The Villages Florida

The Villages is a census-designated place in Sumter, Marion, and Lake counties in the U.S. state of Florida. It forms the core of a broader master-planned, age-restricted community of the same name.

Neighborhoods: Cottages at Summerchase · See more

Population: 82,108 (2023)

ZIP code(s): 32159, 32162, 32163, 34731, 34785, 34762

Area code: 352

Elevation: 52 ft (16 m)

Of course. In my three decades of studying Florida’s unique tapestry of communities, few places command the attention, fascination, and sheer demographic weight quite like The Villages. It’s a place that defies simple classification; it is not an incorporated city but a sprawling Census-Designated Place (CDP) that has fundamentally reshaped the landscape and culture of Central Florida. To understand The Villages is to understand a masterclass in lifestyle branding and community development on an unprecedented scale.

History and Naming

The origins of The Villages are more humble than its current grandeur might suggest. Its story begins in the 1960s with a Michigan businessman named Harold Schwartz, who, along with his business partner Al Tarr, began selling land tracts in the area via mail order. By the early 1980s, this venture had evolved into a mobile home park known as Orange Blossom Gardens. The community was traditional, attracting retirees, but it was struggling.

The seismic shift occurred when Schwartz’s son, H. Gary Morse, took the helm in the mid-1980s. Morse had a revolutionary vision. He saw that retirees weren’t just looking for a place to live; they were looking for an active, vibrant, and all-inclusive lifestyle. He systematically began buying vast tracts of surrounding pastureland, transforming the modest trailer park into a sprawling network of purpose-built neighborhoods.

The name was changed from “Orange Blossom Gardens” to The Villages to reflect this new concept. It wasn’t named after a specific person but after the guiding principle of its design: to create a collection of distinct, quaint “villages,” each with its own character, that together form a massive, cohesive, and self-sustaining community. The idea was to evoke a nostalgic, small-town America feel, even as it was being constructed at a breathtaking pace.

A Self-Contained World

It’s crucial to understand that The Villages is engineered to be a self-contained universe. The primary mode of local transportation is the golf cart, with a dedicated network of roads and tunnels that spans the entire community, allowing residents to travel from their homes to shops, restaurants, medical facilities, and recreational areas without ever needing a car. The community is anchored by three bustling town squares: Spanish Springs Town Square, Lake Sumter Landing Market Square, and Brownwood Paddock Square, each with its own distinct architectural theme and offering free nightly entertainment 365 days a year. The level of organization is staggering, with over 3,000 resident-led clubs and activities, catering to every imaginable hobby from pickleball and polo to synchronized swimming and ukulele playing.

Important Demographic Details

The demographic profile of The Villages is one of the most unique in the United States and is central to its identity.

• Official Designation: Census-Designated Place (CDP)
• Primary Counties: Sumter, with significant portions extending into Lake and Marion counties.
• Established: Development of Orange Blossom Gardens began in the early 1980s; the explosive growth phase under the name “The Villages” started in the late 1980s and 1990s.
• Population (2020 Census for the CDP): 129,752. It was the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the United States for the decade 2010-2020.
• Median Age: Approximately 67.8 years. This is one of the highest median ages of any community of its size in the nation.
• Racial & Ethnic Composition:
  • White: ~97.5%
  • Hispanic or Latino: ~2.1%
  • Black or African American: ~0.5%
  • Asian: ~0.6%
• Median Household Income: Approximately $82,500.
• Poverty Rate: Extremely low, around 4.1%.
• Veteran Population: Approximately 17.5% of the population are veterans, a significantly high figure.
• Housing: Over 98% owner-occupied housing units.
• Unique Statistic: It is estimated there are over 70,000 golf carts in The Villages, making it one of the largest single fleets on the planet.

Interesting Businesses In and Nearby

The economic ecosystem of The Villages is robust and tailored specifically to its residents. Here are some of the notable businesses and attractions that define the local experience:

• The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center: A state-of-the-art, Broadway-quality theater that attracts national touring acts, concerts, and theatrical productions, named in honor of the developer’s late wife.
• Cane Garden Country Club: One of over 50 golf courses within The Villages, offering championship-level play and a popular restaurant with panoramic views of the course.
• Chop House at La Hacienda: A premier steakhouse located near the Spanish Springs Town Square, known for its upscale dining experience and classic American fare.
• UF Health The Villages® Hospital: A major medical center providing comprehensive healthcare services, a critical piece of infrastructure for the community’s aging population.
• Brownwood Paddock Square: The newest of the three town squares, designed with a rustic, old-Florida cattle town theme, complete with a log cabin theater and unique shops.
• World of Beer Bar & Kitchen: A popular gathering spot in Spanish Springs offering a vast selection of craft beers from around the globe and a lively tavern atmosphere.

In conclusion, The Villages is far more than just a retirement community; it is a demographic and cultural phenomenon. Its incredible growth, unique governance structure through Community Development Districts (CDDs), and powerful influence on local and state politics make it a subject of continuous study and a defining feature of modern Florida.