The growing Webster area is woven with farms and natural spaces
Settled in 1855, Webster is Sumter County’s oldest incorporated town. Vegetable and cattle farms blanket the area, which is stitched with streams and dotted with small lakes. Local farmers organized a co-op in 1938 that became the Sumter County Farmers Market, a community center point today. The city’s abundance of farms and natural spaces lends to a rural lifestyle between the Orlando and Tampa metro areas as it continues to develop. “It’s a little town where everyone knows everyone, and it has much potential. It’s growing in population and getting more businesses,” says Isabelle Zapata, administrative assistant for the City of Webster.
Market Boulevard, a road with a flea market, grocers and restaurants
Dining options are on Market Boulevard, including Juice & Co. and the food truck Taqueria Los Indios. Jackie’s Market is a local grocer in the area. Sumter County Farmers Market hosts a produce market on Saturday mornings and cattle sales on Tuesdays. The market’s property includes Florida Cracker Feed Lot, a soul food restaurant with an apparel store, and Swap-O-Rama’s Webster Westside Flea Market. Vendor booths span 35 acres, establishing it as the largest in the state. “It has many things, including antiques and a bunch of food. It’s very hot out there, but it’s well worth it,” Zapata says. Flea markets occur on Mondays year-round.
Homes from central Webster to the outskirts with acreage
Residential streets branch out from central Webster, many featuring cottages and ranch-style homes. Cottage prices range from about $140,000 for a fixer-upper to $1 million for a home with more acreage. Properties on the outskirts can span over 10 acres. Ranch-style homes are priced roughly between $250,000 and $1.3 million, depending on home and property size. New Traditionals are also common, and they price approximately from $250,000 to $720,000. Mobile and manufactured homes are another option, and their prices range from nearly $7,000 to $600,000 for homes on multi-acre lots. Given the region in which Webster is located, homebuyers are encouraged to check which flood zone they are in, as many residences are near bodies of water.
The CAP Index Crime Score in Webster is 2 out of 10; compared to the national average of 4.
Sports facilities, nature trails and natural hazards
Most of Webster’s green space is on farms and ranches, but a small portion is in parks and recreation areas. Baseball fields fill Sam S. Harris Memorial Park. “We currently have a contract with baseball teams that rent out the fields annually, so they can practice and have games there,” Zapata says. “We have a popular community hall that we rent out to anyone interested in holding a meeting, parties or baby showers.” The B.M. Hewitt Recreational Facilities include basketball courts and a playground. Van Fleet State Trail extends over 29 miles and weaves through the Richloam Wildlife Management Area’s region of the Green Swamp. Richloam features hunting areas, equestrian trails and hiking loops varying from just over 9 miles to over 13 miles.
With thick forests and natural spaces, the wildlife management area may be at a severe wildfire risk, which could affect some of Webster.
Well-connected city with interstate, airport and emergency room access
County Road 478 runs across Webster’s center, intersecting U.S. Route 301 and Interstate 75 in the west. US-301 and I-75 lead to Tampa, about 60 miles away, and the Tampa International Airport, within a 70-mile drive. State Route 50 travels west and east through southern Webster, connecting it to Orlando in approximately 50 miles and to Orlando International Airport in nearly 60 miles. The University of Florida Health Brownwood Freestanding Emergency Room is roughly 20 miles north.
Taking classes at well-rated Sumter County schools
Sumter County School District serves Webster. Schools include Webster Elementary, South Sumter Middle and South Sumter High. Niche gives all schools B grades. High schoolers may take career and technical education courses, including health science foundations and criminal justice.
