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The Villages is a
census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...
(CDP) in
Sumter Sumter may refer to: People Given name * Sumter S. Arnim (1904–1990), American dentist * Sumter de Leon Lowry Jr. (1893–1985), United States Army general Surname * Rowendy Sumter (born 1988), Curaçaoan footballer * Shavonda E. Sumt ...
, Marion, and
Lake A lake is often a naturally occurring, relatively large and fixed body of water on or near the Earth's surface. It is localized in a basin or interconnected basins surrounded by dry land. Lakes lie completely on land and are separate from ...
counties in the U.S. state of
Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
. It forms the core of a broader master-planned, age-restricted community of the same name. Located in
central Florida Central Florida is a Regions of the United States#Florida, region of the U.S. state of Florida. Different sources give different definitions for the region, but as its name implies it is usually said to comprise the central part of the state, in ...
, approximately south of Ocala and northwest of
Orlando Orlando commonly refers to: * Orlando, Florida, a city in the United States Orlando may also refer to: People * Orlando (given name), a masculine name, includes a list of people with the name * Orlando (surname), includes a list of people wit ...
, the CDP had a population of 79,077 at the 2020 United States census. 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

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. In the early 1970s, Schwartz and Tarrson developed Orange Blossom Gardens, a mobile home park in northwestern Lake County. 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". By the early 1990s, the Villages had grown to over 8,000 residents, with three golf courses and a
Winn-Dixie Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., is an American supermarket chain store, chain headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. Founded in 1925, Winn-Dixie grocery stores and liquor stores serve communities throughout five southeastern states – Alabama, ...
supermarket. Between 2010 and 2019, the Villages was the top-selling master-planned community in the United States, with 24,440 homes sold. The Villages operates under community development districts (CDDs), which manage infrastructure and amenities. In 2013, the
Internal Revenue Service The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the revenue service for the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government, which is responsible for collecting Taxation in the United States, U.S. federal taxes and administerin ...
(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.


Expansion

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.


Community Structure

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. 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.


Geography

The Villages is a
census-designated place A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only. CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...
(CDP) spanning
Sumter Sumter may refer to: People Given name * Sumter S. Arnim (1904–1990), American dentist * Sumter de Leon Lowry Jr. (1893–1985), United States Army general Surname * Rowendy Sumter (born 1988), Curaçaoan footballer * Shavonda E. Sumt ...
, Marion, and
Lake A lake is often a naturally occurring, relatively large and fixed body of water on or near the Earth's surface. It is localized in a basin or interconnected basins surrounded by dry land. Lakes lie completely on land and are separate from ...
counties in
central Florida Central Florida is a Regions of the United States#Florida, region of the U.S. state of Florida. Different sources give different definitions for the region, but as its name implies it is usually said to comprise the central part of the state, in ...
. According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the CDP covers a total area of , of which is land and , or 3.83%, is water. It is located approximately northwest of
Orlando Orlando commonly refers to: * Orlando, Florida, a city in the United States Orlando may also refer to: People * Orlando (given name), a masculine name, includes a list of people with the name * Orlando (surname), includes a list of people wit ...
and northeast of
Tampa Tampa ( ) is a city on the Gulf Coast of the United States, Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. Tampa's borders include the north shore of Tampa Bay and the east shore of Old Tampa Bay. Tampa is the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and t ...
, with the city of Wildwood to the west and south, and the town of Lady Lake and city of Fruitland Park to the east. The broader master-planned community extends beyond the CDP, covering approximately across Sumter, Marion, and Lake counties, including areas north of Florida State Road 44 and south to five miles south of County Road 470. The community maintains an extensive network of private roads, totaling about as of 2018.


Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 79,077 people, 45,634 households, and 30,701 families residing in the CDP. 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. Median household income in 2019 was $63,841. In 2018, the
median age A population pyramid (age structure diagram) or "age-sex pyramid" is a graphical illustration of the distribution of a population (typically that of a country or region of the world) by age groups and sex; it typically takes the shape of a pyramid ...
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 Molokai or Molokai ( or ; Molokaʻi dialect: Morotaʻi ) is the fifth most populated of the eight major islands that make up the Hawaiian Islands archipelago in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It is 38 by 10 miles (61 by 16 km) at its g ...
. According to
Politico ''Politico'' (stylized in all caps), known originally as ''The Politico'', is an American political digital newspaper company founded by American banker and media executive Robert Allbritton in 2007. It covers politics and policy in the Unit ...
, as of 2018, the Villages was the home of the largest
veteran A veteran () is a person who has significant experience (and is usually adept and esteemed) and expertise in an job, occupation or Craft, field. A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in the military, armed forces. A topic o ...
population anywhere in the United States that does not have a
military base A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. A military base always provides accommodations for ...
, with 16.3 percent of the population former military. Circa 2014, large groups of residents are from the
Midwest The Midwestern United States (also referred to as the Midwest, the Heartland or the American Midwest) is one of the four census regions defined by the United States Census Bureau. It occupies the northern central part of the United States. It ...
and
Northeast The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A '' compass rose'' is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—eac ...
, with
Staten Island Staten Island ( ) is the southernmost of the boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Richmond County and situated at the southernmost point of New York (state), New York. The borough is separated from the ad ...
supplying many of the residents. As of the 2010 United States census, there were 51,442 people, 22,511 households, and 16,721 families residing in the CDP.


Home ownership

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 The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for consumer protection in the financial sector. CFPB's jurisdiction includes banks, credit unions, securities firms, Payday lo ...
, 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. A 2021 Realtor.com report noted that the average
down payment In accounting, a down payment (also called a deposit in British English) is an initial up-front partial payment for the purchase of expensive goods or services such as a car or a house. It is usually paid in cash or equivalent at the time of fin ...
for homes in the Villages was 27.1%, among the highest in the United States, with a median home list price of $366,950.


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 Property crime is a category of crime, usually involving private property, that includes, among other crimes, burglary, larceny, theft, motor vehicle theft, arson, shoplifting, and vandalism. Property crime is a crime to obtain money, property, ...
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 Driving under the influence (DUI) is the crime of driving, operating, or being in control of a vehicle while one is impaired from doing so safely by the effect of either alcohol (drug), alcohol (see drunk driving) or some other drug, whether re ...
charges are approximately equivalent to those of other similarly sized places in Florida.


Economy

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. 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. The community hosts 18 grocery stores, including nine Publix supermarkets, three
Winn-Dixie Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., is an American supermarket chain store, chain headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. Founded in 1925, Winn-Dixie grocery stores and liquor stores serve communities throughout five southeastern states – Alabama, ...
stores,
the Fresh Market The Fresh Market, Inc. is an American chain of supermarkets based in Greensboro, North Carolina. History The Fresh Market was founded by Ray and Beverly Berry on March 5, 1982, in Greensboro, North Carolina. The first store was opened in the f ...
, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, two
Walmart Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores in the United States and 23 other ...
Supercenters, and a
Walmart Walmart Inc. (; formerly Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) is an American multinational retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets (also called supercenters), discount department stores, and grocery stores in the United States and 23 other ...
Neighborhood Market. Citizens First Bank, a local community bank, operates 12 branches within the Villages. Commercial spaces maintain high occupancy rates, averaging around 97% as of 2018. 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. Between 2010 and 2018, the MSA added approximately 13,900 jobs, primarily in retail, healthcare, and construction, driven by the community’s expansion.


Arts and culture


Entertainment

In 2015, the Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center, a venue with over 1,000 seats, opened. The Studio Tierra Del Sol, a
black box theatre A black box theater is a performance space, typically a square or rectangular room, with black walls and a black, flat floor. The simplicity of the space allows it to be used to create a variety of configurations of stage and audience interact ...
with seating for 100, opened in 2016. 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."Brian, p. 60. Many plaques represent the "downtown areas" as if events derived from notions of an idyllic small town in the 1800s had occurred there.Brian, p. 65. Such "American myths" feature in the designs for Brownwood, Lake Sumter Landing, and Spanish Springs.Brian, p. 66.


Other activities

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


Recreation


Clubs

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 Pickleball is a racket or paddle sport in which two or four players use a smooth-faced paddle to hit a perforated, hollow plastic ball over a net until one side is unable to return the ball or commits a rule infraction. Pickleball is played i ...
Club, the Villages Woodworkers Club,
Line Dance A line dance is a choreographed dance in which a group of people dance along to a repeating sequence of dance step, steps while arranged in one or more lines or rows. These lines usually face all in the same direction, or less commonly face each ot ...
Club, the Villages Single Seniors, the Villages Garden Club, and the Veterans Club, catering to diverse interests from athletics to social connections.


Annual events

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.


Parks and recreation

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


Golf courses

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. A golf instruction academy provides lessons and clinics for residents.


Recreation centers

The Villages operates over 100 recreation centers, offering facilities for sports, fitness, and social activities. 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. Notable centers, such as the Eisenhower Regional Recreation Center, feature unique amenities like military history exhibits. The Enrichment Academy, launched in 2017, offers over 140 fee-based courses in topics like scuba diving, culinary arts, and photography.


Clubs and activities

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. Additional activities include archery, air gun ranges, volleyball, croquet, and fishing, with specialized programs like S.T.A.R. for adults with special needs. Weekly events, such as live music and trivia, occur at town squares and recreation centers.


Parks and trails

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


Government

The Villages operates under a system of community development districts (CDDs) and local government jurisdictions across
Sumter Sumter may refer to: People Given name * Sumter S. Arnim (1904–1990), American dentist * Sumter de Leon Lowry Jr. (1893–1985), United States Army general Surname * Rowendy Sumter (born 1988), Curaçaoan footballer * Shavonda E. Sumt ...
, Marion, and
Lake A lake is often a naturally occurring, relatively large and fixed body of water on or near the Earth's surface. It is localized in a basin or interconnected basins surrounded by dry land. Lakes lie completely on land and are separate from ...
counties, serving its age-restricted population. The community is known for high voter turnout, with approximately 80% participation in elections as of 2012, and a significant Republican voter base.


Representation

The Villages is located in Florida's 11th congressional district, represented by Republican
Daniel Webster Daniel Webster (January 18, 1782 – October 24, 1852) was an American lawyer and statesman who represented New Hampshire and Massachusetts in the U.S. Congress and served as the 14th and 19th United States Secretary of State, U.S. secretary o ...
. At the state level, it falls within
Florida Senate The Florida Senate is the upper house of the Florida Legislature, the State legislature (United States), state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida, the Florida House of Representatives being the lower house. Article III, Section 1 of the C ...
District 12, represented by Republican Dennis Baxley, and
Florida House of Representatives The Florida House of Representatives is the lower house of the Florida Legislature, the State legislature (United States), state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida, the Florida Senate being the upper house. Article III, Section 1 of the C ...
District 26, represented by Republican Keith Truenow. County representation includes Sumter County Districts 1 and 3, Marion County District 3, and Lake County District 1.


Local government

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. Each CDD is managed by a board of supervisors, with funding from
property taxes A property tax (whose rate is expressed as a percentage or per mille, also called ''millage'') is an ad valorem tax on the value of a property.In the OECD classification scheme, tax on property includes "taxes on immovable property or net we ...
and user fees, such as the monthly amenities fee. 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. Portions in Lady Lake fall under municipal jurisdiction, outside some CDDs. Two homeowners associations, the Property Owners Association (POA) and the Villages Homeowners Association (VHA), address resident concerns and community standards.


Politics and elections

The Villages is a stronghold for the Republican Party, with registered Republicans outnumbering Democrats two-to-one as of 2012. Its high voter turnout and conservative lean make it a frequent stop for Republican candidates, including former presidents
George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who was the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Bush family and the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he i ...
and
Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...
, who visited in 2004 and 2019–2020, respectively, and vice presidents
Dick Cheney Richard Bruce Cheney ( ; born January 30, 1941) is an American former politician and businessman who served as the 46th vice president of the United States from 2001 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. He has been called vice presidency o ...
,
Sarah Palin Sarah Louise Palin (; Heath; born February 11, 1964) is an American politician, commentator, and author who served as the ninth governor of Alaska from 2006 until her resignation in 2009. She was the 2008 Republican vice presidential nomi ...
, and
Mike Pence Michael Richard Pence (born June 7, 1959) is an American politician and lawyer who served as the 48th vice president of the United States from 2017 to 2021 under President Donald Trump. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Repub ...
. The community’s political significance stems from its large, engaged retiree population, drawing campaign visits from figures like
Marco Rubio Marco Antonio Rubio (; born May 28, 1971) is an American politician, lawyer, and diplomat serving since 2025 as the 72nd United States Secretary of State, United States secretary of state. A member of the Republican Party (United States) , Rep ...
,
Rick Scott Richard Lynn Scott ( Myers; born December 1, 1952) is an American attorney, businessman, politician, and United States Navy, Navy veteran serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States senator from the state of F ...
, and
Mitt Romney Willard Mitt Romney (born March 12, 1947) is an American businessman and retired politician. He served as a United States Senate, United States senator from Utah from 2019 to 2025 and as the 70th governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 ...
.


Education


Primary and secondary education

The Villages is primarily an age-restricted community, prohibiting full-time residents under age 19 except in three designated family-unit neighborhoods (Bison Valley, Oak Meadows, and Spring Arbor) or through hardship exemptions granted by the Village Center Community Development District. School zoning applies for tax purposes and the few families residing in these neighborhoods. * The Marion County portion of the Villages, which has no family-unit neighborhoods, is zoned to Lake Weir High School within the Marion County Public Schools system. * The Sumter County portion, including Bison Valley, is zoned to Wildwood Middle High School within the Sumter District Schools. * The Lake County portion, including Oak Meadows and Spring Arbor, is zoned to Leesburg High School within the Lake County Schools. The Villages Charter Schools, a K–12
charter school A charter school is a school that receives government funding but operates independently of the established state school system in which it is located. It is independent in the sense that it operates according to the basic principle of autono ...
in unincorporated Sumter County, serves children of employees working directly for the Villages, its subcontractors, or businesses located within the community. Children residing in family-unit neighborhoods or granted exemptions do not automatically qualify for enrollment unless a parent meets these employment criteria.


Post-secondary education

The Villages offers lifelong learning opportunities through the **Enrichment Academy**, launched in 2017 by the Recreation and Parks Department. The academy provides over 140 fee-based, noncredit courses covering topics such as
scuba diving Scuba diving is a Diving mode, mode of underwater diving whereby divers use Scuba set, breathing equipment that is completely independent of a surface breathing gas supply, and therefore has a limited but variable endurance. The word ''scub ...
,
literature Literature is any collection of Writing, written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially novels, Play (theatre), plays, and poetry, poems. It includes both print and Electroni ...
,
philosophy Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...
,
culinary arts Culinary arts are the cuisine arts of food preparation, cooking, and presentation of food, usually in the form of meals. People working in this field – especially in establishments such as restaurants – are commonly called chefs or ...
,
foreign language A foreign language is a language that is not an official language of, nor typically spoken in, a specific country. Native speakers from that country usually need to acquire it through conscious learning, such as through language lessons at schoo ...
,
photography Photography is the visual arts, art, application, and practice of creating images by recording light, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. It is empl ...
, and
technology Technology is the application of Conceptual model, conceptual knowledge to achieve practical goals, especially in a reproducible way. The word ''technology'' can also mean the products resulting from such efforts, including both tangible too ...
. Classes are held at designated recreation centers and approved sites throughout the community.


Media

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 ''Orlando Sentinel'' is the primary newspaper of Orlando, Florida, and the Central Florida region, in the United States. It was founded in 1876 and is currently owned by Tribune Publishing Company. The ''Orlando Sentinel'' is owned by pare ...
'', the ''
Tampa Bay Times The ''Tampa Bay Times'', called the ''St. Petersburg Times'' until 2011, is an American newspaper published in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. It is published by the Times Publishing Company, which is owned by The Poynter Institute ...
'', the Leesburg ''
Daily Commercial The ''Daily Commercial'' is a daily newspaper distributed in Lake and Sumter counties, Florida. History The ''Daily Commercial'' was founded in 1875. It was later acquired by members of the Cowles family in 1969. The New York Times Company ...
'', and the Ocala '' Star-Banner''. A documentary called '' Some Kind of Heaven'', about four residents of the Villages, was released in January 2021. The documentary ''The Bubble'', also released in 2021, depicts life inside the Villages.


Local media

The Villages developers or their successors own and operate three media properties: * The Villages News Network (VNN) is aired on the local
Comcast Comcast Corporation, formerly known as Comcast Holdings,Before the AT&T Broadband, AT&T merger in 2001, the parent company was Comcast Holdings Corporation. Comcast Holdings Corporation now refers to a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation, not th ...
cable network. * The Villages Daily Sun, a local newspaper with 43,610 paid subscribers. * Radio station WVLG (640), carrying classic hits. 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


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 the Pine Ridge Dairy tract in Fruitland Park, Florida, with a planned construction of 2,038 new Villages homes. 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. Buena Vista Boulevard and Morse Boulevard serve as significant north–south corridors. 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 Florida's Turnpike, designated as unsigned highway, unsigned State Road 91 (SR 91), is a controlled-access highway, controlled-access toll road in the U.S. state of Florida, maintained by Florida's Turnpike Enterprise (FTE). Spanning approximate ...
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

Sumter County Transit operates the Villages shuttle. They provide various weekday loops through the Villages. 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 Savannah ( ) is the oldest city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia and the county seat of Chatham County, Georgia, Chatham County. Established in 1733 on the Savannah River, the city of Savannah became the Kingdom of Great Brita ...
,
Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...
's '' Palmetto'' (then on a New York–Tampa itinerary) served adjacent Wildwood. Amtrak's
Amtrak Thruway Amtrak Thruway is a system of through-ticketed transportation services to connect passengers with areas not served by Amtrak trains. In most cases these are dedicated motorcoach routes, but can also be non-dedicated intercity bus services, transi ...
bus service stops in the Villages. The bus travels from
Jacksonville Jacksonville ( ) is the most populous city proper in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida, northeastern Florida. It is the county seat of Duval County, Florida, Duval County, with which the City of Jacksonv ...
to Dade City and is timed to meet arrivals and departures of the ''
Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against a ...
'' train in Jacksonville.


Autonomous vehicles

In early 2018, the Villages was chosen for a
pilot program A pilot experiment, pilot study, pilot test or pilot project is a small-scale preliminary study conducted to evaluate feasibility, duration, cost, adverse events, and improve upon the study design prior to performance of a full-scale research ...
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. 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 A startup or start-up is a company or project undertaken by an Entrepreneurship, entrepreneur to seek, develop, and validate a scalable business model. While entrepreneurship includes all new businesses including self-employment and businesses tha ...
from
San Jose, California San Jose, officially the City of San José ( ; ), is a cultural, commercial, and political center within Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. With a city population of 997,368 and a metropolitan area population of 1.95 million, it is ...
. , the Villages held a 0.5 percent stake in Voyage Auto.


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." 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. Amanda Brian argued in her book, "The Villages' 'history' whitewashes Florida's past and celebrates a straightforward tale of economic growth."


In popular culture

* Stand-up comedian Kathleen Madigan has performed a routine whose subject is the Villages * '' Some Kind of Heaven'', a 2020 documentary about the Villages * ''The Bubble'', a 2021 documentary by Austrian director Valerie Blankenbyl


References


Further reading

* 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.


External links


The Villages Community Development District
(the website provides the public information on all 17 community development districts located within the Villages area) * {{DEFAULTSORT:Villages, The Census-designated places in Sumter County, Florida Planned communities in Florida Retirement communities in Florida Census-designated places in Florida Sumter County, Florida Lake County, Florida Marion County, Florida Populated places established in 1959