Ave Maria, Florida, United States, is a planned community and census-designated place located in Collier County, Florida, consisting of approximately 5,000 acres. 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. Ave Maria is currently the fastest growing community in the USA that was founded in the 21st century.
