This community located about 65 miles northwest of Orlando is recognized as the friendliest city in Florida and as the largest active adult community in the world. Residents of The Villages, known as Villagers, enjoy all the features of a small town and the amenities of a luxury resort. Covering an area larger than Manhattan, The Villages encompasses three Florida counties: Sumter, Marion and Lake. Residents living in The Villages have created more than 2000 clubs and activities, which attract members based on their own interests.
The Villages also offers live entertainment almost every day of the year, especially live music and dancing in city centers. The Villages organizes an annual sports competition, “The Villages Senior Games”, held every April. In addition to traveling in golf carts within the community, there are other forms of transportation in The Villages. One of the biggest selling points of living in The Villages is that residents receive “free golf for life”.
According to The Villages website, north of Florida State Highway 44, there is approximately 37 square miles (96 km) of land. The Villages, a gigantic retirement community that was the fastest-growing metropolitan area in the nation two years ago, is no stranger to folklore. People looking for homes for sale in The Villages should pay attention and learn about the nuances of Community Development District (CDD) rates and fees, including development bonds. 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.
Most people imagine The Villages as a block of houses on a single block, but in reality it's more of a collection of smaller neighborhoods. The Villages continues to grow and expand its presence today, making it one of the fastest-growing cities in Florida. The closest beaches to The Villages are in Cedar Key, approximately 40 miles west of The Villages, on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. The Villages is just over an hour from Disney and Orlando's theme parks, as well as Orlando International Airport (MCO).
The Villages is also known for its obsession with pickleball, which is played on more than 100 courts across the community. Presidents and other government officials, especially Republicans, often visit The Villages on campaign and fund-raising missions. The story of The Villages dates back to the 1960s, at the end of a huge real estate boom in Florida.
