Silver Springs, Fl HorseshoeOne of the oldest attractions in Florida is Silver Springs located  east of Ocala.  The famous Glass Bottom Boats made the attraction what it is.  Visitors would board the boat and sit on benches along the outer area of the boat and peer over the knee high wall to observe the fish as they swam under the middle of the boat.  A running commentary was provided by the boat Captain.  He would always have a large ball of bread that he tossed overboard so the fish could play Football.  This was a fun way to show  everyone something of Florida wildlife.  Often alligators  were sunning themselves on the banks or swimming in the water as well as birds, fish, snakes, otters, deer were visible.  A wonderful  place to spend the day.  This horseshoe shaped palm tree is probably the most photographed site around here. 

Welcome!

to the

Marion County FLGenWeb

Part of the FLGenWeb and USGenWeb Projects

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*Note:  This site is under reconstruction.  Watch for new additions !

     I am, Fran Smith,  the new county coordinator for Marion Co.  I am a Native Floridian living in Central Florida.   My thanks go to Ron Dailey and Darrel Bell for their care of this sight in years past.

     I look forward to your help with making this site one of the best in the FLGenWeb Project.  Please search your store of information and share with other researchers what you have found for Marion Co. Biographies, Obituaries, Marriage, Birth, Death Records, Photos, Stories are all of value.  Thank you for helping by sending them to me.

A bit of history

Ocala in Marion County is located in the Central Highlands Region of Florida at the junction of US-441 and State Hwy 40.  This region is comprised of beautiful rolling hills, an abundance of wonderful pastureland, and a mild climate.  It has become renowned as a premier spot for Horse Ranching.  Several horses from Marion County have competed in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes.  Some horse farms allow visitors to take tours.

Originally what is now known as Marion County was part of Alachua County, Hillsborough County, and Mosquito (now Orange) County.  Marion County was created on March 14, 1844.  It was named for General Francis Marion, of South Carolina, also known as the "Swamp Fox" during the Revolutionary War.  Marion County drew many of its earliest settlers from South Carolina.  One hundred years after its creation Marion County boasted a population of 35,132 persons.  Within Marion County are the following cities/towns: Ocala, the county seat; Dunnellon; Belleview; Reddick; McIntosh; and Citra.

Marion County has two significant natural sites.  Near Ocala, east of Silver Springs is the Ocala National Forest, which covers 389,000 acres of land.  Established in 1908, it is the oldest National Forest east of the Mississippi River and southernmost in the continental U.S.  It is the largest existing area of Sand Pine, or Scrub Pine.  It is a playground for hunting, camping, trail riding and even taking home a Christmas tree cut from a forestry designated area.  There is a bombing range used by the Navy in training pilots, too. 

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Genealogically Oriented Pages

Birth, Death, & Marriage Records

If you are searching for birth, death, or marriage information for any county in Florida, you should be aware of the information maintained by the Florida State Vital Records Office.  You will need to use your browser's backspace key to return here.

You can also find birth, death, and marriage information at the site maintained by Ancestry.com.  Access to the information there will require a paid subscription.  It is located at: Florida Vital Records Information.  On the related page for Marion County, Marion County Vital Records, you will find the address and phone number for the local office. And, also links to images for the Marion County U.S. Federal Census for 1830 through 1930 (excluding 1890, of course).  Again, you will need to use your browser's backspace key to return here.


[Surname Register]  Surname Register

[Queries]  Queries at:   RootsWeb   GenForum

Queries through December 1998

Return to Marion County FLGenWeb Home Page

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 Books for Sale & Lookup

We welcome offers to lookup references in privately held books. Please e-mail me with any such offers.  Meanwhile, please check out what's already been offered.

FLGenWeb Archives

We are uploading files as we get them.  Please help us get more information online for everyone to share.  Visit often to see what we've added.

Florida Family Surnames and Genealogy Pages

If you have your own WebPage on one or more of the surnames you are researching, consider registering it with the others at the Florida Family Surnames and Genealogy Pages.

Florida Unknown County Queries

If you have a query, but do not know which county in Florida to search, try the Florida Unknown County Query Page.

Return to Marion County FLGenWeb Home Page

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E-Mail List for Marion County Genealogy

Darrel Bell manages the E-Mail Distribution List for Marion County Genealogy.  He invites anyone interested in Marion County Genealogy to subscribe by sending an e-mail message that contains the word

subscribe

and nothing else, ... to:
FLMARION-L-request@rootsweb.com


If you prefer DIGEST mode, send the e-mail instead to

FLMARION-D-request@rootsweb.com


MAIL mode sends postings as soon as received
DIGEST mode sends postings in one message when accumulated messages reach a set size limit
Regardless of which mode is preferred, all postings must go to:

FLMARION-L@rootsweb.com


Return to Marion County FLGenWeb Home Page

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Historical & Background Items of Interest

Marion County History

Originally what is now known as Marion County was at one time a part of Alachua County, Hillsborough, and Mosquito (current Orange) Counties.  On March 14, 1844 Marion County was born.  Named for General Francis Marion also known as the "Swamp Fox" during the Revolutionary War.  Marion County drew many of its earliest settlers from South Carolina.

Marion County Today

If you would like to know more about Marion County today and where you might find additional contemporary sources of genealogical data, you might like to visit Marion County, Ocala, Dunnellon, Belleview, Reddick, McIntosh, and Citra.  You will need to use your browser's back key to return to this site.

Return to Marion County FLGenWeb Home Page

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Links

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[Marion County Library] 

Marion County Library  

[Marion County Genealogical Society] 

Marion County Genealogical Society  

[Marion County Independent History & Genealogy] 

Marion County Independent History & Genealogy - affiliated with the American History & Geneaology Project.  

[Ocala Chapter of the Florida DAR] 

Ocala Chapter of the Florida DAR  

[Ocala Chapter of the Florida SAR] 

Ocala Chapter of the Florida SAR  

[Social Security Death Index] 

Social Security Death Index  

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[Mayflower]
Florida Mayflower Society

  James Chilton Colony located in The Villages to our South.

  William Mullins Colony located in Ocala and Gainesville.

Webmaster's Note:  We are fortunate to have two local colonies of the Florida Mayflower Society.

Return to Marion County FLGenWeb Home Page

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Genealogy of Marion County with shortcuts to Ancestor Counties

 Alachua Co (1824) Hillsborough Co (1834) Mosquito, now Orange Co (1824)
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Marion Co (1844)


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Shortcuts to Neighboring Counties

 Alachua Putnam

Levy Marion Volusia

Citrus Sumter Lake

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Fran Smith
Florida State Coordinator, for more information.
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Last updated 3 January 2010
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Fran Smith