History of The Villages, Florida in Timeline
The Villages is a census-designated place (CDP) in Florida, known for its larger age-restricted community. Located about 20 miles south of Ocala and 45 miles northwest of Orlando, it spans Sumter, Marion, and portions of Lake County. The 2020 census reported a population of 79,077 for the CDP.
1968: Mail Order Ban
A federal law was implemented in 1968, banning real estate sales via mail order, impacting Harold Schwartz and Al Tarrson's business in The Villages area.
1983: H. Gary Morse Joins The Company
H. Gary Morse, son of Harold Schwartz, joined the business in 1983, leading to significant upgrades and improvements in the development.
1992: Name Change to "The Villages"
In 1992, Morse officially changed the name of the development to "The Villages".
2003: Recreational Bonds Issued
The Villages Center CDD issued several recreational bonds, which later came under IRS scrutiny.
October 2004: George W. Bush Holds Rally in Lake Sumter Landing Market Square
In October 2004, President George W. Bush became the first sitting president to visit The Villages, holding a rally at the newly built Lake Sumter Landing Market Square with an estimated 20,000 supporters, just weeks before the 2004 presidential election.
2004: Amtrak Service Shortened
Until 2004, Amtrak's Palmetto train, on its New York to Tampa route, served the nearby town of Wildwood. However, the route was shortened to Savannah, Georgia. Amtrak's Thruway bus service provides connections to and from The Villages, traveling between Jacksonville and Dade City, with schedules timed to coincide with the Silver Star train's arrivals and departures in Jacksonville.
2006: Ownership Transfer
In 2006, H. Gary Morse, son of the original owner, transferred most direct ownership of the company to his three children.
August 2007: Community Development Districts (CDDs) Govern Much of The Villages
As of August 2007, a significant portion of The Villages was governed by Community Development Districts (CDDs), a type of special purpose local government in Florida used by about 225 communities statewide. However, the portion within Lady Lake's city limits was not part of the CDD system.
2007: MSA Growth Period Begins
This date marks the beginning of the 10-year period where The Villages Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) saw significant economic growth.
2008: IRS Audit Notice
The IRS notified the Village Center CDD about its intent to audit recreational bonds issued in 2003.
2010: 2010 United States Census
The 2010 United States Census recorded 51,442 people, 22,511 households, and 16,721 families residing in the CDP.
2010: Best-Selling Community Decade Begins
This date marks the beginning of the period when The Villages was recognized as the best-selling master-planned community.
2010: Job Growth Period Begins
This date marks the start of a period of job growth within The Villages metropolitan statistical area.
August 2012: Republican Voters Outnumber Democrats Two-to-One
As of August 2012, in The Villages, Republicans outnumbered Democrats by a ratio of two to one, indicating a strong Republican presence.
December 10, 2013: The Villages Expands with Pine Ridge Dairy Tract Purchase
On December 10, 2013, The Villages of Lake-Sumter Inc. purchased the Pine Ridge Dairy tract in Fruitland Park, Florida, for $8 million, with plans to construct 2,038 new homes. This expansion contributed to the growing significance of County Road 466A as a secondary east-west corridor, complementing the main corridor of County Road 466. Buena Vista Boulevard and Morse Boulevard serve as major north-south corridors.
2013: IRS Ruling on Bonds
The IRS ruled that $426 million in bonds issued in 2003 were not tax-free.
2014: Resident Origins
Around 2014, many residents of The Villages originated from the Midwest and Northeast, with a significant number from Staten Island.
2014: Rick Scott Rallies in The Villages
Florida governor Rick Scott visited The Villages on the eve of the 2014 Florida gubernatorial election to rally votes, highlighting the area's significance in state politics.
2015: Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center Opens
The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center, a venue with a seating capacity of over 1,000, opened in 2015.
2016: Commercial Development
By 2016, The Villages had built 5.7 million square feet of commercial business space, with an average commercial occupancy rate of approximately 97%.
2016: Mike Pence Campaigns for Donald Trump
During the 2016 presidential election, GOP vice presidential nominee Mike Pence visited The Villages to campaign for his running mate, Donald Trump, underscoring the community's political importance.
2016: Marco Rubio Visits Republican Headquarters in The Villages
Just before the 2016 United States Senate election in Florida, Senator Marco Rubio made a campaign stop at the temporary Republican Headquarters located at Lake Sumter Landing in The Villages.
2016: Studio Tierra Del Sol Opens
The Studio Tierra Del Sol, a black box theatre with a seating capacity of 100, opened in 2016.
2016: Home Sales Data
This date serves as a comparison point for home sales, with a 13% increase observed in 2017.
January 2017: Land Purchase Announced
The Holding Company of the Villages announced the purchase of 8,000 acres of land for future development in January 2017.
2017: The Enrichment Academy Launched
In 2017, The Villages established The Enrichment Academy, offering over 140 fee-based, noncredit lifelong learning courses covering diverse topics such as scuba diving, literature, philosophy, psychology, culinary arts, technology, foreign languages, and photography. The academy, operating under the Recreation and Parks Department, holds classes at designated recreation centers and approved locations throughout The Villages.
2017: Top-Selling Community
The Villages was the top-selling master-planned community in the United States in 2017, selling 2,231 homes.
2017: MSA Growth Period Ends
This date marks the end of the 10-year period where The Villages Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) saw significant economic growth, ranking as the 9th fastest growing area in the United States, with a 51.4% GDP growth to $2.1 billion.
2018: Veteran Population
According to Politico in 2018, The Villages had the largest veteran population in the United States without a military base, with 16.3% being former military.
2018: Road Mileage
As of 2018, The Villages had approximately 750 miles of mostly private roads.
2018: The Villages Offers Over 2,700 Social Clubs
By 2018, The Villages offered residents a wide array of over 2,700 social clubs, catering to various interests such as dance, genealogy, singles, sports, Beatlemania, and gardening.
2018: Autonomous Taxi Pilot Program Launched
In early 2018, The Villages was selected for a pilot program testing autonomous taxis around Lake Sumter Landing. Initially, the vehicles operated with a safety driver, but plans were in place to transition to driverless operation with monitoring from a control station. Voyage Auto, a startup from San Jose, California, operates the technologically advanced Ford Fusion Hybrid and Chrysler Pacifica minivan taxis. The Villages holds a 0.5% stake in Voyage Auto.
2018: Job Growth Period Ends
This date marks the end of a period of job growth, with 13,893 jobs added to The Villages metropolitan statistical area since 2010.
August 6, 2019: Trump Postpones Visit Due to Mass Shootings
President Trump's planned visit to The Villages on August 6, 2019, to discuss Medicare at the Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center was postponed following mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio.
October 4, 2019: Trump Visits The Villages, Delivers Speech on Medicare
On October 4, 2019, President Trump visited The Villages, delivering an hour-long speech on expanding Medicare eligibility to an invitation-only audience of about 1,000 supporters at the Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center. During his visit, the second by a sitting president, Trump expressed his admiration for the community and signed an executive order to broaden private insurance options for seniors under Medicare.
2019: Demographic Data
As of 2019, demographic data for The Villages showed 0.1% of the population were persons under five years old, 0.8% were under 18 years old, and 81.6% were 65 years and over, with 53.6% of the population being female. The median household income in 2019 was $63,841.
2019: Best-Selling Community Decade Ends
This date marks the end of the period when The Villages was recognized as the best-selling master-planned community, with 24,440 new home sales.
October 10, 2020: Mike Pence Addresses Supporters in Brownwood Paddock Square
Vice President Mike Pence addressed a crowd of approximately 1,100 supporters at Brownwood Paddock Square on October 10, 2020, focusing on veterans' issues, economic and job growth, the administration's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and NASA funding.
October 2020: Chitty Chatty Bridge Opens
The Chitty Chatty Bridge, a golf cart overpass crossing Florida State Road 44 near Rohan Recreation Center and Lake Deaton Plaza, opened to traffic in October 2020.
October 23, 2020: Trump Makes Second Visit to The Villages, Appears with DeSantis and Bondi
President Trump made his second visit to The Villages on October 23, 2020, appearing alongside Governor Ron DeSantis and former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi at a rally with an estimated 10,000 supporters. This marked the first time a sitting U.S. president had visited The Villages twice.
2020: 2020 United States Census
The 2020 United States Census recorded a population of 79,077 in the Villages CDP, Florida.
January 2021: Documentaries "Some Kind of Heaven" and "The Bubble" Released
Two documentaries about The Villages were released in 2021. "Some Kind of Heaven" focuses on the lives of four residents, while "The Bubble" provides a broader depiction of life within the community.
March 2021: Water Lily Bridge Opens
The Water Lily Bridge, another golf cart overpass, opened in March 2021, crossing Florida's Turnpike near Water Lily Recreation Center.
July 1, 2021: Population Growth Begins
This date marks the beginning of the period when The Villages metro area experienced a 7.5% population growth.
November 2021: Realtor.com Report
According to Realtor.com in November 2021, the average down payment on a home in The Villages was 27.1%, the highest in the U.S., with a median home list price of $366,950.
July 1, 2022: Population Growth Ends
This date marks the end of the period when The Villages metro area experienced a 7.5% population growth.
2022: United States Census Bureau Data
According to the United States Census Bureau, as of 2022, the CDP has a total area of 34.0 square miles.
2022: Home Sales Data
This date serves as a comparison point for home sales, with a 23% decrease observed in 2023.
May 2023: Census Bureau Data Released
In May 2023, the Census Bureau released data showing that The Villages metro area was the fastest-growing metropolitan statistical area in the United States between July 1, 2021, and July 1, 2022.
August 2023: Southern Oaks Bridge Opens
The Southern Oaks Bridge, also a golf cart overpass, opened in August 2023, crossing Florida's Turnpike south of the Okahumpka Service Plaza.
2023: Top-Selling Community for 11th Consecutive Year
The Villages was named the top-selling planned community for the eleventh consecutive year in 2023, with 3,029 new homes sold.
January 2024: RCLCO Real Estate Advisors Announcement
RCLCO Real Estate Advisors named The Villages the top-selling planned community for the eleventh year in a row.
