The Villages, Florida

Last updated

The Villages
Census-designated place
Villages LSL02.jpg
Sumter Landing in The Villages
The Villages text logo.svg
Logo
Nickname(s): 
Florida's Friendliest Hometown, Boomer Paradise
The Villages, Florida
Interactive map of The Villages
Coordinates: 28°54′12″N81°59′19″W / 28.90333°N 81.98861°W / 28.90333; -81.98861 [1]
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
County Sumter, Marion, Lake
Area
[2]
 • Total33.95 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]
 • Total79,077
 • Density2,421.89/sq mi (935.08/km2)
Demonym Villager
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code(s)
32159, 32162, 32163, 34731, 34785, 34762
Area code 352
FIPS code 12-71625 [4]
GNIS feature ID2402925 [1]
Website thevillages.com

The Villages is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sumter and Marion counties in the U.S. state of Florida. It shares its name with a broader master-planned, age-restricted community that spreads into portions of Lake County. The overall development lies in central Florida, approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of Ocala and approximately 45 miles (72 km) northwest of Orlando. As of the 2020 census, the population of the CDP was 79,077. [3]

Contents

The Villages covers an area of approximately 32 square miles (83 km2), [5] and is expanding mainly to the south of the current community. [6] It is made up of 17 special purpose community development districts (CDD), which are controlled by a board of supervisors (BoS), five individuals elected by the landowners of the district. [7] H. Gary Morse, the original owner's son, transferred most direct ownership in the company to his three children in 2006. [8]

The community is the center of The Villages metropolitan area, which consists of all of Sumter County and is included in the Orlando–Lakeland–Deltona combined statistical area; and Marion County is included in the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to May 2023 Census Bureau data, between July 1, 2021, and July 1, 2022, The Villages metro area grew by 7.5% or 10,103 people to 144,970 residents. The area was the fastest-growing metropolitan statistical area in the United States. [9] [10]

History

Harold Schwartz, a Michigan businessman, began selling land tracts via mail order in The Villages area in the 1960s. He and his business partner, Al Tarrson, were forced to close this aspect of the business following the implementation of a 1968 federal law banning real estate sales by mail order. [11] [12]

Stuck with considerable portions of Florida land, in the early 1970s, Schwartz and Tarrson began the development of a mobile home park, Orange Blossom Gardens, in the northwestern corner of Lake County. [13] By the early 1980s, the community had sold only 400 units. Schwartz bought out Tarrson's interest in improving the business and brought his son, H. Gary Morse, on board in 1983.

Morse noted that the thriving retirement communities (such as Del Webb's Sun City developments) offered numerous well-maintained amenities to the residents. They also had diverse and nearby commercial development. Morse began to upgrade the development significantly. Their sales improved in the mid-1980s. Schwartz began to buy large tracts of land in nearby Sumter and Marion counties for future expansion. In 1992, Morse officially changed the overall development name to The Villages. The development is still controlled in all significant aspects by descendants of Schwartz and Morse.

By the early 1990s, The Villages had more than 8,000 residents, three golf courses, the first Winn✓Dixie supermarket opened, just four restaurants and nightly dances were held in a tent. [14]

In 2008, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) notified the Village Center CDD of its intent to audit several recreational bonds issued in 2003 to determine compliance with tax regulations (mainly due to their status as municipal bonds which are exempt from federal income tax).[ citation needed ] In 2013, the IRS ruled that $426 million in bonds were not tax-free since the bureaucracy running The Villages could not be considered a real government. [15] The Villages' residents bore approximately $750,000.00 in legal fees defending against the IRS audit. [16]

Expansion

In January 2017, the Holding Company of the Villages announced the purchase of 8,000 acres of land south of Florida State Road 44 in and around the villages of Southern Oaks and Fenney. In the spring of 2017, The Villages announced a planned acquisition of 2,600 acres north and south of County Road 470 along the east side of Florida's Turnpike for future development. The deal has passed due diligence by the Leesburg City Commission, and zoning ordinance changes were approved by the Leesburg Planning Commission (with the city commission giving final approval). [17] The initial plans call for the building of approximately 4,500 homes with some commercial development also being planned. [18]

According to data from RCLCO Real Estate, the Holding Company of the Villages sold 2,231 homes in 2017, a 13% increase over 2016. The Villages was the top-selling master-planned community in the United States in 2017 and one of only four communities to sell more than 1,000 homes. [19]

The Villages also claimed the title of the best-selling master-planned community of the decade, with 24,440 new home sales from 2010 through 2019. [20]

In January 2024, RCLCO Real Estate Advisors named The Villages the top-selling planned community for the eleventh consecutive year, with 3,029 new homes sold in 2023, a decrease of 23 percent over 2022. [21]

Structure

A declaration of restrictions has been created for each neighborhood, which regulates the design and operational aspects, such as landscaping, repairs and maintenance, placement of satellite dishes, hedges, etc. An architectural review committee controls the composition and consistency of the exterior of the residential properties within The Villages. The committee, which consists of Villages residents, reviews and approves alterations and modifications to the properties and homes built by the developer. Committee members serve for three years and are selected by the sitting committee. [22]

To qualify for an exception to the Housing for Older Persons Act prohibitions against discrimination, at least 80 percent of the homes within The Villages must have at least one person 55 years of age or older residing in the home. [23] Persons under the age of 19 years are not permitted to reside within The Villages unless an exemption is granted. Three subdivisions have been designated as family units, [24] and are not subject to this restriction. Otherwise, persons under 19 (such as grandchildren) can visit for up to 30 days within a calendar year. [25]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, as of 2022, the CDP has a total area of 34.0 square miles (88 km2), of which 32.7 square miles (85 km2) are land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2), or 3.83%, are water. [5] The Villages is located approximately 55 miles (89 km) northwest of Orlando and 80 miles (130 km) northeast of Tampa. It is bordered to the west and south by the city of Wildwood in Sumter County and to the east by the town of Lady Lake and city of Fruitland Park in Lake County.

As of 2018, The Villages has approximately 750 miles (1,210 km) of mostly private roads. [26]

According to The Villages website, north of Florida State Road 44, there is approximately 37 square miles (96 km2) of land. From SR 44 to CR 470 there is approximately 20 square miles (52 km2) of land. Currently under development and/or complete, there is a combined total land area of approximately 57 square miles (150 km2), or over 36,000 acres of land. [27]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
2000 8,333—
2010 51,442517.3%
2020 79,07753.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [28]
The finish line of a 5K run in Lake Sumter Landing in 2018. 5K run in the Villages Florida.jpg
The finish line of a 5K run in Lake Sumter Landing in 2018.
The Villages racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
RacePop 2010 [29] Pop 2020 [30] % 2010% 2020
White (NH)49,84075,37496.89%95.32%
Black or African American (NH)3035250.59%0.66%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)51500.10%0.06%
Asian (NH)3406160.66%0.78%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)690.01%0.01%
Some other race (NH)121350.02%0.17%
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH)1229580.24%1.21%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)7681,4101.49%1.78%
Total51,44279,077

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 79,077 people, 45,634 households, and 30,701 families residing in the CDP. [31]

As of 2019, persons under 5 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. [32] Median household income in 2019 was $63,841. [32]

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. [33]

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. [34] [35]

Circa 2014, large groups of residents are from the Midwest and Northeast, with Staten Island supplying many of the residents. [36]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 51,442 people, 22,511 households, and 16,721 families residing in the CDP. [37]

Home ownership

According to the data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, women purchased 468 homes while men bought 406; this means approved mortgages for women as a percentage of approved mortgages for men was 115%, making The Villages the highest rate of the 400 metropolitan areas in the United States. [38]

According to a November 2021 article on Realtor.com, the average down payment on a home in The Villages is 27.1 percent, which is the highest in the U.S., and the median home list price is $366,950. [39]

Crime

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. [40]

Economy

Polo Stadium in The Villages Polo Stadium in The Villages Florida.jpg
Polo Stadium in The Villages

As of 2016, The Villages built 5.7 million square feet of commercial business space. Major businesses include restaurants, retail geared toward older Americans, and healthcare providers. [41] The average commercial occupancy rate in The Villages is approximately 97 percent. [42]

Commercial areas in The Villages include town centers, regional shopping centers, and neighborhood retail plazas. The main business areas are the 500,000-square-foot town centers that feature a mixture of retailers, restaurants, entertainment, and service providers. [43] The Villages has a total of 14 grocery stores including seven Publix, three Winn✓Dixie locations, The Fresh Market, Target, Walmart Supercenter, and a Walmart Neighborhood Market. [42] Citizens First Bank, a community bank headquartered in The Villages, has nine locations throughout the community. [44]

In the ten years from 2007 to 2017, The Villages metropolitan statistical area (MSA) was the 9th fastest growing area in the United States, with the GDP growing 51.4% to $2.1 billion. [45] According to state and federal jobs data, between 2010 and 2018 The Villages metropolitan statistical area added 13,893 jobs. [46]

Arts and culture

Entertainment

One of multiple baton twirling groups in The Villages, the Prime Time Twirlers. Prime Time Twirlers 2023 Outside.jpg
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. [47] The Studio Tierra Del Sol, a black box theatre with seating for 100, opened in 2016. [48]

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." [49] [50] Many plaques represent the "downtown areas" as if events derived from notions of an idyllic small town in the 1800s had occurred there. [51] Such "American myths" feature in the designs for Brownwood, Lake Sumter Landing, and Spanish Springs. [52]

Other activities

The Villages operates golf courses, recreation centers, softball fields, a polo stadium called The Villages Polo Stadium, [53] a woodworking shop, and a lifelong learning college. [54] There are also outdoor target archery ranges.[ citation needed ]

Clubs

As of 2018, The Villages offers over 2,700 social clubs, including dance clubs, genealogy clubs, singles clubs, sports clubs, Beatlemaniacs club, and gardening clubs. [55]

Annual events

Each April, The Villages host The Senior Games, 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. [56] [57]

Parks and recreation

The 18th green at Tierra Del Sol, one of the twelve country club golf courses at The Villages TheVillagesGolf.jpg
The 18th green at Tierra Del Sol, one of the twelve country club golf courses at The Villages

Most of the costs of recreational activities are paid via the monthly amenities fee assessed to residents. [58]

Golf courses

The Villages operates 56 courses with 729 holes across all courses. [34] Of those, 42 courses are [59] are 9-hole, executive golf course. The remaining courses are country club championship courses, [59] three specialty courses, [60] and putting courses. [59] The Villages operates a golf instruction academy. [61]

Recreation centers

The Fenney Recreational Center showing a portion of the Fenney Springs Nature Trail. Feeney Recreational Center 2017.jpg
The Fenney Recreational Center showing a portion of the Fenney Springs Nature Trail.

The Villages operates 100 recreation centers. [62] Activities available include bocce, horseshoe, and shuffleboard courts, swimming, billiards, tennis, pickleball, theatrical and musical productions, and fitness. [62] [63] [64] [65] There are parks, dog parks, and fitness trails.[ citation needed ]

Government

Residents of The Villages historically have a high election turnout rate of 80%. As of August 2012, Republicans outnumber Democrats two-to-one. [66]

A critical part of Central Florida's Republican party, The Villages has been frequently visited on the campaign trail by politicians such as Florida governor Rick Scott and United States senator Marco Rubio. During the 2014 Florida gubernatorial election, Scott visited The Villages on the eve of the election to rally votes. [67] Just before the 2016 United States Senate election in Florida, Rubio stopped off at the temporary Republican Headquarters established at Lake Sumter Landing in The Villages.

The Villages is in Florida's 11th congressional district represented by Representative Daniel Webster.

State representation

The entirety of The Villages is within the boundaries of Florida Senate District 12 (represented by Republican Dennis Baxley) and is within the boundaries of Florida House of Representatives District 33 (represented by Republican Brett Hage).

County

The portion of The Villages within Lake County is within Lake County District 1. [68]

The portion of The Villages within Marion County is within Marion County District 3. [69]

Areas of The Villages in Sumter County are divided between Sumter County District 1, which takes areas east of Morse Boulevard, and Sumter County District 3, which takes areas west of Morse Boulevard. [70] [71]

Local government

The majority of The Villages is developed and maintained using several Community Development Districts (CDD). [72] The CDD is a form of special purpose local government available under Florida law. As of August 2007, around 225 communities in Florida use this form of government. [72] The portion of The Villages located in Lake County is under the jurisdiction of the city of Lady Lake and is not part of any of the district CDDs, but a portion is under the larger CDDs.

The Villages Community Development Districts are special-purpose districts established under Florida State Statutes. There are currently[ when? ] 17 CDDs in The Villages, each with its dedicated board of supervisors. The CDDs are responsible for a variety of functions, including:

The CDDs are funded by a combination of property taxes and user fees. All residents of The Villages pay property taxes, while user fees are paid by residents who use specific CDD-provided services, such as recreation facilities or water and wastewater services. The current district setup is as follows: [73]

DistrictLocationNumber of Residential Units
District 1Consists of approximately 998 acres (4.04 km2) in the northeast corner of Sumter County3,420 residential units
District 2Consists of approximately 990 acres (4.0 km2) in the northeast corner of Sumter County3,668 residential units
District 3Consists of approximately 894.3 acres (3.619 km2) in the northeast corner of Sumter County3,762 residential units
District 4Consists of approximately 1,253.5 acres (5.073 km2) in the southern portion of Marion County5,432 residential units
District 5Consists of approximately 1,408 acres (5.70 km2) in the northeast corner of Sumter County6,399 residential units
District 6Consists of approximately 1,497 acres (6.06 km2) in the northeast corner of Sumter County6,677 residential units
District 7Consists of approximately 976 acres (3.95 km2) in the northeast corner of Sumter County4,765 residential units
District 8Consists of approximately 1,070 acres (4.3 km2) in the northeast corner of Sumter County5,140 residential units
District 9Consists of approximately 1,285.7 acres (5.203 km2) in the northeast corner of Sumter County5,409 residential units
District 10Consists of approximately 1,588.8 acres (6.430 km2) in the northeast corner of Sumter County6,639 residential units
District 11Consists of approximately 692.80 acres (2.8037 km2) in the City of Fruitland Park 2,055 residential units
District 12Consists of approximately 1,490 acres (6.0 km2) in the City of Wildwood 2,490 residential units
District 13Consists of approximately 2,464.70 acres (9.9743 km2) in the City of Wildwood Unknown

The remaining four CDDs are:

Unlike the residential CDDs, there are no residents within the CDD boundaries. Thus, each district's five-member Board of Supervisors is composed of the developer's employees or affiliates. [74] [75]

Ownership associations

There are also two homeowners associations in The Villages: The Property Owners Association (POA) and The Villages Homeowners Association (VHA). [76]

Politics

The Villages has been a popular election stop and platform for Republican political figures, such as former vice president Dick Cheney, former presidential and vice presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, [77] former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, [78] 2016 GOP presidential primary candidates Marco Rubio and Ben Carson, former presidential candidate Rick Santorum, and talk show hosts/authors Glenn Beck [79] and Brian Kilmeade. In the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election, GOP vice presidential nominee Mike Pence visited to campaign for his running mate, Donald Trump. [80]

Presidential and vice presidential visits

In October 2004, George W. Bush became the first president to visit The Villages with a rally in the new Lake Sumter Landing Market Square with approximately 20,000 supporters. The visit was less than two weeks before the 2004 United States presidential election while Bush sought to be elected to a second term. [81]

A White House official announced that President Trump would be visiting the Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center on August 6, 2019, to speak about Medicare at an invitation-only event. [82] Due to the separate mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and in Dayton, Ohio, Trump postponed the visit. [83]

On October 4, 2019, Trump touched down at Ocala International Airport aboard Air Force One. He briefly greeted officials and supporters before boarding Marine One and flying to The Villages Polo Club. [84] From there, Trump traveled via motorcade to the Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center where he delivered an hour-long speech about expanding Medicare eligibility to an invitation-only audience of roughly 1,000 supporters. [85] A live video feed of the event was broadcast to crowds in Spanish Springs Town Square. Trump was the second sitting president to visit The Villages. [86] During his visit to The Villages, Trump said, "I'm thrilled to be here, one of the most famous and thriving communities anywhere in Florida, and really anywhere in the world as far as I'm concerned." At the close of the event, Trump signed an executive order to expand private insurance options for seniors under Medicare. [87] [88]

On October 10, 2020, Vice President Mike Pence spoke before a crowd of approximately 1,100 supporters in Brownwood Paddock Square. Topics covered by Pence included support for veterans, the economy and job creation, the administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and NASA funding. [89]

On October 23, 2020, Trump visited The Villages appearing with Governor Ron DeSantis and former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi. After arriving by helicopter on Marine One, he appeared before approximately 10,000 supporters in a field behind The Villages Polo Club. During the speech, Trump said he loved The Villages and joked about moving to the community. Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to visit The Villages twice. [90]

Education

Primary and secondary education

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 [24] 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. [93] 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. [94]

Post-secondary education

Enrichment Academy

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. [95] [96]

Media

The Villages is served by television channels from the Orlando market, 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. [97] The documentary The Bubble, also released in 2021, depicts life inside The Villages. [98] [99]

Local media

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

Transportation

Golf cart bridge over US 27/US 441 Villages FL golf arch03.jpg
Golf cart bridge over US 27/US 441
Golf cart bridge over SR 44 at Brownwood Paddock Square Bridge over SR 44 at Brownwood.jpg
Golf cart bridge over SR 44 at Brownwood Paddock Square

Highways

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 Pine Ridge Dairy tract in Fruitland Park, Florida with a planned construction of 2,038 new Villages homes. [101] Although County Road 466 previously served as the main 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. [102] Buena Vista Boulevard and Morse Boulevard serve as significant north–south corridors. [103]

A second overpass, crossing Florida State Road 44 near Brownwood Paddock Square, is currently under construction. In August 2019, the 232-foot-long bridge was lowered into place. Construction is set to finish sometime in 2020. Construction on the bridge has been finished. [104]

Plans are in place to construct three other overpasses, one crossing Florida State Road 44 near Rohan Recreation Center, with the other two spanning Florida's Turnpike. [104]

Public transportation

Sumter County Transit operates The Villages shuttle. They provide various weekday loops through the Villages. [105]

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

In early 2018, The Villages was chosen for a pilot program offering autonomous taxis in the area of Lake Sumter Landing. In the early stages of the program, the vehicle will have a safety driver in the driver's seat, and later the driver will be removed, and the automobile will be monitored from a control station. The technology-rich Ford Fusion Hybrid and Chrysler Pacifica minivan taxis will be operated by Voyage Auto, a startup company from San Jose, California. The Villages has a 0.5 percent stake in Voyage Auto. [26] [106]

The Villages became one of the first cities in the United States to offer paid taxi services using autonomous vehicles throughout the community. [107]

Notable people

Criticism

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." [49] [110] Critics have negatively compared this presentation to the approach of Disney theme parks, claiming that the plaques generally do not address ethnic minorities nor conflict. [51] Brian argued that "The Villages' 'history' whitewashes Florida's past and celebrates a straightforward tale of economic growth." [111]

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The Orlando metropolitan area, also known as Central Florida, Greater Orlando, Metro Orlando, as well as for U.S. Census purposes as the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, is a metropolitan area in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. Its principal cities are Orlando, Kissimmee and Sanford. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget defines it as consisting of the counties of Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole.

Poinciana is a settlement and census-designated place (CDP) in Osceola and Polk counties in the U.S. state of Florida. It is part of the Greater Orlando area. As of the 2020 census, the CDP had a population of 69,309.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida's 11th congressional district</span> U.S. House district for Florida

Florida's 11th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida. It includes Sumter County, home to The Villages, and parts of Lake, Orange, and Polk counties. In the 2020 redistricting cycle, the district was moved out of its coastal counties and into Orlando's western suburbs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow Lakes Estates, Florida</span> Census-designated place in Florida, United States

Rainbow Lakes Estates is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Marion and Levy counties, Florida, United States, established as a Municipal Services District. The Marion County part of the community is part of the Ocala metropolitan area, while the Levy County portion is part of the Gainesville metropolitan area. It was first listed as a CDP for the 2020 census, at which time it had a population of 3,438.

Lakewood Ranch is a planned community and census-designated place (CDP) in southeastern Manatee County and northeastern Sarasota County, Florida, United States, consisting of approximately 31,000 acres (13,000 ha). It is part of the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2020 census, the CDP had a population of 34,877.

Wahoo is an unincorporated community in Sumter County, Florida, United States. First settled by the Timucua, the area was eventually settled by the Seminoles. During the Second Seminole War, Wahoo and the surrounding area served as shelter to the Seminoles and as the site of several skirmishes. After the war, white settlers migrated to the area and established a thriving town.

The Villages Daily Sun is a daily newspaper in The Villages, Florida, USA, which covers issues of local interest to portions of Sumter, Lake and Marion counties in central Florida. According to a report by the Alliance for Audited Media, the Sun's weekday circulation is 55,700 and this is up 169 percent since 2003, during a time when newspaper circulation around the United States has dropped 43 percent. In a 2018 "Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation", The Villages Daily Sun claimed a weekday circulation of 43,610. The Sun also has a 92 percent market penetration share in the retirement community. In 2022, the Sun ranked 23rd on the list of the 25 largest newspapers in America, ranked by their latest average print circulations.

References

  1. 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: The Villages, Florida
  2. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  6. ↑ Walker, Alissa (August 20, 2021). "GETTING AROUND AUG. 20, 2021 There's One Thing We Can Learn From the Villages' Success". Curbed. Vox Media Network. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  7. ↑ Olorunnipa, Toluse (September 22, 2014). "Florida's Villages Shifts to Taxable Debt Amid IRS Probe". Bloomberg.
  8. ↑ Yardley, William (November 10, 2014). "H. Gary Morse, Who Built Mecca for Retirees, Is Dead at 77". The New York Times . Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Large Southern Cities Lead Nation in Population Growth". U.S. Department of Commerce. May 18, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  10. ↑ "The Lamp Magazine | Shadow on the Sun". The Lamp Magazine. June 19, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  11. ↑ Ryan Erisman, The Complete Guide to The Villages Florida, Chapter 3.
  12. ↑ Coffey, Ronald J.; Welch, James d'A (1969). "Federal Regulation of Land Sales: Full Disclosure Comes Down to Earth". Case Western Reserve Law Review. 21 (1).
  13. ↑ Curry, Christopher (December 24, 2003). "Villages' founder dies at 93". The Star Banner. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  14. ↑ Howard, Paula (December 28, 2018). "Recalling The Villages Early Years". Lake & Sumter Style. Retrieved February 9, 2019.
  15. ↑ "IRS ruling on the Villages tax-free bonds a long time coming".
  16. ↑ "Tutt issues memo revealing costs to Villages residents in IRS battle". Villages-News. October 10, 2013. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
  17. ↑ Corder, David R. (December 30, 2017). "Villages Expansion Plans Energize Sumter Economy". The Villages Daily Sun. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  18. ↑ Stanfield, Frank (January 18, 2018). "The Villages expansion deal nears completion". Daily Commercial . Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  19. ↑ Staff (January 5, 2018). "And the nation's top-selling master-planned community is ..." The Villages Daily Sun. Retrieved January 10, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Master-Planned Communities of 2019 and "Best" of the Decade". January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 11, 2020.
  21. ↑ Logan, Gregg; Pischke, Karl (January 3, 2024). "30th Edition: The Top-Selling Master-Planned Communities of 2023". RCLCO. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  22. ↑ Architectural Review Archived April 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine , Village Center, Retrieved November 4, 2007.
  23. ↑ "Questions and Answers Concerning the Final Rule Implementing the Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995 (HOPA)" (PDF). United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  24. 1 2 "VCDD Deed Compliance - Family Units".
  25. ↑ "," The Villages. Retrieved on June 7, 2012.
  26. 1 2 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.
  27. ↑ "FAQ:How large is The Villages?". thevillages.com. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  29. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - The Villages CDP, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
  30. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - The Villages CDP, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
  31. ↑ "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: The Villages CDP, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
  32. 1 2 "U.S. Census" . Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  33. ↑ Dunne, Samantha (June 23, 2018). "The Villages Again Sets Pace in Aging Revolution". The Villages Daily Sun . Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  34. 1 2 Newspaper Staff (December 31, 2022). "What a Year!". The Villages Daily Sun. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  35. ↑ Grunwald, Michael (June 18, 2018). "Generation Pickleball: Welcome to Florida's Political Tomorrowland". Politico . Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  36. ↑ Brian, p. 64.
  37. ↑ "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: The Villages CDP, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
  38. ↑ Gustavo, Solomon (January 29, 2020). "More women buy houses in Central Florida's the Villages than anywhere else in the U.S." Yahoo! Finance . Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  39. ↑ Trapasso, Clare (November 3, 2021). "10 Cities Where You'll Need the Biggest Down Payment To Snag a Home—and 10 Where You'll Put Down the Least". Realtor.com . Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  40. ↑ Heath, Christopher (November 20, 2019). "Crime in The Villages retirement community is low, usually imported from other areas". WFTV . Cox Media Group. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  41. ↑ Metcalf, Tom; Levin, Jonathan (March 7, 2018). "This Florida Retirement Empire Just Minted Three Billionaires". Bloomberg News .
  42. 1 2 Corder, David R. (April 26, 2018). "Grocery stores thriving as Publix store reopens". The Villages Daily Sun . Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  43. ↑ Corder, David R. (March 12, 2018). "Spanish Springs Thrives; Occupancy Growing Rapidly". The Villages Daily Sun . Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  44. ↑ "Bank's Commercial Team Ready to Serve" (PDF). www.mycitizensfirst.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 13, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  45. ↑ Corder, David R. (January 21, 2019). "The Villages Economy Remains on a Roll". The Villages Daily Sun . Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  46. ↑ Corder, David R. (January 16, 2019). "The Villages Earns Praise as Model of Success". The Villages Daily Sun . Retrieved January 22, 2019.
  47. ↑ "Opening night at The Sharon a bit of Villages' history in the making". Villages-News. April 17, 2015. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  48. ↑ "NEXT TO NORMAL, PROOF and More Set for The Studio Theatre in 2016-17". Broadway World. Retrieved January 27, 2018.
  49. 1 2 Brian, Amanda M. (2014). "The faux history of The Villages, Florida". Southern Cultures. 20 (4): 58–71. doi:10.1353/scu.2014.0037. S2CID   144634061 . Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  50. ↑ Brian, p. 60.
  51. 1 2 Brian, p. 65.
  52. ↑ Brian, p. 66.
  53. ↑ "Recreation". The Villages. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  54. ↑ "Lifestyle". The Villages. Archived from the original on January 13, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  55. ↑ "Company Listing Report (Detail)" (PDF). Retrieved January 31, 2018.
  56. ↑ Chaltry, Drew (April 23, 2018). "Senior games off to the races". The Villages Daily Sun . Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  57. ↑ "2018 The Villages Senior Games" (PDF). Retrieved April 28, 2018.
  58. ↑ "Cost of living" (PDF). www.thevillages.com. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  59. 1 2 3 Staff Writer (February 1, 2022). "2022 Golf Guide". The Villages Magazine. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  60. ↑ Love, Angela (September 29, 2017). "Villagers check out multi-functional Putt and Play at the Village of Fenney". Villages-News.com. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
  61. ↑ "Golf The Villages".
  62. 1 2 Pearlman, Keith (December 17, 2020). "Villages opens 100th recreation facility". The Villages Daily Sun . Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  63. ↑ "Villages Recreation Centers NOTE: There is a discrepancy in the numbers depending on which map is used; the count is taken from the PDF map". Thevillages.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  64. ↑ "Recreation". The Villages. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  65. ↑ "Recreation". The Villages. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  66. ↑ Michael Van Sickler and John Martin (August 12, 2012). "The Villages: Florida retirement community provides foundation for Republican candidates". Tampa Bay Times . Retrieved August 16, 2012. Drawing retirees from the Northeast and Midwest, this planned community is one of the most critical – and dependable – voting blocs in the nation. The development's 61,000 registered voters reside in a battleground region Republicans need to dominate if they are to defeat President Barack Obama in November. Twice as many Republicans as Democrats live here. Independents tilt rightward, too. With such high voter turnouts, it has become a fixed stop on the campaign trail for Mitt Romney.
  67. ↑ "Gov. Scott stages major rally in Villages on the eve of Election Day". Villages-News. November 3, 2014. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  68. ↑ "Map" (PDF). www.lakecountyfl.gov. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  69. ↑ [ dead link ]
  70. ↑ "District Map Archived April 4, 2009, at the Wayback Machine ." Sumter County, Florida. Retrieved on December 11, 2008.
  71. ↑ "District 3 Archived February 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine ." Sumter County, Florida. Retrieved on December 11, 2008.
  72. 1 2 Your Community District Archived August 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine . The Village Center. Retrieved November 4, 2007.
  73. ↑ "The Villages Community Development Districts". Archived from the original on November 1, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  74. ↑ "Village Center Community Development District, Annual Report for Fiscal Year ended September 30, 2009, p. 20" (PDF). Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  75. ↑ "Sumter Landing Community Development District, Annual Report for Fiscal Year ended September 30, 2009, p. 21" (PDF). Retrieved January 1, 2018.
  76. ↑ Hatcher, Charles (February 29, 2016). "How Safe Is It To Drive Golf Carts In The Villages?". WUFT-FM . Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  77. ↑ "Palin wows 'em in The Villages". Articles.orlandosentinel.com. September 22, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  78. ↑ "Huckabee, Beck, Palin…tis a privilege to live in The Villages – Central Florida Political Pulse". Blogs.orlandosentinel.com. November 11, 2009. Archived from the original on November 4, 2011. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  79. ↑ Lee, Suevon (November 22, 2009). "Beck visits The Villages, announces conventions". Ocala.com. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  80. ↑ Lemongello, Steven (September 17, 2016). "Mike Pence praises Trump at packed The Villages rally". Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  81. ↑ Lytle, Tamara (October 20, 2004). "20,000 Cheer for Bush at Villages". Orlando Sentinel . Archived from the original on November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  82. ↑ Lemongello, Steven (August 2, 2019). "Trump to speak at private event in The Villages on Tuesday". Orlando Sentinel . Archived from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  83. ↑ Fineout, Gary (August 5, 2019). "Trump postpones trip to The Villages". Politico . Archived from the original on August 5, 2019. Retrieved August 6, 2019.
  84. ↑ Delgado, Jeremiah (October 3, 2019). "Mayor, Marion County Chair, supporters greet President Trump at Ocala International Airport". Ocala-News. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  85. ↑ Croom, Larry D. (October 3, 2019). "Guest list for President Trump's visit was a who's who of The Villages". Villages-News. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  86. ↑ Croom, Larry D. (August 4, 2019). "Unlike with Bush's visit in 2004, Trump not heavily backed by Villages Developer". Villages-News. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  87. ↑ Mansfield, Alexandria (October 4, 2019). "Trump vows To defend medicare for U.S. seniors". The Villages Daily Sun . Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  88. ↑ Croom, Larry D. (October 3, 2019). "Trump vows to protect Medicare while labeling Democrats as 'maniacs'". Villages-News. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  89. ↑ Contorno, Steve (October 9, 2020). "Mike Pence tells The Villages election is about 'whether America remains America'". Tampa Bay Times . Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  90. ↑ Schwarting, Leah (October 24, 2020). "Fans cheer Trump's return to The Villages". The Villages Daily Sun . Retrieved November 1, 2020.
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  92. ↑ "Lake County 2008–2009 Attendance Boundary Leesburg High School Archived February 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine ." Lake County Board of Education. Retrieved on December 11, 2008.
  93. ↑ "Welcome." The Villages Charter Schools . Retrieved on December 11, 2008.
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  102. ↑ "County Road 466A now open through Wildwood to U.S. 301". Villages-News. April 20, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2015.
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  111. ↑ Brian, p. 68.
  112. ↑ Boedeker, Hal (January 19, 2017). "Comic Kathleen Madigan: The Villages has sense of humor". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  113. ↑ 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.
  114. ↑ "The Bubble". Austrian Film Institute. Retrieved July 22, 2023.

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