .

Notable people

Fine arts

The Marion Theater

Ocala is the home for the Ocala Symphony Orchestra. The Ocala Symphony Orchestra, Inc., a non-profit organization, began in 1975, when a group of musicians and citizens set out to create a symphonic orchestra for the area. In the fall of 1976 a four-concert subscription season was initiated – a format that continues to this day. The Ocala Symphony Orchestra was later incorporated in the State of Florida and recognized by the IRS as a 501c3 non-profit corporation.

Also, the Ocala Civic Theatre is located in Ocala, and it presents professional-quality, live productions at an affordable price. Ocala Civic Theatre produces more than twelve fully staged productions each season, in addition to hosting touring companies. The theatre offers a year-round education program that reaches over 1000 students each year. Both skills classes and performance classes are offered to students ages 4–18. This volunteer-based organization is one of the largest community theatres in the state and serves more than 50,000 Marion, Citrus and Lake County residents each season.

West Port High School offers an arts-affiliated magnet program known as MCCA (Marion County Center for the Arts), and it focuses on instructing students in the arts. It is one of the better known arts magnet programs in Florida.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012" (CSV). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  2. ^ "Table 1. Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012 (CBSA-EST2012-01)" (CSV). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  3. ^ "Historic Highlights". City of Ocala. Archived from the original on January 14, 2008. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  4. ^ McCarthy, Kevin (2001). Ocala. p. 11. ISBN 0-7385-1377-6. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "The Horse Capital of the World". Ocalacc.com. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  6. ^ "Ocala City Charter" (XLS). City of Ocala. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
  7. ^ "2009 City of Ocala Run-Off Election Results" (XLS). Marion County Department of Elections. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
  8. ^ "2008 General Election Results" (XLS). Marion County Department of Elections. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
  9. ^ "The Florida Trail in the Ocala National Forest". Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  10. ^ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
  11. ^ United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  12. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Retrieved September 18, 2013.
  13. ^ "City of Ocala CAFR" (PDF). Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  14. ^ Schoenberg, Tom (August 9, 2012). "BofA Can Pursue FDIC for Taylor Bean Fraud Losses, Judge Says". Bloomberg. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  15. ^ http://amblesideocala.com/Ambleside_School_of_Ocala/Home.html
  16. ^ thecornerstoneschool.org
  17. ^ mbaocala.org
  18. ^ http://www.ocacrusaders.com
  19. ^ http://www.ocalafirst.org
  20. ^ antt40.adventistschoolconnect.org
  21. ^ "Central Florida Community College Campuses". Cf.edu. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  22. ^ "Rasmussen College Campuses". Rasmussen.edu. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  23. ^ "Accreditation". Rasmussen.edu. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  24. ^ "Webster University: Webster University: Ocala Metro Campus". Webster.edu. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  25. ^ "Marion County Public Library System library directory". Marioncountyfl.org. Retrieved January 11, 2013.
  26. ^ "Past Winners of the All-America City Award". National Civic League. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2007.
  27. ^ "Friends Across the Ocean". City of Ocala. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  28. ^ "San Rossore Officially Sister City To Ocala". Thoroughbred Times. Retrieved July 16, 2007. "This event is just the beginning of a nice relationship between the city of Ocala and the city of Pisa and San Rossore," Fontanelli said in Italian during the ceremony.