Marion County, Florida
Marion County was created in 1844 from portions of Alachua, Mosquito (Orange), and Hillsborough counties.  Until 1853, Marion County included most of what are now Lake and Sumter counties.  The county is named after General Francis Marion of South Carolina, a guerilla fighter and hero of the American Revolutionary War.  Many of the early settlers of Marion County were from South Carolina.  The county motto is "Kingdom of the Sun." Farms in the county are known for breeding champion race horses such as Affirmed and Needles.