Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida | |
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Skyline of Sarasota from Bird Key in 2018 | |
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Flag Seal | |
| Nicknames: Paradise, SRQ, Circus City | |
| Mottoes: "May Sarasota Prosper", "Where Urban Amenities Meet Small-Town Living" | |
Interactive map of Sarasota, Florida | |
Sarasota Location within Florida Sarasota Location within the United States | |
| Coordinates: 27°21′30″N 82°32′37″W / 27.35833°N 82.54361°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Sarasota |
| Incorporated | October 14, 1902 (town) May 13, 1913 (city) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Commission–manager |
| • Mayor | Debbie Trice |
| • City manager | David Bullock (interim) |
| Area | |
• City | 24.09 sq mi (62.38 km2) |
| • Land | 14.70 sq mi (38.07 km2) |
| • Water | 9.39 sq mi (24.31 km2) 42.58% |
| Elevation | 20 ft (6.1 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• City | 54,842 |
| • Density | 3,731.5/sq mi (1,440.74/km2) |
| • Urban | 779,075 (US: 57th) |
| • Urban density | 1,930/sq mi (744/km2) |
| • Metro | 833,716 (US: 71st) |
| • Metro density | 542/sq mi (209/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes | 34230–34243, 34249, 34260, 34276-34277 |
| Area code | 941 |
| FIPS code | 12-64175 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2405423 |
| Website | www |
Sarasota (/ˌsærəˈsoʊtə/) is a city in and the county seat of Sarasota County, Florida, United States. It is located in Southwest Florida on Sarasota Bay, a lagoon on the Gulf Coast. The population was 54,842 at the 2020 census. The two-county Sarasota metropolitan area has an estimated 935,000 residents, making it the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Florida and 61st-largest in the United States.
The Sarasota area was explored by the Spanish in the 16th century, and was settled by American William Henry Whitaker in the mid-19th century. Sarasota's development accelerated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly with the influence of Bertha Honore Palmer and the Ringling family as the home of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The city's economy is based on tourism, healthcare, education, and real estate. Its cultural attractions include the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota Opera, and numerous galleries and theaters. Sarasota city limits contain several barrier islands between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, including Lido Key, St. Armands Key, Bird Key, and the northern portion of Siesta Key. Its coastline, including nearby Siesta Beach, draws visitors year-round.