The Villages, Florida

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 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 (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 (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 sqmi, of which 32.65 sqmi is land and 1.30 sqmi, or 3.83%, is water. It is located approximately 55 mi northwest of Orlando and 80 mi 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.

The broader master-planned community extends beyond the CDP, covering approximately 57 sqmi 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 750 mi 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 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.

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.

Circa 2014, large groups of residents are from the Midwest and Northeast, with Staten Island 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, 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 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 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.

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 five town centers—Spanish Springs, Lake Sumter Landing, Brownwood Paddock Square, Eastport, and Sawgrass Grove—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 stores, the Fresh Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, two Walmart Supercenters, and a Walmart 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 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." Many plaques represent the "downtown areas" as if events derived from notions of an idyllic small town in the 1800s had occurred there. Such "American myths" feature in the designs for Brownwood, Lake Sumter Landing, and Spanish Springs.

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 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.

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, Marion, and Lake 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 6th and 11th congressional districts, which are represented by Republicans Randy Fine and Daniel Webster, respectively. 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. 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 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 and Donald Trump, who visited in 2004 and 2019–2020, respectively, and vice presidents Dick Cheney, Sarah Palin, and Mike Pence, and other political figures such as Marco Rubio, Rick Scott, and Mitt Romney. The community’s political significance stems from its large, engaged retiree population.

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 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, literature, philosophy, culinary arts, foreign language, photography, and technology. 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 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. 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 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 (CR 42) to the north, and CR 468 well south of CR 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 CR 466 previously served as the central east–west corridor, the addition of homes and facilities south of it and in the city of Fruitland Park, Florida has turned the highway 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 (SR 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

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, 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. 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 from San Jose, California. , the Villages held a 0.5 percent stake in Voyage Auto.

Notable people

• Megan Boone, American actress, descendant of founders Schwartz and Morse
• Ray Knight, American former Major League Baseball player
• Nancy Lopez, American retired professional golfer
• Tre Mann, professional basketball player
• Michelle Marie Newton, American woman missing for 42 years after she was abducted by her own mother at age 3. She lived in The Villages with her mother until her arrest in 2025.
• Bob Stinson, American former baseball player

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.

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

References

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