Our carefully curated collection of odd facts and weird news from The Villages, Florida.
Invasion of the Body Transport Snatchers! Villagers should keep an eye out for anyone peddling a slightly used body stretcher — it may be hot! According to the Sumter County Sheriff’s office, thieves broke into a funeral van from Hiers-Baxley and made off with a stretcher used to transport bodies. – Villages-News.com
This thief is a true basket case! Marion County sheriff’s deputies arrested a 50-year-old Villager for stealing a purse, a debit card . . . and 17 Publix shopping baskets! – Ocala.com
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The Villages is the world’s largest gated, 55-plus community with more than 100,000 residents in a region larger than Manhattan. – Slate
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The Villages holds the world’s record for the longest golf-cart parade. – Orlando Sentinel
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The Villages has boasted of the highest consumption of draft beer in the State of Florida, and its microbrewery pipes beer beneath the streets to local restaurants – Slate
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The Villages has no permanent residents under age 19. Children who visit must leave after three weeks. – NPR
The Villages has 468 holes of golf and 9,000 tee times each day. – NPR
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The Villages was the fastest growing metropolitan area in the United States between 2010 and 2017. The current population is 115,000. – USA Today
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