Wildwood is a city in Sumter County, Florida, United States. Its population was 15,730 at the 2020 census.
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". Further plans for expansion of The Villages into the city of Wildwood are not public.
The city also includes the historic community of Orange Home.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.4 km<sup>2</sup> (5.2 sq mi).
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition
{| class="wikitable"
|+Wildwood racial composition<br> (Hispanics excluded from racial categories)<br> (NH = Non-Hispanic)<br>
!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%
|-
|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%
|-
|}
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Wildwood had a population of 15,730. The median age was 62.5 years. 11.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 43.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 84.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 82.6 males age 18 and over.
96.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 3.1% lived in rural areas.
There were 7,663 households in Wildwood, of which 13.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.7% were married-couple households, 13.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
2000 census
As of the 2000 census, 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 late 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