Sarasota County is located near the southwest tip of Florida halfway in between Tampa and Fort Myers. It has a population of roughly 380,000 people. The county seat is Sarasota.
Reports about the origins of the name Sarasota are incredibly varied. Spellings of the name are also historically varied, with appearances of Zarazote and Sara Sota on maps dating back to the 1700s. Some people say the name is derived from Hernando de Soto who had explored the area. The first appearance of the name was in 1763, and the area has retained the name since this time.
The county was established in 1921. It was taken from the nearby Manatee and Hillsborough Counties. The boundaries as they exist today include several keys that are located just west of the mainland and are connected to the mainland by several small bridges.
Sarasota County is a beautiful area with many different parks and preserves scattered throughout. Among these are the Myakka State Forest, the Sleeping Turtles Preserve, and the Oscar Scherer State Park, which is one of the few places that is home to the endangered Florida scrub jay.
The county only has four incorporated cities and towns which are North Port, Sarasota, Venice, and Longboat Key. All the other communities in the county are unincorporated, and many of these communities are spread out across the area.
The landscape is incredibly lush throughout the county, and many residents along the western shore and on the nearby keys enjoy incredible views from their beach-side homes.
Sarasota County Cities and Towns
Sarasota
Longboat Key
North port
Venice
Fruitville
Osprey