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The Villages, Florida

Coordinates: 28°54′12″N 81°59′19″W / 28.90333°N 81.98861°W / 28.90333; -81.98861
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(Redirected from The Villages, FL)
"The Villages" redirects here. For other uses, see Village (disambiguation).

The Villages
Census-designated place
Sumter Landing in The Villages
Sumter Landing in The Villages
Official logo of The Villages
Logo
Nickname(s): 
Florida's Friendliest Hometown, Boomer Paradise
Map
Interactive map of The Villages
Coordinates: 28°54′12″N 81°59′19″W / 28.90333°N 81.98861°W / 28.90333; -81.98861[1]
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountySumter, Marion, Lake
Area
[2]
 • Total
33.95 sq mi (87.94 km2)
 • Land32.65 sq mi (84.57 km2)
 • Water1.30 sq mi (3.37 km2)
Elevation
[1]
52 ft (16 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total
79,077
 • Density2,421.89/sq mi (935.08/km2)
DemonymVillager
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
32159, 32162, 32163, 34731, 34785, 34762
Area code352
FIPS code12-71625[4]
GNIS feature ID2402925[1]
Websitethevillages.com

The Villages is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sumter, Marion, and Lake counties in the U.S. state of Florida. It forms the core of a broader master-planned, age-restricted community of the same name. Located in central Florida, approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of Ocala and 45 miles (72 km) northwest of Orlando, the CDP had a population of 79,077 at the 2020 United States census.[3] The Villages is known for its extensive amenities, including golf courses and recreation centers, and is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford metropolitan statistical area.

History

[edit]

In the 1960s, Michigan businessman Harold Schwartz began selling land in the area now known as The Villages through mail-order sales. In 1968, a federal law prohibiting real estate sales by mail order forced Schwartz and his business partner, Al Tarrson, to halt this practice.[5]

In the early 1970s, Schwartz and Tarrson developed Orange Blossom Gardens, a mobile home park in northwestern Lake County.[6] By the early 1980s, the community had sold approximately 400 units. In 1983, Schwartz bought out Tarrson’s interest and brought his son, H. Gary Morse, into the business. Inspired by successful retirement communities like Del Webb's Sun City, Morse expanded amenities, including golf courses and recreation centers, and pursued nearby commercial development. In 1992, the community was officially renamed The Villages.[7]

By the early 1990s, The Villages had grown to over 8,000 residents, with three golf courses and a Winn-Dixie supermarket.[8] Between 2010 and 2019, The Villages was the top-selling master-planned community in the United States, with 24,440 homes sold.[9]

The Villages operates under community development districts (CDDs), which manage infrastructure and amenities. In 2013, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ruled that $426 million in bonds issued by a CDD were not tax-exempt, as the district did not qualify as a government entity, resulting in approximately $750,000 in legal fees for residents.[10][11]

Expansion

[edit]

Since the 2010s, The Villages has expanded southward, acquiring land in Sumter and Marion counties. In 2017, the Holding Company of the Villages purchased 8,000 acres south of Florida State Road 44 and 2,600 acres near County Road 470 for residential and commercial development, with plans for approximately 4,500 homes.[12][13]

Community Structure

[edit]

The Villages is governed by community development districts and neighborhood declarations of restrictions, regulating aspects like landscaping and exterior modifications. An architectural review committee, composed of residents, oversees property alterations.[14] As an age-restricted community, at least 80% of homes must have a resident aged 55 or older, and persons under 19 may not reside permanently, except in designated family subdivisions.[15][16]

Geography

[edit]

The Villages is a census-designated place (CDP) spanning Sumter, Marion, and Lake counties in central Florida. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers a total area of 33.95 square miles (87.9 km2), of which 32.65 square miles (84.6 km2) is land and 1.30 square miles (3.4 km2), or 3.83%, is water.[2] It is located approximately 55 miles (89 km) northwest of Orlando and 80 miles (130 km) northeast of Tampa, with the city of Wildwood to the west and south, and the town of Lady Lake and city of Fruitland Park to the east.[2]

The broader master-planned community extends beyond the CDP, covering approximately 57 square miles (150 km2) across Sumter, Marion, and Lake counties, including areas north of Florida State Road 44 and south to five miles south of County Road 470.[17] The community maintains an extensive network of private roads, totaling about 750 miles (1,210 km) as of 2018.[18]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
20008,333—
201051,442517.3%
202079,07753.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[19]
The finish line of a 5K run in Lake Sumter Landing in 2018.
The Villages CDP, Florida – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[20] Pop 2010[21] Pop 2020[22] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White (NH) 8,100 49,840 75,374 97.20% 96.89% 95.32%
Black or African American (NH) 41 303 525 0.49% 0.59% 0.66%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 7 51 50 0.08% 0.10% 0.06%
Asian (NH) 44 340 616 0.53% 0.66% 0.78%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) 1 6 9 0.01% 0.01% 0.01%
Some other race (NH) 1 12 135 0.01% 0.02% 0.17%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 31 122 958 0.37% 0.24% 1.21%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 108 768 1,410 1.30% 1.49% 1.78%
Total 8,333 51,442 79,077 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 79,077 people, 45,634 households, and 30,701 families residing in the CDP.[23]

As of 2019, persons under five years accounted for 0.1% of the population, persons under 18 years accounted for 0.8%, persons 65 years and over accounted for 81.6%, and 53.6% of the population was female.[24] Median household income in 2019 was $63,841.[24]

In 2018, the median age for both sexes in The Villages metropolitan statistical area is 67.4, with this being 29 years older than a typical American and five years older than the median age of residents in the next-oldest county in the United States, which is on the Hawaiian island of Molokai.[25]

According to Politico, as of 2018, The Villages was the home of the largest veteran population anywhere in the United States that does not have a military base, with 16.3 percent of the population former military.[26][27]

Circa 2014, large groups of residents are from the Midwest and Northeast, with Staten Island supplying many of the residents.[28]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 51,442 people, 22,511 households, and 16,721 families residing in the CDP.[29]

Home ownership

[edit]

In The Villages, home ownership reflects the community's status as an age-restricted retirement destination. According to a 2020 analysis by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, women purchased 468 homes compared to 406 by men, a ratio of approximately 1.15:1, indicating a higher proportion of female buyers compared to other U.S. metropolitan areas.[30]

A 2021 Realtor.com report noted that the average down payment for homes in The Villages was 27.1%, among the highest in the United States, with a median home list price of $366,950.[31]

Crime

[edit]

According to an investigative report by WFTV News in Orlando, crime in The Villages is low and usually imported from other areas outside the community. The report stated that property crime and crimes of opportunity are approximately one-third lower than the average for the state of Florida. According to federal statistics, the statistics for violent crimes in The Villages area is half the state average. Rates of driving under the influence charges are approximately equivalent to those of other similarly sized places in Florida.[32]

Economy

[edit]
Polo Stadium in The Villages

The Villages supports a diverse economy centered on retail, healthcare, and services tailored to its age-restricted population. As of 2016, the community had developed approximately 5.7 million square feet of commercial space, hosting businesses such as restaurants, specialty retail, and medical facilities.[33]

Commercial areas include three town centers—Spanish Springs, Lake Sumter Landing, and Brownwood Paddock Square—each around 500,000 square feet, featuring a mix of shops, dining, entertainment, and services.[34] The community hosts 18 grocery stores, including nine Publix supermarkets, three Winn-Dixie stores, The Fresh Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, two Walmart Supercenters, and a Walmart Neighborhood Market.[33] Citizens First Bank, a local community bank, operates 12 branches within The Villages.[35] Commercial spaces maintain high occupancy rates, averaging around 97% as of 2018.[33]

From 2007 to 2017, The Villages Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) saw significant economic growth, with its gross domestic product (GDP) increasing by 51.4% to $2.1 billion.[36] Between 2010 and 2018, the MSA added approximately 13,900 jobs, primarily in retail, healthcare, and construction, driven by the community’s expansion.[37]

Arts and culture

[edit]

Entertainment

[edit]
One of multiple baton twirling groups in The Villages, the Prime Time Twirlers.

In 2015, the Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center, a venue with over 1,000 seats, opened.[38] The Studio Tierra Del Sol, a black box theatre with seating for 100, opened in 2016.[39]

Fictitious historical markers and architectural details provide an atmosphere for the residents. One historian wrote, "The Villages' faux history gives a patina of stability and continuity to a highly volatile region and stage of life."[40][41] Many plaques represent the "downtown areas" as if events derived from notions of an idyllic small town in the 1800s had occurred there.[42] Such "American myths" feature in the designs for Brownwood, Lake Sumter Landing, and Spanish Springs.[43]

Other activities

[edit]

The Villages operates golf courses, recreation centers, softball fields, a polo stadium called The Villages Polo Stadium,[44] a woodworking shop, and a lifelong learning college.[45] There are also outdoor target archery ranges.[citation needed]

Recreation

[edit]

Clubs

[edit]

The Villages hosts over 3,500 resident-led clubs, offering activities such as sports, arts, crafts, music, and social gatherings, which foster community engagement among its age-restricted population. Examples include the Pickleball Club, The Villages Woodworkers Club, Line Dance Club, The Villages Single Seniors, The Villages Garden Club, and the Veterans Club, catering to diverse interests from athletics to social connections.[46]

Annual events

[edit]

The Villages host The Senior Games each April, where approximately 2,000 residents compete in hundreds of athletic events. The top five athletes in each age division then compete in the Florida Senior Games. For 18 years, The Senior Games have taken place in The Villages.[47][48]

Parks and recreation

[edit]

The Villages offers extensive recreational facilities and activities tailored to its age-restricted population, primarily funded through a monthly amenities fee of approximately $189.[49] These include golf courses, recreation centers, resident-led clubs, parks, and trails, fostering an active lifestyle for residents.[50]

Golf courses

[edit]
The 18th green at Tierra Del Sol, one of the twelve country club golf courses at The Villages

The Villages operates 56 golf courses with 729 holes, including 42 nine-hole executive golf courses, 12 country club championship courses, and two specialty putting courses.[51] A golf instruction academy provides lessons and clinics for residents.[52]

Recreation centers

[edit]

The Villages operates over 100 recreation centers, offering facilities for sports, fitness, and social activities.[53] These include courts for pickleball, tennis, bocce, shuffleboard, and horseshoes, as well as swimming pools, billiards, fitness centers, and spaces for theatrical and musical productions.[50] Notable centers, such as the Eisenhower Regional Recreation Center, feature unique amenities like military history exhibits.[54] The Enrichment Academy, launched in 2017, offers over 140 fee-based courses in topics like scuba diving, culinary arts, and photography.[50]

Clubs and activities

[edit]

Over 3,000 resident-led clubs provide opportunities for social and recreational engagement, including the Pickleball Club, The Villages Woodworkers Club, Line Dance Club, The Villages Single Seniors, The Villages Garden Club, and the Veterans Club.[55] Additional activities include archery, air gun ranges, volleyball, croquet, and fishing, with specialized programs like S.T.A.R. for adults with special needs.[50] Weekly events, such as live music and trivia, occur at town squares and recreation centers.[56]

Parks and trails

[edit]
The Fenney Recreational Center showing a portion of the Fenney Springs Nature Trail.
The Fenney Recreational Center showing a portion of the Fenney Springs Nature Trail.

The Villages features numerous parks, dog parks, and fitness trails, open daily from dawn to dusk.[57] Notable areas include Lake Sumter Landing’s waterfront park, Fenney Springs Nature Trail, and four dog parks (Paradise, Mulberry, Atlas, and Dudley).[58] These spaces support activities like walking, picnicking, and pet recreation, enhancing the community’s outdoor lifestyle.[50]

Government

[edit]

The Villages operates under a system of Community Development Districts (CDDs) and local government jurisdictions across Sumter, Marion, and Lake counties, serving its age-restricted population.[59] The community is known for high voter turnout, with approximately 80% participation in elections as of 2012, and a significant Republican voter base.[60]

Representation

[edit]

The Villages is located in Florida's 11th congressional district, represented by Republican Daniel Webster.[61] At the state level, it falls within Florida Senate District 12, represented by Republican Dennis Baxley, and Florida House of Representatives District 26, represented by Republican Keith Truenow.[62][63] County representation includes Sumter County Districts 1 and 3, Marion County District 3, and Lake County District 1.[64][65][66]

Local government

[edit]

Most of The Villages is governed by 17 Community Development Districts (CDDs), special-purpose local governments under Florida law, responsible for infrastructure maintenance, recreation, public safety, sanitation, and open spaces.[59] Each CDD is managed by a board of supervisors, with funding from property taxes and user fees, such as the monthly amenities fee.[59] Four additional districts—Village Center (VCCDD), Sumter Landing (SLCDD), Brownwood (BCDD), and North Sumter County Utility (NSCUDD)—handle commercial areas, utilities, and services, overseen by boards composed of developer affiliates due to the absence of residents in these zones.[67] Portions in Lady Lake fall under municipal jurisdiction, outside some CDDs.[59] Two homeowners associations, the Property Owners Association (POA) and The Villages Homeowners Association (VHA), address resident concerns and community standards.[68]

Politics and elections

[edit]

The Villages is a stronghold for the Republican Party, with registered Republicans outnumbering Democrats two-to-one as of 2012.[60] Its high voter turnout and conservative lean make it a frequent stop for Republican candidates, including former presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump, who visited in 2004 and 2019–2020, respectively, and vice presidents Dick Cheney, Sarah Palin, and Mike Pence.[60][69][70] The community’s political significance stems from its large, engaged retiree population, drawing campaign visits from figures like Marco Rubio, Rick Scott, and Mitt Romney.[71]

Education

[edit]

Primary and secondary education

[edit]

The following school listings are primarily for tax base purposes only, as The Villages does not allow full-time residents under age 19 except in the three family unit neighborhoods of Bison Valley, Spring Arbor, and Oak Meadows[72] or by exception granted for hardship cases.

Although children cannot legally reside in most neighborhoods of The Villages under most circumstances, The Villages Charter Schools is a kindergarten to 12th grade charter school in unincorporated Sumter County.[75] Children can attend the charter school if one or both of their parents work directly for The Villages or one of its direct subcontractors or if a parent works for a business located within The Villages. Children of residents who reside in a family unit neighborhood or by granted exemption do not automatically qualify for attendance based solely on their residence.[76]

Post-secondary education

[edit]

Enrichment Academy

[edit]

In the fall of 2017, The Villages launched The Enrichment Academy with more than 140 fee-based, lifelong learning, noncredit courses on topics such as scuba diving, literature, philosophy and psychology, culinary arts, technology, foreign language, photography, and more. The academy is part of the Recreation and Parks Department and takes place at designated Recreation locations and other approved sites throughout The Villages.[77][78]

Media

[edit]

Television channels from the Orlando market serve the Villages, although channels from the Tampa market also cover the area. It is also served by radio stations from both the Orlando and Ocala areas and by area newspapers such as the Orlando Sentinel, the Tampa Bay Times, the Leesburg Daily Commercial, and the Ocala Star-Banner.

A documentary called Some Kind of Heaven, about four residents of The Villages, was released in January 2021.[79] The documentary The Bubble, also released in 2021, depicts life inside The Villages.[80][81]

Local media

[edit]

The Villages developers or their successors own and operate three media properties:

Public radio station WMFV (89.5) serves the area and is owned by the same group as Orlando public radio station WMFE-FM, with some variations from WMFE's master schedule.

Infrastructure

[edit]

Transportation

[edit]
Golf cart bridge over US 27/US 441
Golf cart bridge over SR 44 at Brownwood Paddock Square

Highways

[edit]

The Villages development is bounded roughly by US 27/US 441 to the east, US 301 to the west, County Road 42 to the north, and County Road 468 well south of 466A with the development of several new villages, Fenney, and the Brownwood town center in that area. On December 10, 2013, The Villages of Lake-Sumter Inc. agreed to an $8 million deal to purchase the Pine Ridge Dairy tract in Fruitland Park, Florida with a planned construction of 2,038 new Villages homes.[83] Although County Road 466 previously served as the central east–west corridor, the addition of homes and facilities south of County Road 466 and in the city of Fruitland Park, Florida has turned County Road 466A into a secondary east–west corridor.[84] Buena Vista Boulevard and Morse Boulevard serve as significant north–south corridors.[85]

The construction of four additional golf cart overpasses were finished between 2020 and 2023. The Chitty Chatty Bridge, crossing Florida State Road 44 near Rohan Recreation Center and Lake Deaton Plaza, opened to traffic in October 2020. A second overpass, the Brownwood Bridge, which crosses SR 44 near Brownwood Paddock Square, opened to traffic the following December. A third overpass, the Water Lily Bridge crossing Florida's Turnpike near Water Lily Recreation Center, opened in March 2021. The Southern Oaks Bridge, also crossing the Turnpike just south of the Okahumpka Service Plaza, opened in August 2023.

Public transportation

[edit]

Sumter County Transit operates The Villages shuttle. They provide various weekday loops through the Villages.[86]

The Villages developers operate a trolley-style bus tour of the community from the sales and information center at The Market Square in Lake Sumter Landing.

Until 2004, when the train was shortened to Savannah, Georgia, Amtrak's Palmetto (then on a New York–Tampa itinerary) served adjacent Wildwood. Amtrak's Amtrak Thruway bus service stops in The Villages. The bus travels from Jacksonville to Dade City and is timed to meet arrivals and departures of the Silver Star train in Jacksonville.

Autonomous vehicles

[edit]

In early 2018, The Villages was chosen for a pilot program offering autonomous taxis in the area of Lake Sumter Landing. This made The Villages one of the first cities in the United States to offer paid taxi services using autonomous vehicles throughout the community.[87] In the early stages of the program, the vehicle was to have a safety driver in the driver's seat, and later, the driver was to be removed, with the automobile monitored from a control station. The taxis were to be operated by Voyage Auto, a startup company from San Jose, California. As of 2019, The Villages held a 0.5 percent stake in Voyage Auto.[88][89]

Notable people

[edit]

Criticism

[edit]

The effort to present a "fanciful past" for The Villages through fictionalized plaques and building details demonstrates "the role that history plays in retirement migration."[40][93] Critics have negatively compared this presentation to the approach of Disney theme parks, claiming that the plaques generally do not address ethnic minorities or conflict.[42] Amanda Brian argued in her book, "The Villages' 'history' whitewashes Florida's past and celebrates a straightforward tale of economic growth."[94]

[edit]

References

[edit]
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  2. ^ a b c "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "P1. Race – The Villages CDP, Florida: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  4. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 23, 2015.
  5. ^ Coffey, Ronald John; James d (July 15, 2016). "Federal Regulation of Land Sales: Full Disclosure Comes Down to Earth". Case Western Reserve University School of Law Scholarly Commons. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  6. ^ Curry, Christopher (December 24, 2003). "Villages' founder dies at 93". The Star Banner. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  7. ^ Erisman, Ryan (2011). "Chapter 3". The Villages Florida Book. For Boomers Media. ISBN 978-0615525556.
  8. ^ Howard, Paula (December 28, 2018). "Recalling The Villages Early Years". Lake & Sumter Style. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  9. ^ "The Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities of 2019 and "Best" of the Decade". RCLCO. January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
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  42. ^ a b Brian, p. 65.
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  72. ^ "VCDD Deed Compliance - Family Units".
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  76. ^ "Charter-in-the-Workplace." The Villages Charter Schools. Retrieved on December 11, 2008.
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  78. ^ Williams, Erin (January 7, 2018). "Countless opportunities for Continuous Learning". The Villages Daily Sun. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  79. ^ "IMDB". IMDb.
  80. ^ Lang, Jamie (April 17, 2021). "Visions du Réel Premiere 'The Bubble' Goes Behind the Facade of Florida's Idyllic Retirement Community The Villages". Variety. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  81. ^ "Golf, Booze & Guns: Inside Boomer Paradise / The Bubble (Full Film) / The Short List". YouTube. Directed by Valerie Blankenbyl. Vice. October 6, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  82. ^ Staff Report (October 2, 2018). "Statement shows Daily Sun's circulation dips, reaffirms Morse family's ownership". Villages-News.com. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  83. ^ "Villages closes $8 million deal on Fruitland Park property". Villages-News. December 10, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  84. ^ "County Road 466A now open through Wildwood to U.S. 301". Villages-News. April 20, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  85. ^ "Printable Directions to The Villages".
  86. ^ Sumter County Transit
  87. ^ Turck, Mitch (June 18, 2018). "Instead Of Ten-Figure Funding, This Robotaxi Startup Has Actual Customers". Forbes. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  88. ^ Wembridge, Mark (June 4, 2019). "Why a retirement town became a test track for driverless cars". Financial Times. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  89. ^ Corder, David R. (January 10, 2018). "Driverless Taxi Service Coming to The Villages". The Villages Daily Sun. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  90. ^ Rorke, Robert; Getlen, Larry; Seibel, Deborah Starr (September 8, 2013). "Actors to watch this fall". New York Post. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  91. ^ Glenn, Rhonda (December 7, 2012). "Catching Up With ... Nancy Lopez: 40 years after winning her first U.S. Girls' Junior, Hall of Famer is busy on and off course". USGA. Archived from the original on July 23, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  92. ^ Winters, Jill (May 1, 2024). "Bob Scrap Iron Stinson". The Villages Magazine. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  93. ^ Brian p. 59.
  94. ^ Brian, p. 68.
  95. ^ Boedeker, Hal (January 19, 2017). "Comic Kathleen Madigan: The Villages has sense of humor". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  96. ^ Kring-Schreifels, Jake (February 1, 2020). "Sundance Review: Some Kind of Heaven Examines Whether Retirement Can Be Paradise". The Film Stage. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
  97. ^ "The Bubble". Austrian Film Institute. Retrieved July 22, 2023.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Blechman, Andrew D. (2008). Leisureville: Adventures in America's retirement utopias. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press.
  • Oppenheim, Lance (Director). Some Kind of Heaven (color documentary, running time 1 hr. 21 min.). Released January 15, 2020, in the United States. Filmed in The Villages, Florida. Production companies: 30WEST, Los Angeles Media Fund, Protozoa Pictures.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Villages, Florida.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for The Villages.
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