Ocklawaha is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Marion County, Florida, lying southeast of Ocala and northwest of Lake Weir. Its population is about 1,500. The community takes its name from the Ocklawaha River, a 74-mile waterway that flows north from central Florida to the St. Johns River near Palatka — a name derived from the Creek word for "muddy." The area's history runs deep. The Lake Weir region was occupied by the Timucuan people and visited by Spanish missionaries around 1600, and the land around the lake supported agriculture for centuries. In the 19th century, Lake Weir's scenic beauty drew early tourism and settlement, and the surrounding countryside developed as farmland and citrus groves. Ocklawaha itself remained a small, unincorporated lakeside and river community rather than incorporating as a city. Geography defines modern Ocklawaha. To the south and east lies Lake Weir, a large spring-fed lake popular for boating, fishing, and water sports, with the Carney Island Recreation and Conservation Area providing public lake access. To the north and east stretch the Ocklawaha River, the Rodman Reservoir, and the Ocala National Forest — the southernmost national forest in the continental United States — with its springs, hiking trails, and off-road riding areas. Education is provided by Marion County Public Schools, with students attending nearby campuses including Forest High School. Residents look to Ocala, about 15 miles to the northwest, for shopping, healthcare, and employment, while The Villages lies to the southwest. Ocklawaha suits retirees, seasonal residents, and households seeking an affordable, nature-centered home between lake and forest in rural Marion County.