The Domino's founder who built a Catholic town from scratch
In short: In 2005, a pizza tycoon set out to create a community for serious Catholics. Today, Ave Maria, Florida, stands as the fastest-growing 21st-century town in the United States, a master-planned landscape designed to anchor a university and a specific way of life.
Established in 2005, Ave Maria resulted from Ave Maria Development, a joint venture involving the Ave Maria Foundation and Barron Collier Companies. The project was spearheaded by Tom Monaghan, the Catholic entrepreneur who founded Domino's Pizza. Monaghan's vision was to establish a community that would specifically attract serious Catholics by centering it around a high-quality Catholic university.
By establishing the Ave Maria Stewardship Community District, the Florida legislature enabled the town's growth through this limited local government focused on infrastructure. This project marked the initial development occurring under the Rural Lands Stewardship Area (RLSA) scheme. The town's physical identity is anchored by Ave Maria University, which began operating on a temporary campus in 2003 before construction on its permanent site began in 2005.
While Monaghan has stated the town is open to everyone, the community's Catholic identity is woven into its architecture and street names. A parish church with unique visible steelwork and a 30-foot-tall marble Annunciation by Márton Váró anchor the town square. As the town expands, it continues to grow; in June 2023, Collier County commissioners approved a 1,000-acre expansion to reach the 5,000-acre limit allowed under county rules.
The community's growth is rapid. As of 2023, it was the fastest-growing community in the U.S. founded in the 21st century. By the 2020 census, the population reached 6,242 residents, with a median age of 35.6 years. Future plans include significant medical infrastructure, such as a 150-bed hospital by NCH, with the first phase of construction scheduled for May 2027.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Ave Maria, Florida
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