Sumter County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 129,752, and was estimated to be 154,693 in 2024. and the largest city is Wildwood. The Villages is located in Sumter County.
It has the oldest median age (68.1 years) of any US county in the 2022 estimate.
Sumter County coincides with The Villages, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Orlando–Lakeland–Deltona, FL Combined Statistical Area.
History
Sumter County was created on January 8, 1853. It was named for General Thomas Sumter, a general in the American Revolutionary War. The county in the past, and to this day by some, is nicknamed "Hog County" most likely because it is home to a large population of wild hogs. Hog hunting is still a favorite pastime of locals in the more rural portions of the county.
Although long extremely rural, Sumter County has sustained an exceptionally large increase in population, almost solely due to the expansion of The Villages retirement complex, a significant portion of which is in the county. This has dramatically changed the demographics of the county and has brought in significant income.
Sumter County was affected by the massive Florida tornado outbreak of February 2, 2007, and a state of emergency was declared.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (3.91%) is water. It is the 51st largest county in Florida by total area.
The Wildwood-The Villages, Florida Metropolitan statistical area (MSA) consists of Sumter County. The principal cities of the MSA are Wildwood and The Villages. The MSA was first defined in or before 2003 as The Villages, Florida Micropolitan statistical area (μSA) with The Villages as the principal city. The area was designated an MSA in or before 2013. In 2023, Wildwood was added as a principal city and the name of the MSA.
Adjacent counties
- Marion County - north
- Lake County - east
- Polk County - southeast
- Pasco County - southwest
- Hernando County - west
- Citrus County - northwest