Ocklawaha, Florida

Last updated

Ocklawaha, Florida
Census-designated place
Ocklawaha post office01.jpg
Ocklawaha Post Office
Ocklawaha, Florida
Interactive map of Ocklawaha, Florida
Coordinates: 29°02′39″N81°56′02″W / 29.04417°N 81.93389°W / 29.04417; -81.93389 [1]
Area
[2]
 • Total
3.39 sq mi (8.8 km2)
 • Land2.39 sq mi (6.2 km2)
 • Water1.00 sq mi (2.6 km2)
Elevation
[1]
69 ft (21 m)
Population
 (2020) [3]
 • Total
1,508
 • Density630.7/sq mi (243.5/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
32179, 32183
Area code 352
FIPS code 12-51050
GNIS feature ID2805183 [1]

Ocklawaha (also spelled Oklawaha) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Marion County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,508. [3] The community is part of the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

History

A post office was established at Ocklawaha in 1884. [4] The area has its own postal district (32179) [5] and post office. [6] The community took its name from the nearby Ocklawaha River. [7]

The Shootout

"Ma" and Fred Barker died in the upper left bedroom of this house beside Lake Weir in Florida Barker Cottage on Lake Weir in Florida.jpg
"Ma" and Fred Barker died in the upper left bedroom of this house beside Lake Weir in Florida

In 1935, Ocklawaha was the scene of a shootout between federal agents and Barker-Karpis Gang member Fred Barker. The agents fired about 500 bullets into the house, with roughly 250 shots fired in return, according to the after-action report of Special Agent in Charge Earl "E.J." Connelley. [8] The fight ended in the deaths of Fred Barker and his mother Kate "Ma" Barker.

Geography

Ocklawaha is located in southeastern Marion County on the north shore of Lake Weir. It is bordered to the east by Silver Springs Shores East. Ocala, the Marion county seat, is 18 miles (29 km) to the northwest, and Leesburg is the same distance to the south.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Ocklawaha CDP has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2), of which 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2) are land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2), or 29.5%, are water. The water area is mainly in Lake Weir to the south, with the rest in Bowers Lake on the western edge of the community.

See also

Flag of Florida.svg Floridaportal

References

  1. 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ocklawaha, Florida
  2. ↑ "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "P1. Race – Ocklawaha CDP, Florida: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Notification Service | Post Offices". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Detail". M.usps.com. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  6. ↑ Frisaro, Freida Ratliff (February 21, 1988). "Indian heritage runs deep throughout Central Florida". Star-Banner . Ocala, Florida. p. 63. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  7. ↑ Pyle, Nancy (May 14, 1987). "County's history reflected in its names". Star-Banner . Ocala, Florida. pp. 8A. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Bremer Kidnapping Part 75" (PDF).

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