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Sarasota is on the central west coast of Florida, USA. The city form of government last adopted has a city manager and council format. Its official limits include Sarasota Bay and several barrier islands—some natural and some artificial—locally called keys, facing the Gulf of Mexico.

As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 52,715. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 54,349 [1]. The city is a principal city of the Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the county seat for Sarasota County.

History

Sarasota was incorporated as a town in 1902 with John Hamilton Gillespie as mayor, already having that name when first settled by those of European descent in the late 1840s. It was replatted in 1912 and incorporated as a city in 1913.

Historic sites in Sarasota

For a city of it's size, the City of Sarasota has many historical sites. Although many of the oldest modest structures built in Sarasota have been lost to the wrecking ball, the concentration of the most significant luxurious historic residences built during the 1920s boom period along the northern shore of Sarasota Bay have survived. This string of homes, built on extremely large parcels of high land along the widest point of the bay, is anchored by the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art at its center.

Many of the distinct Sarasota neighborhoods are beginning to establish historic districts ahead of pressure for redevelopment. A surprising number of eligible structures remain and encouragement to preserve is increasing.

Sarasota Historical Sites lists some of the Sarasota sites that have been registered as historic to date.

Education

Primary and Secondary Education

• Sarasota County Public Schools - Public K-12 School district serving all of Sarasota County

Higher Education

• New College of Florida - Public liberal arts college. 'Honors' college of the State of Florida.
• University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee - Branch campus of USF. Technically located in Manatee county, but has a Sarasota address.

Transportation

Airports

• Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, in both Bradenton, Florida(Runway) and Sarasota (Terminal).

Major Highways and State Roads

• Interstate 75- North-south limited-access freeway. 6 lanes throughout Sarasota.

• U.S. Highway 41- Other major north-south road. Known as Tamiami Trail through much of Sarasota. Also known as Mound and Bayfront through Downtown Sarasota. 6 lane road through much of Sarasota, but switches to 4 lanes after spliting to create US 301. U.S. Highway 41 is not limited-access.

• Washington Boulevard-Also known as US 301. North-south Road through the northern part of Sarasota. Splits off from US 41 slightly south of Downtown Sarasota.

• Bee Ridge Road- A major east-west road through Sarasota.

• Fruitville Road-Locally known as Fruitville Road. A major east-west road through Sarasota.

• Clark Road/Stickney Point Road- Also may be refered to as. A major east-west road through Sarasota.

• University Parkway-Major east-west road on the north end of Sarasota. Important regional road because it serves Manatee County communities such as Lakewood Ranch and Bradenton.

• Tuttle Avenue/Swift Road

• Beneva Road

Public Transportation

• Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) provides public transportation for Sarasota County, Florida. SCAT is operated by Sarasota County.

Arts and Culture

Sarasota Opera

Florida Studio Theatre

Florida West Coast Symphony

Golden Apple Dinner Theatre

Contemporary sports

The warm climate helped the Sarasota area become a mecca for enthusiasts of golf. The Sara Bay course in the Whitfield area was designed by the great golf architect Donald Ross. Many courses dot the area, including the one originally laid out for the hotel John Ringling planned on the southern tip of Longboat Key.

Sarasota also is home to Ed Smith Stadium, where the Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati's major league baseball MLB team, trains in spring for the upcoming season, and is home to the minor league Sarasota Reds.

Additionally, Sarasota is the location of the annual UPA ultimate frisbee national tournament.

Geography

Location of Sarasota, Florida

Sarasota is located at 27°20′14″N 82°32′7″W (27.337273, -82.535318).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 67.2 km² (25.9 mi²). 38.6 km² (14.9 mi²) of it is land and 28.6 km² (11.0 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 42.58% water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 52,715 people, 23,427 households, and 12,064 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,366.9/km² (3,539.8/mi²). There were 26,898 housing units at an average density of 697.5/km² (1,806.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.91% White, 16.02% African American, 0.35% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.74% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.92% of the population.

There were 23,427 households out of which 19.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.3% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.5% were non-families. 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the city the population was spread out with 18.4% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,077, and the median income for a family was $40,398. Males had a median income of $26,604 versus $23,510 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,197. About 12.4% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.5% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

Sister cities

• Hamilton, Ontario 1990 (http://www.sarasotasistercities.org/Hamilton.html)
• Perpignan, France 1994 (http://www.sarasotasistercities.org/Perpignan.html)
• Tel Mond, Israel 1994 (http://www.sarasotasistercities.org/Tel_mond.html)
• Vladimir, Russia 1994 (http://www.sarasotasistercities.org/Vladimir.html)
• Dunfermline, Scotland 2002 (http://www.sarasotasistercities.org/Dunfermline.html)
• Treviso, Italy Feb. 2007 (http://www.sarasotasistercities.org/Treviso.html)
• Xiamen, Fujian Province, China Pending (http://www.sarasotasistercities.org/Siming_district.html)

References

• Jennings, David, A Tale of Two Commissions, Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, Inc. Newsletter February 2005, volume twenty, number two, Box 1754, Sarasota, Florida 34230 - with illustrations of Crocker Church and Bidwell-Wood House by Kafi Benz
• LaHurd, Jeff, Sarasota, A History, The History Press, Charleston, South Carolina, IBSSN 1-59629-119-2

External links

• Sarasota Herald Tribune Local News
• City of Sarasota official site
• Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce
• SRQ Magazine

• Sarasota is located at 27.337273°N 82.535318°W / 27.337273; -82.535318