Archeological studies revealed that, around 6500 B.C., indigenous people with various cultures lived for a long time in two different periods. The second of them lasted until around 500, and the Timkua people lived in the area.

Okara is thought to have been located near the area called Ocale or Ocali, which was the area ruled by the main village and chief of the Timkua people. The name of the current city is taken from the historic village, and it seems to mean 'big hammock' in Timkua. A record of Ocale is left in the current expedition to the southeast of the United States by Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto in 1539. After that, the Spanish record did not say anything about Ocale. The village is thought to have been abandoned due to the attack by de Soto.

From the end of the 18th century to the early 19th century, Creek (Mascogie), Seminole, other native Americans, and African Americans who had been liberated or escaped, fled to Florida. The colonial rule of Spain, England, and Spain and other countries were replaced, and finally, in 1821, the United States acquired the territory of Florida. Since the U.S. Army started fighting with Seminole in northern Florida, the U.S. Army built Fort King near the current Okara as a buffer with the Seminole-controlled area. Seminole had ruled this area for a long time, and white settlers were there. Forts became an important base during the second Seminole War, and the first court was established in Marion County in 1844.

The modern city of Okara was built in 1849 and the area around the place where the fort was located was developed. Greater Okara (Okara), including okara and its surroundings, was known as "Kingdom of the Sun." The development of agriculture, such as plantations, depended on slave labor, but in this area it was common. From 1894 to 1895, okara was an important center for producing citrus fruits.

In June 1881, the railway transportation system became available in Okara, and the economic development was promoted because the access from the production area to the market became easier. Two years later, on Thanksgiving Day in 1883, most of the downtown areas of Okara were destroyed by fire. The city encouraged reconstruction of houses using brick, granite, iron and so on rather than wood. By 1888, Okara became known nationwide as 'The Brick City.'

In December 1890, the National Farmers' Alliance and the Industrial Association, which later became the People's Party, held a national convention in Okara. In this competition, the program called "Okara Dimandu" was adopted later. The plan included the abolition of the Federal Bank, the promotion of low-interest government bonds, the freedom and unlimited minting of silver coins, the regulation of the railway federal government, the introduction of progressive income tax, and the direct election of the Senate. Most of "Okara Dimandu" became part of the People's Party's platform.

In the 20th century, it was established as the 'capital of horses.'

The first Thoroughbred ranch in Florida was opened by Carl G. Rose in 1943. He moved from Indiana in 1916 to oversee the construction of the first asphalt pavement in Florida. When he was stuck in the road business, he tried to make quick strides to produce limestone that was abundant in Florida. Before long, he realized that lime could feed good pasture and grow strong horses (the Blue Glass region of Kentucky, the center of Thoroughbred ranches, was also brought by lime). In 1943, Rose bought land along Route 200 for $10 per acre and opened a Rosemer ranch. The following year, his Gornil won a race at Miamizu Tropical Park and was the first Florida-born horse to win a race in Florida.

After the Rose, business man Bonnie Heath set up a farm in Thoroughbred to raise the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby in Florida. The highway running through Okara City has these two names. Bonnie Heath Farm is now run by Bonnie Heath III and his wife Kim. The Rosemer ranch was sold a long time ago, and the large site was redeveloped into the large retail store, Paddock Mall and College of Central Florida.

In 1956, the Thoroughbred industry around Okara was animated by Needles winning Kentucky Derby for the first time as a Florida horse. In 1978, a racehorse Ahmad, who was raised in Marion County and raised in Marion County, won the triple crown. There are now more than 1,200 ranches in Marion County, the center of the world's thoroughbred horses. About 900 out of 1200 are breeding thoroughbred and the area is counted as 77,000 acres (310 km2). Okara is well known as the "capital of the world's horse."

Okara is the only city in the world (four cities are America and one city is in France), and it is one of the cities which was permitted to use the word "the capital of the world's horse" as a guideline for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The city's revenue is mainly in the horse-related industry. About 44,000 people live in horse breeding, training, and other industries related to horses, and make 2.2 billion dollars out of the city's revenues in the horse industry. At the city's post-time farm, Horses in the Sun (also called HITS), one of the largest horse shows in the United States, will be held. The Baba Equestrian and Disabled Equestrianism events are held for about two months, and the Marion County has an economic effect of $6 to $7 million each year. The hose show is characterized in that its categories are divided into more than 100 categories, such as Tennessee Walking Hose, Paso Fino, Morgan Hose, Saddle Bread, Draft Hose, and American Quarter Hose. In addition, various horse events are held, including cowboy shooting, endurance (endurance riding competition), barrel race (barrel race), "extreme" cowboy event, a show of disabled equestrianism, a trick horse show, a parade, and a rodeo event.

sightseeing

Nearby is the Silver Springs, the source of the Silver River and its own fountain. In the 19th century, this spring became the first tourist spot in Florida. Today, this area is well known for its Glasboat tour. Silver Springs is owned by Florida and was designated as Silver Springs State Park in 2013. Other attractions include the Okara National Forest Park and the Florida Trail, which mingle with the surrounding nature. Other than nature, Wild Waters Water Park and so on are also available. The Six Gun Territory, whose theme was the West Reclamation Era, was closed in 1984.

development of a city

In the last few decades of the 20th century, the Greater Okara region also recorded one of the largest growth rates in the United States. The population of Marion County increased from less than 100,000 in 1975 to more than 250,000 in 2000.

Historic Center of Okara

In the historic area of Okara designated in 1984, a wide range of historic houses have been preserved. East Fort King Street has many excellent Victorian buildings. Buildings such as the Coca cola bottling plant, the E.C. Smith family, the East Hall, the Marion Hotel, the Mount Zion A.M.E Church, the Ritz Apartments, and the stations of Union Train are designated as National Register of Historic Places of the United States of America.

The place where Fort King used to be was designated as a National Historic Building of the United States in 2004.

Okara is governed by a council of five councilors and the mayor. In principle, councilors and mayors are elected in a non-partisan election. The city's charter states that the city manager system was adopted. The rights left for the mayor are few, except for the right to reject bills passed through Congress. The City Manager deals with most of the issues that concern administration and finance. Although the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is a minority of voters in the city, the Republican Party registrants are dominant in Marion County as a whole except for the Okara. In the 2008 U.S. presidential election, Republican John McCain won both Okara and Marion counties, with an overwhelming victory, especially in Marion County as a whole, but in Florida as a whole, he was defeated by Democratic President Barack Obama.

Silver Springs State Park

Okara is latitude 29 degrees 11 minutes 16 seconds north and longitude 82 degrees 07 minutes 50 seconds west and latitude 29.187704 degrees north and longitude 82.130613 degrees west/ 29.187704 degrees west; -82.130613.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the total area of the city is 38.63 square miles (100.1 km²), and the whole area is land. The surrounding ranches are famous for the production of thoroughbred, and the ranches have plants of a kind similar to Kentucky Bluegrass. Silver Springs, one of the world's largest self-fountains near Okara, is also famous. It is one of the oldest tourist spots in Florida.

The 180km-long Okrawaha River flows north from Central Florida and joins the St. John's River near Palatoka City.

Marion County, designated in 1908, has Okara National Forest Park, the second largest forest park in Florida. Silver Springs State Park was purchased by the state to protect the area around the Silver Springs Amusement Park from development and was designated as Silver River State Park in 1987.

climate

There are two seasons for okara: the dry season (October - May) and the rainy season (June - September). During the dry season, the sun was almost uninterrupted, with little rain. The lowest temperature in January morning is 30~49°F (0 to 10°C), but on clear and dry days without clouds, the highest temperature rises to near 70°F (about 20°C). In the rainy season, thunderstorms in the afternoon are a daily event. It is regarded as the largest city in the world that has lightning per area, although it is informal, because it sometimes rains heavily. The lowest temperatures during the rainy season are 70~79°F (21-26 degrees C) and the highest temperatures during the day are 90~99°F (32-37 degrees C). Both from the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico are relatively far away, so they are not affected by the mild ocean climate, and in the summer, the Okara records the highest temperatures in Florida, and in the winter it is the coldest city in the peninsula.

The following is demographic data from the 2000 census.

income and family

Okara has the headquarters of Emergency One, which is responsible for the design and production of emergency vehicles worldwide.

major employer

According to the city's comprehensive annual financial report, the top 10 employers in the city are as follows:

Okara Pumpkin Run

The Okara Pumpkin Run Classic Car Show is held every year at the Castro ranch, 400 acres away from the interstate highway. The event is one of the largest car shows in the United States, where more than 1,000 classical and custom cars gather each year, attracting many visitors from all over the southeast. As the event has a significant effect on the region every year, Marion County declared October as "the month of Okara Pumpkin Run."

Taylor Bean & Whitaker

In Okara, Taylor Bean and Whitaker, the main unit of the company's GNMA (Jinnie Mae) bonds, the biggest issue in the country, and sales were within the 10th largest in the U.S., and whose housing finance company had 2,000 employees. However, in 2011, the company suspended its business for research on fraud.

Okara's public school is run by the Marion County Board of Education. Marion County has 30 elementary schools, 10 junior high schools and 10 public high schools, among which the schools in Okara City are shown below.

elementary school

junior high school

high school

private school

college

The campus of College of Central Florida, a member of the Florida University System and certified by the Association of Southern Universities, is located in Okara. At this university, there are over 75 majors, including business administration, management of organizations, preschool, and nursing. It also provides special education courses such as horse research, agri-business and logistics. There is also one of the 24 campuses of Rasmussen College, which was certified as a higher education institution by the Higher Education Committee. The Okara Metropolitan Campus of the University of Webster is locally accepted for graduate courses of business administration and counseling.

library

Of the eight libraries operated by Marion County Public Library System, the following three are located in Okara City:

• Freedom Public Library
• Marion Oaks Public Library
• Okara Public Library - The headquarters of the Marion County Public Library System is located.

In 1995, Okara received the All-America City Prize.

Okara is affiliated with the following two cities and sister cities:

• Ireland: New Bridge, Kildare Province (2008)
• Italy: Pisa Rothsole (2004)

major road

In Okara City, major highways such as Interstate Expressway Route 75, National Route 27, National Route 301, and National Route 441 are provided. The Okara used to pass on the west side of the Digisi Highway.

• Interstate Expressway Route 75: The city runs north-south in the west end. At exit 350, National Route 200 and National Route 27 are connected at exit 352.
• National Route 27: It runs through Okara City from northwest to southeast. The intersection with National Route 492 (Northwest Street No. 10) overlaps with National Route 301 and National Route 441. It turned at right angles on Northwest Street 10, and led up to northwest Willian, Perry, Tarahasey, and beyond.
• National Route 301 and National Route 441: This road serves as the center of the area, running north-south in Okara City. Two roads overlap each other in all sections of the city.
• Route 492: This road runs east-west through the city. From the intersection where National Route 27, National Route 301, and National Route 441 meet, the road goes east to the vicinity of Silver Springs.
• Route 40: It runs east-west through Okara City. From Rainbow Lakes Estates, it passes through Okara National Forest Park and heads to Ormond Beach in Borusha County.
• From the intersection with National Route 464 and National Route 200, the road runs eastward through the southeastern part of the city. After going out of the city, it crosses Route 35 and connects to Route 464.
• Route 200: The city runs from north to southwest. In the southwest direction, the route runs from National Route 27, Route 301 and Route 441 to Hernando, Citrus County. From Okara to Karahan City, it overlaps with National Route 301, and is therefore a 'hidden state road.' Furthermore, the route from the station up to Fernandina Beach at the end overlaps with the route A1A.

Other transportation

The Okara International Airport is responsible for local general air services. Okara Santran offers a city bus service. Amtrack has been operating at Okara Union Station, one of the Santolan terminals since November 2004. Amtrak runs a bus route connecting Jacksonville and Lakeland. In addition, the Greyhound route is also available in Okara.

• Antonio Allen - NFL players
• Elizabeth Ashley - Actress
• Haven Denny-Figure skater
• Dolly Funk Jr.-Professional Wrestler
• Troy Gross - MLB players
• Patrick O'Neill - Actor
• John Travolta - Actor

music group

• A Day to Remember - Rock Band
• Underoose - Metal Core/Post Hard Core Band

• Okara Symphony Orchestra
• Okara Civic Theater
• Okara Open Sculpture Competition
• 1st Friday Art Walk

West Port High School has a magnet program for art, MCCA (Marion County Center of Art), which focuses on student art education. The program has become a magnet program for art that is well known in Florida.

• official site
• Okara Historical Preservation Society
• Star Banner (Okara's Daily Newspaper)