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. The population was 15,730 at the 2020 census.
Contents
History
A post office called Wildwood has been in operation since 1881. The city was named for its remote location in the woods.
In April 2015, The Villages petitioned the city of Wildwood with plans to build 785 new homes on County Road 466A, across from Pinellas Plaza. Wildwood leaders rejected the expansion efforts citing concerns of the city losing its identity when it was to become overwhelmed by The Villages. On April 27, 2015, The Villages formally withdrew their plans for expansion, indicating that the City of Wildwood officials made too many requests that would be a “disservice to our residents and business partners". There are no known plans for further expansion of The Villages into the city of Wildwood.
The city also includes the historic community of Orange Home.
Geography
Wildwood is located at 28°51′31″N 82°2′19″W / 28.85861°N 82.03861°W (28.858610, –82.038499).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.4 km2 (5.2 mi2).
Demographics
| 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 | |||
| 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% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 15,730 people, 3,293 households, and 1,893 families residing in the city.
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 6,709 people, 2,542 households, and 1,752 families residing in the city.
Transportation
Crossroads of Florida
Wildwood is located at the juncture of Interstate 75, Florida's Turnpike, State Road 44, and U.S. Route 301. For many years Wildwood was the northern control city on Turnpike road signs however this was replaced with Ocala, Florida beginning in 2007. Because of its centralized location and easy access to both coasts, it is often referred to as "The Crossroads of Florida". Wildwood station operates as a CSX maintenance yard, and until 2004, was served by Amtrak's Palmetto between New York City and Tampa. Amtrak's Amtrak Thruway bus service makes a stop in Wildwood. The bus travels from Jacksonville to Dade City, and is timed to meet arrivals and departures of the Silver Star train in Jacksonville. The Florida Midland Railroad owns an abandoned railroad spur that once led to Leesburg, but now solely serves as a home for several abandoned freight cars along County Road 44A.
In the latter 20th century, Wildwood served as a division point and rail yard for the Seaboard Air Line Railroad (SAL), and later the Seaboard Coast Line (SCL) and Seaboard System Railroads. SAL, SCL and Amtrak passenger trains from New York City and the Midwest were split and combined here to serve St. Petersburg and Miami until the 1990s. Wildwood continues to host Wildwood Yard, which is now used by CSX Transportation, a successor to the Seaboard.
Notable people
- Wayne Anderson, racing driver
- Elizabeth Cook, country music singer and radio personality
- Ron Dixon, former player of the National Football League
- Dana Fuchs, singer, songwriter, actress and voice-over artist, portrayed Sadie in 2007 film Across the Universe
- Ellis Johnson, former player of the National Football League
- Dan Sikes, former professional golfer
- Barbara J. Stephenson, diplomat
See also
In Spanish: Wildwood (Florida) para niños
