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Wikipedia

Sarasota County, Florida

January 10, 2023

Sarasota County is a county located in Southwest Florida. At the 2020 US census, the population was 434,006.[1] Its county seat is Sarasota[2] and its largest city is North Port. Sarasota County is part of the North Port–Sarasota–Bradenton, FL metropolitan statistical area.

Sarasota County
U.S. county
Images, from top down, left to right: Downtown Sarasota skyline; Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Sarasota's Bayfront; Sunset at Siesta Beach; Sarasota County Courthouse; Beachfront on Venice Beach; Front walkway of Ca' d'Zan
Seal
Logo
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 27°11′N 82°22′W / 27.19°N 82.37°W / 27.19; -82.37
Country United States
State Florida
FoundedMay 14, 1921
SeatSarasota
Largest cityNorth Port
Area
 • Total725 sq mi (1,880 km2)
 • Land556 sq mi (1,440 km2)
 • Water169 sq mi (440 km2)  23.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total434,006
 • Density781/sq mi (302/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
34223, 34229–34278, 34284–34289, 34292-34293, 34295
Area code941
Congressional district17th
Websitewww.scgov.net

History

Main article: History of Sarasota, Florida
 
Downtown Sarasota, the county seat, from the John Ringling Causeway

The area that is now known as Sarasota County has been inhabited by humans for some 10,000 years. Evidence of human remains as well as a burned out log at the Warm Mineral Springs, in North Port, were discovered that date to the early Archaic period.[3]

Although the name was associated with the area from the beginning of European contacts, the origin of the name "Sarasota" is unknown. In the early twentieth-century, a fanciful story was created to go hand-in-hand with a pageant held in Sarasota. The story held that the town was named after the daughter of famous explorer Hernando de Soto's daughter Sara.[4]

An early map of the area from 1763 shows the word "Zarazote" across present day Sarasota.[5]

Following exploration, the area was occupied by fishing camps, called ranchos.[6] In 1842, the Armed Occupation Act was passed, which deeded land to settlers who were willing to cultivate land in Florida. The act brought settlers to Sarasota but also led to the Second Seminole War.[7][8] During the war, the area was occupied by the U.S. army and Fort Armistead was built.[9]

Sarasota County was created in 1921 from the southern part of Manatee County. After acquisition by the United States as a territory, the area now included in Sarasota county had been part of St. Johns County (1821), Alachua County (1824), Hillsborough County (1834), and Manatee County (1855) as new counties were created from older counties to accommodate population growth and settlement in new areas.[10]

Geography

 
Black-necked stilt in Myakka River State Park

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 725 square miles (1,880 km2), of which 556 square miles (1,440 km2) is land and 169 square miles (440 km2) (23.4%) is water.[11]

Adjacent counties

Parks and preserves

In addition to local parks there are several preserve areas including:

Government and politics

Sarasota County is one of only 20 Florida counties with its own charter, adopted in 1971. Sarasota County is governed by a five-member county commission. Each commissioner serves a four-year term and resides in and represents a single district.[12]

Like most of Southwest Florida, Sarasota County is considered a stronghold for the Republican Party and was one of the first parts of Florida to turn Republican. The last Democratic presidential candidate to win it was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944, although Barack Obama lost it by just 211 votes in 2008.[13] Republicans have historically dominated the county commission and other countywide elected positions. However, the city of Sarasota has an all-Democrat city commission, Democrat Michele Rayner represents a portion of the county in the Florida House of Representatives, and there are two countywide elected Democrats.

United States presidential election results for Sarasota County, Florida[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 148,370 54.71% 120,110 44.29% 2,689 0.99%
2016 124,438 53.79% 97,870 42.30% 9,045 3.91%
2012 110,504 53.14% 95,119 45.74% 2,338 1.12%
2008 102,897 49.47% 102,686 49.37% 2,422 1.16%
2004 104,692 53.51% 88,442 45.20% 2,518 1.29%
2000 83,117 51.63% 72,869 45.27% 4,991 3.10%
1996 69,213 46.46% 63,665 42.73% 16,108 10.81%
1992 66,855 42.76% 54,552 34.89% 34,945 22.35%
1988 84,602 66.40% 42,099 33.04% 708 0.56%
1984 87,771 74.15% 30,525 25.79% 69 0.06%
1980 68,065 68.57% 25,621 25.81% 5,579 5.62%
1976 44,157 61.78% 26,293 36.78% 1,028 1.44%
1972 48,939 79.95% 12,235 19.99% 36 0.06%
1968 30,160 63.73% 10,127 21.40% 7,041 14.88%
1964 21,917 61.13% 13,937 38.87% 0 0.00%
1960 19,995 70.70% 8,287 29.30% 0 0.00%
1956 13,937 73.40% 5,052 26.60% 0 0.00%
1952 9,538 70.74% 3,945 29.26% 0 0.00%
1948 3,559 49.95% 2,302 32.31% 1,264 17.74%
1944 2,109 37.99% 3,443 62.01% 0 0.00%
1940 1,672 30.71% 3,773 69.29% 0 0.00%
1936 1,055 30.38% 2,418 69.62% 0 0.00%
1932 667 25.86% 1,912 74.14% 0 0.00%
1928 1,603 56.46% 1,181 41.60% 55 1.94%
1924 187 40.48% 204 44.16% 71 15.37%

Public safety

Fire/EMS

The Sarasota County Fire Department (SCFD) provides fire services to the City of Sarasota and all unincorporated areas of the county with the exception of areas covered by the Nokomis and Englewood fire districts. Additionally, SCFD provides EMS service to the City of Sarasota, all unincorporated areas of the county (including areas covered by the Nokomis and Englewood fire districts) plus the city of Venice.[15]

Law enforcement

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office (SSO) is the county's primary law enforcement agency. It is responsible for patrolling the unincorporated areas of the county along with operating the county's jail and providing courtroom security. SSO also operates the county's primary 911 center. The cities of Sarasota, North Port, and Venice along with the Town of Longboat Key each have their own police departments. The Florida Highway Patrol is responsible for patrolling FDOT maintained roads in the county (Florida State Highway System) and investigating motor vehicle accidents that occur in unincorporated areas.[16]

Three specialist law enforcement agencies have jurisdiction in the county: the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport Police Department,[17] the New College/USF Sarasota-Manatee Campus Police Department[18] and the Seminole Gulf Railway (SGLR) Police Department.[19] Each agency has jurisdiction in neighboring Manatee County as well; each agency's properties extend into that county.

Voter registration

All voter information is since March 31, 2022 and provided by Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office:[20]

Party statistics

Party Registered Voters Percentage
Republican 151,623 43.05%
Democratic 103,217 29.31%
No party affiliation 90,695 25.75%
Minor parties 6,644 1.89%
Total Voters 352,179 100.00%

Government officials

United States Senate

Office Senator Party
Class 3 Senator Marco Rubio Republican
Class 1 Senator Rick Scott Republican

United States House of Representatives

District Representative Party
Florida's 17th Congressional District Greg Steube Republican

Florida State Senate

District Senator Party
23 Joe Gruters Republican

Florida House of Representatives

District Representative Party
73 Fiona McFarland Republican
74 James Buchanan Republican
75 Michael Grant Republican

Sarasota County Commission

The Board of County Commissioners include the following:[21]

Position Incumbent
District 1 Michael Moran
District 2 Mark Smith
District 3 Nancy Detert
District 4 Joe Neunder
District 5 Ron Cutsinger

Sarasota County School Board

The School Board members include the following:<[22]

Position Incumbent
District 1 Bridget Ziegler
District 2 Karen Rose
District 3 Tom Edwards
District 4 Robyn A. Marinelli
District 5 Tim Enos

Transportation

Airports

Major highways and state roads

Public transportation

  • Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) provides public transportation for Sarasota County, Florida. SCAT is operated by Sarasota County. It maintains 19 fixed-line bus routes plus a dial-a-ride paratransit service (SCAT Plus).[23]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
193012,440—
194016,10629.5%
195028,82779.0%
196076,895166.7%
1970120,41356.6%
1980202,25168.0%
1990277,77637.3%
2000325,95717.3%
2010379,44816.4%
2020434,00614.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[24]
1790-1960[25] 1900–1990[26]
1990–2000[27] 2010-2020[1]
 
Some areas of Sarasota County, such as Casey Key near Nokomis, are very wealthy.
Sarasota County racial composition as of 2020
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Pop 2010[30] Pop 2020[31] % 2010 % 2020
White (NH) 321,978 349,700 84.85% 80.57%
Black or African American (NH) 17,036 16,165 4.49% 3.72%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 667 695 0.18% 0.16%
Asian (NH) 4,818 8,407 1.27% 1.94%
Pacific Islander (NH) 102 168 0.03% 0.04%
Some Other Race (NH) 545 1,902 0.14% 0.44%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 4,269 13,733 1.13% 3.16%
Hispanic or Latino 30,033 43,236 7.91% 9.96%
Total 379,448 434,006

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 434,006 people, 189,228 households, and 117,532 families residing in the county. 3.5% of that population was under the age of 5 years old, 14.0% was under 18 years old, and 37.4% was 65 years or older. 52.4% was female.

The median household income was $64,644 with a per capita income of $44,402. 8.7% of population below the poverty threshold. The median value of owner-occupied housing-units between 2016-2020 was $269,300 and the median gross rent was $1,342.

There were 41,215 veterans living in the county. 12.2% of the population were Foreign born persons. 93.2% of the population that was 25 years or older were High school graduates and 36.4% of those 25 years or older had a Bachelor's degree or higher.

Religions As of 2010, the religious affiliations of the people of Sarasota County, according to Pew Research Center were:[32]

Religion or Denomination Numbers of Adherents
Catholic 76,000
Don't Know 214,357
Baptist 18,495
Methodist 12,349
Lutheran 4,309
Presbyterian 10,903
Pentecostal 6,860
Episcopal 6,032
Other 9,089

Economy

Top private employers

As of January 2018, the top private employers for Sarasota County are as follows:[33]

  1. Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (4,563)
  2. PGT Innovations (2,000)
  3. Publix (1,733)
  4. Venice Regional Medical Center (812)
  5. Sun Hydraulics (632)
  6. Tervis Tumbler (570)
  7. Shared Services Center Sarasota (455)
  8. FCCI Insurance (426)
  9. Doctors Hospital (415)
  10. Jackson Hewitt, Inc. (337)

Top public and private employers

As of October 2018, the top employees for Sarasota County, including public sector jobs, are as follows:[34]

  1. School Board of Sarasota County (4,563)
  2. Sarasota Memorial Hospital (4,244)
  3. Sarasota County Government (3,533)
  4. Publix Supermarkets (2,793)
  5. PGT Industries (2,079)

Sports and recreation

Sarasota County is home to Ed Smith Stadium, where the Baltimore Orioles currently have spring training. The Orioles also have minor league facilities at Twin Lakes Park. In January 2017, the Braves announced a formal agreement to move their Spring Training home to North Port.[35] CoolToday Park opened on March 24, 2019.[36][37]

Sarasota County is also home to Nathan Benderson Park. The facility has played host to the 2017 World Rowing Championships and subsequent World Rowing events in 2018 and 2019. It has also been the host of the 2016 Olympic Time Trials - Rowing and will host the delayed 2020 Olympic rowing time trials. NBP has also been the site of multiple NCAA national rowing championship regattas, the USRowing Youth National Championships, and other rowing regattas and dragon boat festivals since 2011. The park will host the 2021 U.S. Dragon Boat Federation National Championships and the 2022 International Dragon Boat Federation Club Crew World Championships, after holding the 2014 International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission world regatta.[38][39]

Nathan Benderson Park is also the site of Olympic qualifying events in triathlon and paratriathlon, with several ITU Triathlon World Cup and Americas Triathlon Cup events over the years. Numerous community running and walking events, music and food festivals and other community events are held in the park, including the annual NBP Fireworks On The Lake, held every July 3, and NBP Trick Or Treat On The Lake, held the last week of October.[citation needed]

Education

Primary and secondary education

Higher education

Museums and libraries

Main article: Sarasota County Library System

Library branches:[40]

  • Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library
  • Elsie Quirk Public Library
  • Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Public Library
  • Fruitville Public Library
  • Gulf Gate Public Library
  • North Port Public Library
  • The Osprey Public Library at the Historic Spanish Point
  • Selby Public Library
  • Shannon Staub Library
  • William H. Jervey, Jr. Venice Public Library

Sarasota County residents may obtain library cards for free and valid library cards may be used to check out materials at all ten Sarasota County libraries. Manatee and Charlotte County residents, as well as library users from any of the Tampa Bay Library Consortium libraries may register as reciprocal borrowers and check out materials in Sarasota County. Non-resident cards are available for purchase and offer the same privileges as resident cards.

The library system provides a variety of services which include adult, teen and children's materials. Computers for public use are available at all nine Sarasota County Libraries and free wireless access in the libraries is provided by the Sarasota County Government. The library system has licensing to the , OverDrive, Inc. and Freegal Music. Ask a Librarian, the on-line Florida librarian reference system is available through the Sarasota County Public Library System. Sarasota County residents have access to the Pinellas Talking Book Library as well as a Books-by-Mail service.[41] The Selby Public Library has been a selective depository in the Federal Depository Library Program and receives almost 50% of the government publications distributed through the program.[41] Additionally, the Sarasota County Library System is an organization member of the Florida Library Association.

The Little Free Library program was introduced to Sarasota County in 2014 as the result of a collaborative effort between the Libraries and Historical Resources department, the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources department and the UF/IFAS Sarasota County Extension and Sustainability department. The Sarasota County Little Free Libraries have been placed at thirteen different county parks and recreation centers.[42]

History

The first library, which was established in 1907 by the Sarasota Town Improvement Society. County libraries have been established in response to community demands and needs.

The first libraries were autonomous with the Head Librarians reporting directly to the County Administrator. Sarasota Public Library was managed by Betty Service, the Englewood library by Harriet Ives, and Venice by Jean McGuire. Joan Hopkins directed and coordinated library services for the rapidly growing population. She directed the establishment of Gulf Gate Public Library, North Port Public Library, Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Public Library and the new downtown Sarasota library, and laid the groundwork for building future libraries in the county.[43]

Local media

Newspapers

Television

Sarasota County is part of the Tampa/St. Petersburg/Sarasota DMA, however the following stations have facilities located in the county:

  • WWSB – a local ABC affiliate based in Sarasota, which serves as the primary ABC affiliate for Sarasota County and a Secondary ABC affiliate for the rest of the Tampa/St. Petersburg/Sarasota DMA
  • WSNN-LD – local twenty-four-hour news station based in Sarasota
  • Various government and local access channels. Access 19 (Local Government channel), Education Channel (School Board) and BLAB TV (local programming)

Television stations serving all or part of Sarasota County but located in Saint Petersburg or Tampa include:

  • WTVT - the local Fox affiliate based in Tampa
  • WFLA - the local NBC affiliate based in Tampa
  • WTSP - the local CBS affiliate based in St. Petersburg
  • WFTS - the primary ABC affiliate for the Tampa/St. Petersburg/Sarasota DMA, based in St. Petersburg

Radio

  • WCTQ – (92.1 and 103.1 Country)
  • WSLR-LP – (96.5 Community Radio)
  • WSDV - (103.9 Top-40)

Communities

Cities

Town

Census-designated places and unincorporated communities

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[28][29]

References

  1. ^ a b "QuickFacts for Sarasota County, Florida". U.S. Census Bureau. August 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  3. ^ Royal, William; Clark, Eugenie (October 1960). "Natural Preservation of Human Brain, Warm Mineral Springs, Florida". American Antiquity. 26 (2): 285–287. JSTOR 276213. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  4. ^ Chapline, George F. "The Legend of Sara DeSoto". Sarasota History Alive. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  5. ^ Barth, John Jr. "The Origin of the Name, Sarasota". Sarasota History Alive. Sarasota County Historical Resources. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  6. ^ Stack, Margaret (2011). "Chapter 2: Background History". An Archaeological and Archival Appraisal of "Spanish Indians" on the West Coast of Florida in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. pp. 10–13.
  7. ^ Sarasota County Public Records. "Harrison and Laura Watson Residence". Sarasota History Alive. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  8. ^ "Armed Occupation Act". My Florida History. The Florida Historical Society. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  9. ^ Burger, Bill. "A Military Post on Sarasota Bay". Sarasota History Alive. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  10. ^ "History of Florida Counties". Tenth Judicial Circuit of Florida Historical Society. Retrieved April 18, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  12. ^ (PDF). July 2012. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 28, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  13. ^ "Sarasota and Manatee wallets open for president's campaign". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. from the original on December 22, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  14. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". from the original on April 14, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  15. ^ "Fire Department". Sarasota County government. from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  16. ^ "Jurisdiction of the Florida Highway Patrol" (PDF). flhsmv.gov. (PDF) from the original on December 28, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  17. ^ . Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Archived from the original on December 5, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  18. ^ "Campus Police". New College of Florida. from the original on November 23, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  19. ^ "41426 - Decision". Surface Transportation Board. from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2014.
  20. ^ "Sarasota County, FL : Supervisor of Elections". Sarasota County, FL : Supervisor of Elections. SOE Software Corporation. April 20, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ "Sarasota County Commission (BCC)". Sarasota County. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
  22. ^ "Sarasota County Election Results for August 23, 2022 | Sarasota Herald-Tribune". www.heraldtribune.com. Retrieved September 15, 2022.
  23. ^ "Pages - SCAT Home". from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
  24. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  25. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  26. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. from the original on February 20, 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  27. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  28. ^ https://www.census.gov/[not specific enough to verify]
  29. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  30. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  31. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  32. ^ "Religions in Sarasota".
  33. ^ "Top Employers". EDC Sarasota. January 2018. from the original on April 10, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  34. ^ "Fiscal Year 2019 Adopted Budget". Sarasota County Government. October 1, 2018. p. 40. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  35. ^ Murdock, Zack (January 17, 2017). "Atlanta Braves pick Sarasota County for spring training". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. from the original on February 28, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  36. ^ "Atlanta Braves Extend Spring Training Agreement with ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex through April, 2019" (Press release). Atlanta, Georgia: Atlanta Braves Baseball Club. January 31, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  37. ^ Tucker, Tim (March 24, 2019). "Braves' Gausman takes 'another step' toward 'being ready'". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  38. ^ "From pasture to sandpit to a world-class venue: Nathan Benderson Park history". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. August 16, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  39. ^ Sullivan, Robert (October 1, 2016). "Nathan Benderson Park: A Classic Reclamation Project". National Recreation and Park Association. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  40. ^ "Locations and Hours". Sarasota County. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  41. ^ a b "Services and Policies". Sarasota County Government. from the original on April 10, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  42. ^ "Little Free Libraries". Sarasota County Government. from the original on April 10, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  43. ^ "Sarasota County Library System". Florida Studies Center Publications. University of South Florida Tampa Library. January 1990. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  44. ^ "HeraldTribune.com - About Us: Fact Sheet - About Us: Fact Sheet - HeraldTribune.com". heraldtribune.com. from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  45. ^ "About Scene". Scene Magazine. from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2016.
  46. ^ Observer Media Group. "About Us". from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2017.

January 10, 2023
sarasota, county, florida, sarasota, county, county, located, southwest, florida, 2020, census, population, county, seat, sarasota, largest, city, north, port, sarasota, county, part, north, port, sarasota, bradenton, metropolitan, statistical, area, sarasota,. Sarasota County is a county located in Southwest Florida At the 2020 US census the population was 434 006 1 Its county seat is Sarasota 2 and its largest city is North Port Sarasota County is part of the North Port Sarasota Bradenton FL metropolitan statistical area Sarasota CountyU S countyImages from top down left to right Downtown Sarasota skyline Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on Sarasota s Bayfront Sunset at Siesta Beach Sarasota County Courthouse Beachfront on Venice Beach Front walkway of Ca d ZanSealLogoLocation within the U S state of FloridaFlorida s location within the U S Coordinates 27 11 N 82 22 W 27 19 N 82 37 W 27 19 82 37Country United StatesState FloridaFoundedMay 14 1921SeatSarasotaLargest cityNorth PortArea Total725 sq mi 1 880 km2 Land556 sq mi 1 440 km2 Water169 sq mi 440 km2 23 4 Population 2020 Total434 006 Density781 sq mi 302 km2 Time zoneUTC 5 Eastern Summer DST UTC 4 EDT ZIP Codes34223 34229 34278 34284 34289 34292 34293 34295Area code941Congressional district17thWebsitewww wbr scgov wbr net Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2 1 Adjacent counties 2 2 Parks and preserves 3 Government and politics 3 1 Public safety 3 1 1 Fire EMS 3 1 2 Law enforcement 3 2 Voter registration 3 2 1 Party statistics 3 3 Government officials 3 3 1 United States Senate 3 3 2 United States House of Representatives 3 3 3 Florida State Senate 3 3 4 Florida House of Representatives 3 3 5 Sarasota County Commission 3 3 6 Sarasota County School Board 4 Transportation 4 1 Airports 4 2 Major highways and state roads 4 3 Public transportation 5 Demographics 6 Economy 6 1 Top private employers 6 2 Top public and private employers 7 Sports and recreation 8 Education 8 1 Primary and secondary education 8 2 Higher education 8 3 Museums and libraries 8 3 1 History 9 Local media 9 1 Newspapers 9 2 Television 9 3 Radio 10 Communities 10 1 Cities 10 2 Town 10 3 Census designated places and unincorporated communities 11 See also 12 Notes 13 ReferencesHistory EditMain article History of Sarasota Florida Downtown Sarasota the county seat from the John Ringling Causeway The area that is now known as Sarasota County has been inhabited by humans for some 10 000 years Evidence of human remains as well as a burned out log at the Warm Mineral Springs in North Port were discovered that date to the early Archaic period 3 Although the name was associated with the area from the beginning of European contacts the origin of the name Sarasota is unknown In the early twentieth century a fanciful story was created to go hand in hand with a pageant held in Sarasota The story held that the town was named after the daughter of famous explorer Hernando de Soto s daughter Sara 4 An early map of the area from 1763 shows the word Zarazote across present day Sarasota 5 Following exploration the area was occupied by fishing camps called ranchos 6 In 1842 the Armed Occupation Act was passed which deeded land to settlers who were willing to cultivate land in Florida The act brought settlers to Sarasota but also led to the Second Seminole War 7 8 During the war the area was occupied by the U S army and Fort Armistead was built 9 Sarasota County was created in 1921 from the southern part of Manatee County After acquisition by the United States as a territory the area now included in Sarasota county had been part of St Johns County 1821 Alachua County 1824 Hillsborough County 1834 and Manatee County 1855 as new counties were created from older counties to accommodate population growth and settlement in new areas 10 Geography Edit A great egret in Myakka River State Park Black necked stilt in Myakka River State Park According to the U S Census Bureau the county has a total area of 725 square miles 1 880 km2 of which 556 square miles 1 440 km2 is land and 169 square miles 440 km2 23 4 is water 11 Adjacent counties Edit Manatee County north DeSoto County east Charlotte County southParks and preserves Edit In addition to local parks there are several preserve areas including Bayonne Parcel Circus Hammock Curry Creek Preserve Deer Prairie Creek Jelks Preserve Lemon Bay Preserve Legacy Trail Manasota Scrub Preserve Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park Myakka Islands Point Old Miakka Preserve Pinelands Reserve Pocono Trail Preserve Red Bug Slough Sleeping Turtles South Sleeping Turtles North South Lemon Bay Preserve T Mabry Carlton ReserveGovernment and politics EditSarasota County is one of only 20 Florida counties with its own charter adopted in 1971 Sarasota County is governed by a five member county commission Each commissioner serves a four year term and resides in and represents a single district 12 Like most of Southwest Florida Sarasota County is considered a stronghold for the Republican Party and was one of the first parts of Florida to turn Republican The last Democratic presidential candidate to win it was Franklin D Roosevelt in 1944 although Barack Obama lost it by just 211 votes in 2008 13 Republicans have historically dominated the county commission and other countywide elected positions However the city of Sarasota has an all Democrat city commission Democrat Michele Rayner represents a portion of the county in the Florida House of Representatives and there are two countywide elected Democrats United States presidential election results for Sarasota County Florida 14 Year Republican Democratic Third partyNo No No 2020 148 370 54 71 120 110 44 29 2 689 0 99 2016 124 438 53 79 97 870 42 30 9 045 3 91 2012 110 504 53 14 95 119 45 74 2 338 1 12 2008 102 897 49 47 102 686 49 37 2 422 1 16 2004 104 692 53 51 88 442 45 20 2 518 1 29 2000 83 117 51 63 72 869 45 27 4 991 3 10 1996 69 213 46 46 63 665 42 73 16 108 10 81 1992 66 855 42 76 54 552 34 89 34 945 22 35 1988 84 602 66 40 42 099 33 04 708 0 56 1984 87 771 74 15 30 525 25 79 69 0 06 1980 68 065 68 57 25 621 25 81 5 579 5 62 1976 44 157 61 78 26 293 36 78 1 028 1 44 1972 48 939 79 95 12 235 19 99 36 0 06 1968 30 160 63 73 10 127 21 40 7 041 14 88 1964 21 917 61 13 13 937 38 87 0 0 00 1960 19 995 70 70 8 287 29 30 0 0 00 1956 13 937 73 40 5 052 26 60 0 0 00 1952 9 538 70 74 3 945 29 26 0 0 00 1948 3 559 49 95 2 302 32 31 1 264 17 74 1944 2 109 37 99 3 443 62 01 0 0 00 1940 1 672 30 71 3 773 69 29 0 0 00 1936 1 055 30 38 2 418 69 62 0 0 00 1932 667 25 86 1 912 74 14 0 0 00 1928 1 603 56 46 1 181 41 60 55 1 94 1924 187 40 48 204 44 16 71 15 37 Public safety Edit Fire EMS Edit The Sarasota County Fire Department SCFD provides fire services to the City of Sarasota and all unincorporated areas of the county with the exception of areas covered by the Nokomis and Englewood fire districts Additionally SCFD provides EMS service to the City of Sarasota all unincorporated areas of the county including areas covered by the Nokomis and Englewood fire districts plus the city of Venice 15 Law enforcement Edit The Sarasota County Sheriff s Office SSO is the county s primary law enforcement agency It is responsible for patrolling the unincorporated areas of the county along with operating the county s jail and providing courtroom security SSO also operates the county s primary 911 center The cities of Sarasota North Port and Venice along with the Town of Longboat Key each have their own police departments The Florida Highway Patrol is responsible for patrolling FDOT maintained roads in the county Florida State Highway System and investigating motor vehicle accidents that occur in unincorporated areas 16 Three specialist law enforcement agencies have jurisdiction in the county the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport Police Department 17 the New College USF Sarasota Manatee Campus Police Department 18 and the Seminole Gulf Railway SGLR Police Department 19 Each agency has jurisdiction in neighboring Manatee County as well each agency s properties extend into that county Voter registration Edit All voter information is since March 31 2022 update and provided by Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office 20 Party statistics Edit Party Registered Voters PercentageRepublican 151 623 43 05 Democratic 103 217 29 31 No party affiliation 90 695 25 75 Minor parties 6 644 1 89 Total Voters 352 179 100 00 Government officials Edit United States Senate Edit Office Senator PartyClass 3 Senator Marco Rubio RepublicanClass 1 Senator Rick Scott RepublicanUnited States House of Representatives Edit District Representative PartyFlorida s 17th Congressional District Greg Steube RepublicanFlorida State Senate Edit District Senator Party23 Joe Gruters RepublicanFlorida House of Representatives Edit District Representative Party73 Fiona McFarland Republican74 James Buchanan Republican75 Michael Grant RepublicanSarasota County Commission Edit The Board of County Commissioners include the following 21 Position IncumbentDistrict 1 Michael MoranDistrict 2 Mark SmithDistrict 3 Nancy DetertDistrict 4 Joe NeunderDistrict 5 Ron Cutsinger Sarasota County School Board Edit The School Board members include the following lt 22 Position IncumbentDistrict 1 Bridget ZieglerDistrict 2 Karen RoseDistrict 3 Tom EdwardsDistrict 4 Robyn A MarinelliDistrict 5 Tim EnosTransportation EditAirports Edit Sarasota Bradenton International Airport in both Manatee County runway and Sarasota County terminal Venice Municipal Airport a general aviation airport in Venice Hidden River Airport a private airport in the eastern part of the county Buchan Airport in Englewood Major highways and state roads Edit Interstate 75 North south limited access freeway and has ten interchanges within Sarasota County Major north south highway in Sarasota County It is the high speed connection with other cities such as Tampa Florida and Fort Myers Florida Interstate 75 heads east in Southern Sarasota County through North Port Florida to cross Charlotte Harbor at a more manageable length U S Highway 41 The main north south road through the county is known as Tamiami Trail It was created in the 1920s to connect Tampa with Miami hence the contracted name It runs through the county close to the coastline and is not limited access U S Highway 301 This highway begins in the city of Sarasota east of Tamiami Trail and runs north south through the county State Road 789 Gulf of Mexico Drive State Road 758 Midnight Pass Road Higel Avenue Siesta Drive South Osprey Avenue Bee Ridge Road State Road 780 Fruitville Road State Road 776 Englewood Road and North Indiana Avenue State Road 72 Stickney Point Road and Clark Road State Road 681 Venice Connector this road was formerly the southern terminus of Interstate 75 in the early 1980sPublic transportation Edit Sarasota County Area Transit SCAT provides public transportation for Sarasota County Florida SCAT is operated by Sarasota County It maintains 19 fixed line bus routes plus a dial a ride paratransit service SCAT Plus 23 Demographics EditHistorical populationCensus Pop 193012 440 194016 10629 5 195028 82779 0 196076 895166 7 1970120 41356 6 1980202 25168 0 1990277 77637 3 2000325 95717 3 2010379 44816 4 2020434 00614 4 U S Decennial Census 24 1790 1960 25 1900 1990 26 1990 2000 27 2010 2020 1 Some areas of Sarasota County such as Casey Key near Nokomis are very wealthy Sarasota County racial composition as of 2020 NH Non Hispanic a Race Pop 2010 30 Pop 2020 31 2010 2020White NH 321 978 349 700 84 85 80 57 Black or African American NH 17 036 16 165 4 49 3 72 Native American or Alaska Native NH 667 695 0 18 0 16 Asian NH 4 818 8 407 1 27 1 94 Pacific Islander NH 102 168 0 03 0 04 Some Other Race NH 545 1 902 0 14 0 44 Mixed Multi Racial NH 4 269 13 733 1 13 3 16 Hispanic or Latino 30 033 43 236 7 91 9 96 Total 379 448 434 006As of the 2020 United States census there were 434 006 people 189 228 households and 117 532 families residing in the county 3 5 of that population was under the age of 5 years old 14 0 was under 18 years old and 37 4 was 65 years or older 52 4 was female The median household income was 64 644 with a per capita income of 44 402 8 7 of population below the poverty threshold The median value of owner occupied housing units between 2016 2020 was 269 300 and the median gross rent was 1 342 There were 41 215 veterans living in the county 12 2 of the population were Foreign born persons 93 2 of the population that was 25 years or older were High school graduates and 36 4 of those 25 years or older had a Bachelor s degree or higher Religions As of 2010 update the religious affiliations of the people of Sarasota County according to Pew Research Center were 32 Religion or Denomination Numbers of AdherentsCatholic 76 000Don t Know 214 357Baptist 18 495Methodist 12 349Lutheran 4 309Presbyterian 10 903Pentecostal 6 860Episcopal 6 032Other 9 089Economy EditTop private employers Edit As of January 2018 update the top private employers for Sarasota County are as follows 33 Sarasota Memorial Health Care System 4 563 PGT Innovations 2 000 Publix 1 733 Venice Regional Medical Center 812 Sun Hydraulics 632 Tervis Tumbler 570 Shared Services Center Sarasota 455 FCCI Insurance 426 Doctors Hospital 415 Jackson Hewitt Inc 337 Top public and private employers Edit As of October 2018 update the top employees for Sarasota County including public sector jobs are as follows 34 School Board of Sarasota County 4 563 Sarasota Memorial Hospital 4 244 Sarasota County Government 3 533 Publix Supermarkets 2 793 PGT Industries 2 079 Sports and recreation EditSarasota County is home to Ed Smith Stadium where the Baltimore Orioles currently have spring training The Orioles also have minor league facilities at Twin Lakes Park In January 2017 the Braves announced a formal agreement to move their Spring Training home to North Port 35 CoolToday Park opened on March 24 2019 36 37 Sarasota County is also home to Nathan Benderson Park The facility has played host to the 2017 World Rowing Championships and subsequent World Rowing events in 2018 and 2019 It has also been the host of the 2016 Olympic Time Trials Rowing and will host the delayed 2020 Olympic rowing time trials NBP has also been the site of multiple NCAA national rowing championship regattas the USRowing Youth National Championships and other rowing regattas and dragon boat festivals since 2011 The park will host the 2021 U S Dragon Boat Federation National Championships and the 2022 International Dragon Boat Federation Club Crew World Championships after holding the 2014 International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission world regatta 38 39 Nathan Benderson Park is also the site of Olympic qualifying events in triathlon and paratriathlon with several ITU Triathlon World Cup and Americas Triathlon Cup events over the years Numerous community running and walking events music and food festivals and other community events are held in the park including the annual NBP Fireworks On The Lake held every July 3 and NBP Trick Or Treat On The Lake held the last week of October citation needed Education EditPrimary and secondary education Edit Sarasota County Public Schools public K 12 School district serving all of Sarasota CountyHigher education Edit New College of Florida public liberal arts college Honors college of the state of Florida Ringling College of Art and Design private 4 year not for profit fully accredited college with concentrations in art and design State College of Florida Manatee Sarasota South Venice Campus of SCF University of South Florida Sarasota Manatee branch campus of USFMuseums and libraries Edit Main article Sarasota County Library System Library branches 40 Betty J Johnson North Sarasota Public Library Elsie Quirk Public Library Frances T Bourne Jacaranda Public Library Fruitville Public Library Gulf Gate Public Library North Port Public Library The Osprey Public Library at the Historic Spanish Point Selby Public Library Shannon Staub Library William H Jervey Jr Venice Public LibrarySarasota County residents may obtain library cards for free and valid library cards may be used to check out materials at all ten Sarasota County libraries Manatee and Charlotte County residents as well as library users from any of the Tampa Bay Library Consortium libraries may register as reciprocal borrowers and check out materials in Sarasota County Non resident cards are available for purchase and offer the same privileges as resident cards The library system provides a variety of services which include adult teen and children s materials Computers for public use are available at all nine Sarasota County Libraries and free wireless access in the libraries is provided by the Sarasota County Government The library system has licensing to the Cloud Library OverDrive Inc and Freegal Music Ask a Librarian the on line Florida librarian reference system is available through the Sarasota County Public Library System Sarasota County residents have access to the Pinellas Talking Book Library as well as a Books by Mail service 41 The Selby Public Library has been a selective depository in the Federal Depository Library Program and receives almost 50 of the government publications distributed through the program 41 Additionally the Sarasota County Library System is an organization member of the Florida Library Association The Little Free Library program was introduced to Sarasota County in 2014 as the result of a collaborative effort between the Libraries and Historical Resources department the Parks Recreation and Natural Resources department and the UF IFAS Sarasota County Extension and Sustainability department The Sarasota County Little Free Libraries have been placed at thirteen different county parks and recreation centers 42 History Edit The first library which was established in 1907 by the Sarasota Town Improvement Society County libraries have been established in response to community demands and needs The first libraries were autonomous with the Head Librarians reporting directly to the County Administrator Sarasota Public Library was managed by Betty Service the Englewood library by Harriet Ives and Venice by Jean McGuire Joan Hopkins directed and coordinated library services for the rapidly growing population She directed the establishment of Gulf Gate Public Library North Port Public Library Frances T Bourne Jacaranda Public Library and the new downtown Sarasota library and laid the groundwork for building future libraries in the county 43 Local media EditNewspapers Edit North Port Sun an edition of the Charlotte Sun newspapers Sarasota Herald Tribune primarily serves Sarasota County for news but also serves Manatee Charlotte and DeSoto counties Circulation is 110 817 daily and 132 185 on Sunday 2005 averages 44 Also operates an online news portal HeraldTribune com Scene Magazine a civic business and social publication serving Sarasota and Manatee counties 45 Observer Media Group newspapers East County Observer Longboat Observer Sarasota Observer Siesta Key Observer 46 The Sarasota News Leader online weekly news Venice Gondolier SunTelevision Edit Sarasota County is part of the Tampa St Petersburg Sarasota DMA however the following stations have facilities located in the county WWSB a local ABC affiliate based in Sarasota which serves as the primary ABC affiliate for Sarasota County and a Secondary ABC affiliate for the rest of the Tampa St Petersburg Sarasota DMA WSNN LD local twenty four hour news station based in Sarasota Various government and local access channels Access 19 Local Government channel Education Channel School Board and BLAB TV local programming Television stations serving all or part of Sarasota County but located in Saint Petersburg or Tampa include WTVT the local Fox affiliate based in Tampa WFLA the local NBC affiliate based in Tampa WTSP the local CBS affiliate based in St Petersburg WFTS the primary ABC affiliate for the Tampa St Petersburg Sarasota DMA based in St PetersburgRadio Edit WCTQ 92 1 and 103 1 Country WSLR LP 96 5 Community Radio WSDV 103 9 Top 40 Communities EditCities Edit North Port Sarasota VeniceTown Edit Longboat KeyCensus designated places and unincorporated communities Edit Bee Ridge Desoto Lakes Englewood Fruitville Gulf Gate Estates Kensington Park Lake Sarasota Lakewood Ranch part Laurel Nokomis North Sarasota Osprey Plantation Ridge Wood Heights Sarasota Springs Siesta Key South Gate Ridge South Sarasota South Venice Southgate The Meadows Vamo Venice Gardens Warm Mineral Springs Wellen Park part See also EditNational Register of Historic Places listings in Sarasota County Florida Sarasota National CemeteryNotes Edit Note the US Census treats Hispanic Latino as an ethnic category This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category Hispanics Latinos can be of any race 28 29 References Edit a b QuickFacts for Sarasota County Florida U S Census Bureau August 2021 Retrieved August 24 2021 Find a County National Association of Counties Retrieved September 13 2018 Royal William Clark Eugenie October 1960 Natural Preservation of Human Brain Warm Mineral Springs Florida American Antiquity 26 2 285 287 JSTOR 276213 Retrieved April 4 2022 Chapline George F The Legend of Sara DeSoto Sarasota History Alive Retrieved January 3 2023 Barth John Jr The Origin of the Name Sarasota Sarasota History Alive Sarasota County Historical Resources Retrieved April 5 2022 Stack Margaret 2011 Chapter 2 Background History An Archaeological and Archival Appraisal of Spanish Indians on the West Coast of Florida in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries pp 10 13 Sarasota County Public Records Harrison and Laura Watson Residence Sarasota History Alive Retrieved April 7 2022 Armed Occupation Act My Florida History The Florida Historical Society Retrieved April 7 2022 Burger Bill A Military Post on Sarasota Bay Sarasota History Alive Retrieved April 5 2022 History of Florida Counties Tenth Judicial Circuit of Florida Historical Society Retrieved April 18 2021 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link US Gazetteer files 2010 2000 and 1990 United States Census Bureau February 12 2011 Retrieved April 23 2011 Sarasota County Charter PDF July 2012 p 6 Archived from the original PDF on January 28 2016 Retrieved May 19 2019 Sarasota and Manatee wallets open for president s campaign Sarasota Herald Tribune Archived from the original on December 22 2014 Retrieved November 27 2014 Dave Leip s Atlas of U S Presidential Elections Archived from the original on April 14 2012 Retrieved April 14 2012 Fire Department Sarasota County government Archived from the original on December 4 2014 Retrieved November 27 2014 Jurisdiction of the Florida Highway Patrol PDF flhsmv gov Archived PDF from the original on December 28 2016 Retrieved March 18 2018 Airport Police Sarasota Bradenton International Airport Archived from the original on December 5 2014 Retrieved November 27 2014 Campus Police New College of Florida Archived from the original on November 23 2014 Retrieved November 27 2014 41426 Decision Surface Transportation Board Archived from the original on December 4 2014 Retrieved November 27 2014 Sarasota County FL Supervisor of Elections Sarasota County FL Supervisor of Elections SOE Software Corporation April 20 2022 Retrieved April 20 2022 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Sarasota County Commission BCC Sarasota County Retrieved November 30 2022 Sarasota County Election Results for August 23 2022 Sarasota Herald Tribune www heraldtribune com Retrieved September 15 2022 Pages SCAT Home Archived from the original on December 3 2013 Retrieved November 26 2013 U S Decennial Census United States Census Bureau Retrieved June 16 2014 Historical Census Browser University of Virginia Library Archived from the original on August 11 2012 Retrieved June 16 2014 Population of Counties by Decennial Census 1900 to 1990 United States Census Bureau Archived from the original on February 20 2014 Retrieved June 16 2014 Census 2000 PHC T 4 Ranking Tables for Counties 1990 and 2000 PDF United States Census Bureau Archived PDF from the original on December 18 2014 Retrieved June 16 2014 https www census gov not specific enough to verify About the Hispanic Population and its Origin www census gov Retrieved May 18 2022 Explore Census Data data census gov Retrieved May 27 2022 Explore Census Data data census gov Retrieved May 27 2022 Religions in Sarasota Top Employers EDC Sarasota January 2018 Archived from the original on April 10 2018 Retrieved April 9 2018 Fiscal Year 2019 Adopted Budget Sarasota County Government October 1 2018 p 40 Retrieved December 19 2018 Murdock Zack January 17 2017 Atlanta Braves pick Sarasota County for spring training Sarasota Herald Tribune Archived from the original on February 28 2017 Retrieved February 27 2017 Atlanta Braves Extend Spring Training Agreement with ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex through April 2019 Press release Atlanta Georgia Atlanta Braves Baseball Club January 31 2018 Retrieved December 4 2018 Tucker Tim March 24 2019 Braves Gausman takes another step toward being ready The Atlanta Journal Constitution Retrieved March 24 2019 From pasture to sandpit to a world class venue Nathan Benderson Park history Sarasota Herald Tribune August 16 2017 Retrieved September 30 2017 Sullivan Robert October 1 2016 Nathan Benderson Park A Classic Reclamation Project National Recreation and Park Association Retrieved September 30 2017 Locations and Hours Sarasota County Retrieved January 3 2020 a b Services and Policies Sarasota County Government Archived from the original on April 10 2018 Retrieved April 9 2018 Little Free Libraries Sarasota County Government Archived from the original on April 10 2018 Retrieved April 9 2018 Sarasota County Library System Florida Studies Center Publications University of South Florida Tampa Library January 1990 Retrieved December 19 2018 HeraldTribune com About Us Fact Sheet About Us Fact Sheet HeraldTribune com heraldtribune com Archived from the original on March 4 2016 Retrieved March 18 2018 About Scene Scene Magazine Archived from the original on April 18 2016 Retrieved April 17 2016 Observer Media Group About Us Archived from the original on December 22 2017 Retrieved December 18 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sarasota County Florida amp oldid 1131341959, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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