<Tr> <Th> FIPS code </Th> <Td> 12 - 71625 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> GNIS feature ID </Th> <Td> 1828956 </Td> </Tr> <P> The Villages is a census - designated place (CDP) in Sumter County, Florida, United States . It shares its name with a broader master - planned age - restricted community that spreads into portions of Lake and Marion counties . The Villages consistently ranks as a very high growth area . The U.S. Census ranked The Villages as the fastest - growing U.S. city for the second year in a row (during the 12 months ending in July 2014); As of April 2016, the total population of The Villages reached 157,000 people, due to new areas stretching from Fruitland Park to South SR 44 . </P> <P> The Villages is controlled by several quasi-governmental Community Development Districts (CDD), which are controlled by the development company that created The Villages . H. Gary Morse, the son of the original owner and who was responsible for turning The Villages into one of the most well - known and fastest - growing retirement communities, transferred most direct ownership in the company to his three children in 2006; Morse died in 2014 . The overall development lies in central Florida, approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of Ocala and approximately 45 miles (72 km) northwest of Orlando . </P>

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