Marion County, Florida Seat of is Ocala, a city located in the central part of the state. It is the county seat of Marion County and is known for its horse farms and thoroughbred race horses. Ocala is also home to the University of Florida's College of Veterinary Medicine. The city has a population of over 57, 000 people and is a popular tourist destination due to its many attractions such as Silver Springs State Park, Rainbow Springs State Park, and the Appleton Museum of Art.