Wildwood, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wildwood, Florida
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| City of Wildwood | |
Wildwood City Hall
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Location in Sumter County and the state of Florida
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Sumter |
| Area | |
| • Total | 57.37 sq mi (148.59 km2) |
| • Land | 56.28 sq mi (145.77 km2) |
| • Water | 1.09 sq mi (2.82 km2) |
| Elevation | 66 ft (20 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 15,730 |
| • Density | 279.50/sq mi (107.91/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
34785
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| Area code(s) | 352 |
| FIPS code | 12-77675 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0293301 |
Wildwood is a city in Sumter County, Florida, United States. In 2020, about 15,730 people lived there.
Contents
History of Wildwood
Wildwood got its first post office in 1881. The city was named Wildwood because it was located deep in the woods.
In 2015, a nearby community called The Villages wanted to build many new homes in Wildwood. Wildwood leaders were worried the city would lose its unique identity. They decided not to approve the expansion. The Villages then withdrew their plans. There are no current plans for The Villages to expand into Wildwood.
The city also includes a historic area called Orange Home.
Wildwood's Geography
Wildwood is located at 28°51′31″N 82°2′19″W / 28.85861°N 82.03861°W. This means it is in central Florida.
The city covers a total area of about 148.59 square kilometers (57.37 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 419 | — | |
| 1900 | 244 | −41.8% | |
| 1910 | 329 | 34.8% | |
| 1920 | 480 | 45.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,409 | 193.5% | |
| 1940 | 1,346 | −4.5% | |
| 1950 | 2,019 | 50.0% | |
| 1960 | 2,170 | 7.5% | |
| 1970 | 2,082 | −4.1% | |
| 1980 | 2,665 | 28.0% | |
| 1990 | 3,421 | 28.4% | |
| 2000 | 3,924 | 14.7% | |
| 2010 | 6,709 | 71.0% | |
| 2020 | 15,730 | 134.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Wildwood has grown a lot over the years. In 2010, the population was 6,709 people. By 2020, it had more than doubled to 15,730 people.
The table below shows the different groups of people living in Wildwood, based on the 2010 and 2020 United States Census.
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 4,754 | 12,210 | 70.86% | 77.62% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,378 | 1,489 | 20.54% | 9.47% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 27 | 21 | 0.40% | 0.13% |
| Asian (NH) | 75 | 412 | 1.12% | 2.62% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 3 | 3 | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Some other race (NH) | 16 | 39 | 0.24% | 0.25% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 83 | 462 | 1.24% | 2.94% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 373 | 1,094 | 5.56% | 6.95% |
| Total | 6,709 | 15,730 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
In 2020, there were 15,730 people living in Wildwood. There were 3,293 households and 1,893 families.
Transportation Hub
Wildwood is known as "The Crossroads of Florida." This is because several major roads meet here. These include Interstate 75, Florida's Turnpike, State Road 44, and U.S. Route 301. This makes it easy to travel to different parts of Florida from Wildwood.
The city also has a train history. The Wildwood station is now used for train maintenance by CSX. In the past, passenger trains from places like New York City used to stop here. Today, you can catch an Amtrak Thruway bus in Wildwood. This bus connects to train services in other cities.
Famous People from Wildwood
- Wayne Anderson, a racing driver
- Elizabeth Cook, a country music singer and radio personality
- Ron Dixon, a former professional football player
- Dana Fuchs, a singer, songwriter, and actress
- Ellis Johnson, a former professional football player
- Dan Sikes, a former professional golfer
- Barbara J. Stephenson, a diplomat
See also
In Spanish: Wildwood (Florida) para niños
