Changes

Originally formed in the 1960s as a mobile home park called '''Orange Blossom Gardens''', the development grew substantially in the mid-1980s due to the marketing success of H. Gary Morse, son of one of the original founders.  Morse realized that the most successful developments featured well-maintained amenities and nearby extensive commercial development (e.g. grocery stores, restaurants, etc.) and began to purchase large tracts of land in adjacent areas.

Originally formed in the 1960s as a mobile home park called '''Orange Blossom Gardens''', the development grew substantially in the mid-1980s due to the marketing success of H. Gary Morse, son of one of the original founders.  Morse realized that the most successful developments featured well-maintained amenities and nearby extensive commercial development (e.g. grocery stores, restaurants, etc.) and began to purchase large tracts of land in adjacent areas.

Morse also took advantage of unique provisions of Florida law which allows his company to essentially run the area as a mini-government in perpetuity.  The Villages is divided primarily into 17 "community development districts" (which are governed by residents, handle local issues such as paving and street lights, and are paid for by special assessments included within the property tax bills).<ref>Some portions of The Villages are located within the territorial limits of existing cities; some of those areas are not covered by the CDD's while others are.</ref>  However, The Villages is also under the jurisdiction of five development districts which are structured in such a manner that they have NO residents (only commercial and developer-owned property); as such, Morse's company has the legal right to nominate company employees or affiliates to the districts' boards.  These larger boards maintain the numerous amenities for which The Villages is world-renowned (such as over 60 golf courses, both full and "executive" courses along with specialty): for many years the advertising slogan was "Free Golf For Life", technically inaccurate as the courses are paid for by monthly amenity fees charged to each property owner).

Morse also took advantage of unique provisions of Florida law which allows his company to essentially run the area as a mini-government in perpetuity.  The Villages is divided primarily into 14 "community development districts" (which are governed by residents, handle local issues such as paving and street lights, and are paid for by special assessments included within the property tax bills).<ref>Some portions of The Villages are located within the territorial limits of existing cities; some of those areas are not covered by the CDD's while others are.</ref>  However, The Villages is also under the jurisdiction of five development districts which are structured in such a manner that they have NO residents (only commercial and developer-owned property); as such, Morse's company has the legal right to nominate company employees or affiliates to the districts' boards.  These larger boards maintain the numerous amenities for which The Villages is world-renowned (such as over 60 golf courses, both full and "executive" courses along with specialty): for many years the advertising slogan was "Free Golf For Life", technically inaccurate as the courses are paid for by monthly amenity fees charged to each property owner).

The community is age-restricted as allowed by Federal housing law: at least one person age 55 or over must reside in any home, and no person under age 19 may do so except to visit (for no more than 30 days per year) or in cases of hardship.

The community is age-restricted as allowed by Federal housing law: at least one person age 55 or over must reside in any home, and no person under age 19 may do so except to visit (for no more than 30 days per year) or in cases of hardship.