Wildwood, Florida
Encyclopedia
Wildwood is a city in Sumter County
, Florida
, United States
. The population was 3,924 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the city had a population of 3,598.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 13.4 km2 (5.2 mi2), all land.
of 2000, there were 3,924 people, 1,640 households, and 1,074 families residing in the city. The population density
was 759.7 inhabitants per square mile (293.0/km2). There were 2,062 housing units at an average density of 399.2 per square mile (154.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 64.76% White, 32.93% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.97% from other races
, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.42% of the population.
There were 1,640 households out of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples
living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 18.4% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 33.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 83.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,357, and the median income for a family was $27,247. Males had a median income of $23,250 versus $18,103 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $11,758. About 17.3% of families and 21.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.6% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.
Wildwood was home to Buddy's Bar-B-Que, a notable holdout against Florida's smoking ban
, located on US 301
. It received moderate local media attention in July 2004, due to a 10 feet (3 m), 5 feet (1.5 m), fiberglass
pig
attached to the roof of the building. Formerly just decoration, it now has a section of PVC
pipe protruding from its rear end painted to resemble a cigarette
. Attached to cooking smoke from inside, the restaurant's slogan is "Home of the Smokin' Pig". Signs indoors state that smoking is permitted, although donations are accepted to pay for smoking fines. Buddy's has since closed.
Wildwood is located at the juncture of Interstate 75
, Florida's Turnpike
, State Road 44, and US Highway 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". CSX railroad also has a station
located on Main Street in Wildwood. The station was also a stop along Amtrak
's national commuter route until 2004. Today, the former station is a CSX maintenance yard. In addition there is an abandoned railroad spur owned by the Florida Midland Railroad
that once led to Leesburg
, but now runs along Sumter County Road 44A and was the home for some abandoned freight cars until some point in the first decade of the 21st Century.
Sumter County, Florida
Sumter County is a county located in the state of Florida, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 53,345. The 2006 Census estimate puts its population at 68,768 . Its county seat is Bushnell, Florida and the largest incorporated municipality is Wildwood, Florida. The Villages,...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,924 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the city had a population of 3,598.
Geography
Wildwood is located at 28°51′31"N 82°2′19"W (28.858610, -82.038499).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 13.4 km2 (5.2 mi2), all land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,924 people, 1,640 households, and 1,074 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 759.7 inhabitants per square mile (293.0/km2). There were 2,062 housing units at an average density of 399.2 per square mile (154.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 64.76% White, 32.93% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.97% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.42% of the population.
There were 1,640 households out of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 17.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 18.4% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 33.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 83.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,357, and the median income for a family was $27,247. Males had a median income of $23,250 versus $18,103 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $11,758. About 17.3% of families and 21.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.6% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.
History
I. E. Barwick is considered to have founded Wildwood in 1877, according to Wanton S. Webb's History of Florida, which was published near the end of the nineteenth century.Wildwood was home to Buddy's Bar-B-Que, a notable holdout against Florida's smoking ban
Smoking ban
Smoking bans are public policies, including criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations, which prohibit tobacco smoking in workplaces and/or other public spaces...
, located on US 301
U.S. Route 301 in Florida
U.S. Route 301 in Florida runs from the Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area northeast to the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area. The road is a spur of U.S...
. It received moderate local media attention in July 2004, due to a 10 feet (3 m), 5 feet (1.5 m), fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
pig
Pig
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
attached to the roof of the building. Formerly just decoration, it now has a section of PVC
Polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a vinyl polymer constructed of repeating vinyl groups having one hydrogen replaced by chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is the third most widely produced plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is widely used in...
pipe protruding from its rear end painted to resemble a cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
. Attached to cooking smoke from inside, the restaurant's slogan is "Home of the Smokin' Pig". Signs indoors state that smoking is permitted, although donations are accepted to pay for smoking fines. Buddy's has since closed.
Crossroads of Florida
Interstate 75 in Florida
Interstate 75 is a part of the Interstate Highway System and runs from Hialeah, Florida, a few miles northwest of Miami to Sault Ste. Marie in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan...
, Florida's Turnpike
Florida's Turnpike
Florida's Turnpike , designated as the Ronald Reagan Turnpike, and originally known as the Sunshine State Parkway is a north–south toll road that runs through 11 counties in the Florida peninsula, from U.S...
, State Road 44, and US Highway 301
U.S. Route 301 in Florida
U.S. Route 301 in Florida runs from the Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area northeast to the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area. The road is a spur of U.S...
. For many years Wildwood was the northern control city
Control city
A control city is a city or locality posted on a traffic sign indicating forward destinations on a certain route. These destinations aid motorists using the highway system to reach destinations along the various routes...
on Turnpike road signs however this was replaced with Ocala, Florida
Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
beginning in 2007. Because of its centralized location and easy access to both coasts, it is often referred to as "The Crossroads of Florida". CSX railroad also has a station
Wildwood (Amtrak station)
Wildwood is a former Amtrak station in Wildwood, Florida. The station is located on 601 North Main Street in Wildwood, Florida. Along with the northern terminus of Florida's Turnpike, the station gave Wildwood a reason to refer to itself as "The Crossroads of Florida."The station was built in 1947...
located on Main Street in Wildwood. The station was also a stop along Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
's national commuter route until 2004. Today, the former station is a CSX maintenance yard. In addition there is an abandoned railroad spur owned by the Florida Midland Railroad
Florida Midland Railroad (current)
The Florida Midland Railroad is one of several short line railroads run by the Pinsly Railroad Company. It has connections to CSX at Wildwood, Florida, Winter Haven, Florida and West Lake Wales, Florida....
that once led to Leesburg
Leesburg, Florida
Leesburg is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States. The population was 15,956 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 19,086.. Leesburg is located in central Florida, between Lake Harris and Lake Griffin, at the head of the Oklawaha River system....
, but now runs along Sumter County Road 44A and was the home for some abandoned freight cars until some point in the first decade of the 21st Century.
Notable residents
- Ellis JohnsonEllis Johnson (defensive lineman)Ellis Bernard Johnson is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League for ten seasons during the 1990s and 2000s...
, former player of the National Football League. - Ron DixonRon DixonRonald Dixon is a former American football wide receiver for the New York Giants in the National Football League. His most notable performance was his 97 yard kick return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XXXV. Dixon's return was the only score for the Giants as they went on to lose to the Baltimore...
, former player of the National Football League. - Dan SikesDan SikesDaniel David Sikes, Jr. was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour. Sikes won nine tournaments as a pro, including six PGA Tour events.- Early years :...
, former professional American golfer. - Marvin ColemanMarvin ColemanMarvin Coleman was a football player in the Canadian Football League for ten years years. Coleman played cornerback for the Calgary Stampeders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1994-2003. He was a CFL All-Star three times.-References:...
, former player in the Canadian Football League. - Keith JonesKeith JonesKeith Jones may refer to:*Keith Jones , former American football running back*Keith Jones , English former footballer...
, Emmy-Award Winning Analyst for Sun SportsSun SportsSun Sports is a Florida sports broadcasting network, with its headquarters in Orlando. Launched in 1988 as Sunshine Network, the station is now affiliated with virtually every cable company throughout the state of Florida and can be picked up by some satellite providers around the United...
. - Dana FuchsDana FuchsDana Fuchs is an American singer, songwriter, actress and voice over talent most famous for her performance in the 2007 film Across the Universe, in which she played the role of Sadie.-Early life:...
, singer, songwriter, actress and voice over talent most famous for her role as Sadie in the 2007 film Across the UniverseAcross the Universe"Across the Universe" is a song by the English group The Beatles. It was written by John Lennon, and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song first appeared on the various artists charity compilation album No One's Gonna Change Our World in December 1969, and later, in different form, on Let It Be,... - Elizabeth CookElizabeth CookElizabeth Cook is an American country music singer who made her debut on the Grand Ole Opry on March 17, 2000. She has released five albums to date. Balls was produced by Rodney Crowell, and nine of the album's 11 tracks were written or co-written by Elizabeth – including the single "Sometimes It...
, American country music singer. - McCartney Kellam, musician, graphics designer, and voice over talent.