SARASOTA COUNTY FLORIDA
Sarasota County Florida
Below you will find an informative guide to Sarasota County:
- History of Sarasota County
- Location & Climate
- Demographics/ Statistics
- Arts & Culture
- Sports & Recreation
- The Sarasota County Lifestyle
In the past, Sarasota County has had a reputation as primarily a vacation or retirement location. But today, it is so much more than that! The best word to use, really, is diversity. A great sub-tropical climate, expanding economic base, abundant leisure time activities and breathtaking natural beauty make Sarasota County a great place to live and work.
Everybody seems to be discovering the pleasures of Sarasota County Florida, and the population is growing younger each year. We are a diversity of neighborhoods, each with it's own unique personality and flavor. Residents enjoy all the hospitality of a small town atmosphere with the clean and modern elements of much bigger cities.
Sarasota County's communities include: Sarasota, Englewood, Osprey, Nokomis, North Port, Venice, St Armands Circle; and the barrier islands of Manasota Key, Casey Key, Lido Key, LongboatKey and Siesta Key.
HISTORY OF SARASOTA COUNTY FLORIDA
Sarasota County was created in 1921. The true origin of the name is unknown, but it may be named for a word in the indigenous Calusa Indian language, meaning"point of rocks", or another Indian word meaning "Place of the Dance." The Calusa Indians inhabited the area centuries ago. Some believe that Sarasota was named after the daughter of famous explorer Hernando de Soto's daughter, Sara. The county or city of Sarasota first appeared in print as "Zarazote" on a 1763 land grant map.
LOCATION & CLIMATE
Sarasota County is located on the Central West Coast of Florida, about 60 miles south of Tampa. It encompasses approximately 600 square miles, from rusticranch land on the east to the shores of the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay on the west. With more than 35 miles of gulf beaches, residents are delighted by some of the most spectacular sugar-white sandy beaches in the world. And the sunsets are breathtaking!
The average year-round temperature is 72 degrees; averaging 61.5 degrees in January and 80 degrees in August. The average annual rainfall is 60 inches. Yes, it does get hot here, but no snow to shovel in the winter!
DEMOGRAPHICS/STATISTICS
Population: 325,957
Racial makeup:
92.65% White; 3.18%Hispanic; 3.14% African American, & 1.03% other races
The median income per household= $41,957
ARTS & CULTURE
Sarasota County Florida has professional theaters, symphonies, ballet and opera, and is considered the "Cultural Coast" of the area. We boast an active fine arts community, with more than 30 art galleries, artist communities, and the fascinating Ringling Museum of Art.
The performing arts are also abundant here and include the Asolo Theatre Company, Florida West Coast Symphony, Jazz Club of Sarasota, Sarasota Ballet of Florida, and theSarasota Film Festival. The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall in Sarasota brings world-class theater, comedy, music concerts and dance performances to the area.
SPORTS & RECREATION
Sarasota County's wonderful warm climate is perfect for year-round recreation. Our 35 miles of waterfront and 13 public beaches provide fine opportunities for boating, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming, shelling, or just chilling out on the beach.
And golfers love it here, with more than 60 public and private courses, and no snow to slow them down! The county parks and recreation department is active in many sports and you will find facilities for biking, hiking, tennis, baseball, football, polo and even ice hockey. Nearby Tampa provides professional sports in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers football, Tampa Bay Lightning hockey and Tampa Bay Devil Rays baseball teams.
And the restaurants! Talented chefs abound here, creating just about every kind of cuisine you might be hankering for,including American, Asian, Cajun, Cuban, Floribbean, Italian, French and Middle Eastern. We have some great restaurants here, from casual beachfront eateries to formal linen-tablecloth dining.
A shopper's paradise, Sarasota County is a great place to find one-of-a-kind items, including clothing, original artwork and antiques. Shop 'til you drop at our upscale shopping malls or try your luck at our flea markets or antique shops.
THE SARASOTA COUNTY LIFESTYLE Yes, we have it all here in Sarasota County Florida, warm climate, breathtaking natural resources, varied sports and recreation, friendly neighborhoods, and still reasonably-priced real estate. What more could you ask for? Experts predict that in the not-so-distant future, Florida will become another California, with real estate so costly that home ownership will be out of reach for many. Come claim your little slice of paradise, or choose a wise real estate investment here in Sarasota County. You will never regret it!
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