Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida, United States. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 48,901. It is the county seat of Marion County. Ocala was established in 1846 near the site of Fort King, a military outpost of the Seminole Wars. Ocala is a Timucua word of unknown meaning. Hernando de Soto (explorer) passed through a Timucua village or province named Ocali or Ocale near the present site of Ocala during his famous expedition through what is today the southeastern United States in 1539. Greater Ocala and Marion County are known as the "Kingdom of the Sun.

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 459.2/km² (1,189.2/mi²). There were 20,501 housing units at an average density of 204.9/km² (530.7/mi²). 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.