Ave Maria, Florida

Ave Maria, Florida
Ave Maria, Florida
Location within Florida
Coordinates: 26°19′18″N 81°26′23″W / 26.32167°N 81.43972°W / 26.32167; -81.43972
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountyCollier
Established2007
Government
 • TypeStewardship Community District
Area
 • Total
10.424 sq mi (27.00 km2)
Elevation
23 ft (7.0 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
6,242
 • Density598.6/sq mi (231.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
34142
Area code239
FIPS code12-47625
GNIS feature ID2806000
WebsiteOfficial website

Ave Maria, Florida, is a planned community and census-designated place (CDP) located in Collier County, Florida, United States, consisting of approximately 5,000 acres (2,023 ha). The population was 6,242 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Naples-Marco Island, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The community was founded in 2005 by Ave Maria Development, a partnership of Barron Collier Companies and the Ave Maria Foundation led by Catholic entrepreneur Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino's Pizza and Ave Maria University, which is located in the heart of town. Along with shops and restaurants, the town square also features the Ave Maria parish church with steel arches and a 30-foot-tall marble carving of the Annunciation. As of 2023 Ave Maria was the fastest growing community in the United States that was founded in the 21st century.