At 34 square miles and expanding, this rural retirement community is bigger than Manhattan

Posted by Valentine Belue on Tuesday, August 20, 2024

The Villages is a massive master-planned retirement development in Florida. At 34 square miles and expanding, it’s already bigger than Manhattan.

The Villages has been the fastest-growing metro area in the nation for two years running, more than doubling its population to 114,000 since 2010, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. There is a strong emphasis on golf, with about 600 holes over 45 courses where residents play for free, and 100 miles of paths used by residents in souped-up golf carts to get around the development. Families are encouraged to visit.

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