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Ocala, Florida

Ocala is a city located in Marion County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 45,943. It is the county seat of Marion County6.

Table of contents
1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History

Geography

\nOcala is located at 29°11'16" North, 82°7'50" West (29.187704, -82.130613)1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 100.1 km² (38.6 mi²). 100.1 km² (38.6 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.

Demographics

\nAs of the
census of 2000, there are 45,943 people, 18,646 households, and 11,280 families residing in the city. The population density is 459.2/km² (1,189.2/mi²). There are 20,501 housing units at an average density of 204.9/km² (530.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 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. 5.74% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 18,646 households out of which 26.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% are married couples living together, 15.9% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% are non-families. 33.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.29 and the average family size is 2.91. In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.5 males. The median income for a household in the city is $30,888, and the median income for a family is $38,190. Males have a median income of $29,739 versus $24,367 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,021. 18.1% of the population and 13.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 28.6% are under the age of 18 and 9.8% are 65 or older.

History

\nIn 196X Ocala public schools were integrated under court order. Because of Ocala's reputation as a racist town and incidents elsewhere violence was expected when school opened that September. Ocala had a full complement of correspondents and photographers from
Life Magazine and similar publications. The opening of school occurred without reportable incident and the magazine people left town without a story. Much of the credit for the quiet integration of the schools went to a planning committee of three, XX, XX, and Al Lisk.