Seven Things to Know About Sarasota

Sarasota has been a circus town since John and Charles Ringling made it the winter home of their circus in 1927. Though Ringling Brothers has dissolved, a museum and a small but vibrant community of artists, including the Flying Wallendas, and the Circus Arts Conservatory maintain the circus’s legacy in the area.

With more than 20,000 plants, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is the world’s only botanical garden dedicated to the display and study of epiphytes — plants that derive moisture and nutrients from the air, including orchids, bromeliads and ferns. Located in the heart of Sarasota on the bay, the property was once home to Texaco oil tycoon William Selby and his wife, Marie, who donated the land to the city. Open to the public, the gardens are also a popular setting for society events and weddings.

In addition to an impressive list of current and former CEOs who call Sarasota County home, several celebrities also live here at least part of the year, including author Stephen King, Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, sportscaster Dick Vitale, actress Jane Lynch, AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson, talk show host Jerry Springer and tennis coach Nick Bollettieri.

The TNT series “Claws,” a dark comedy built around manicurists who work at a Manatee County salon, is filmed partly in Sarasota. The show’s creator told the Sarasota Herald- Tribune that he got the idea for the show after a visit to Sarasota.

Sarasota is noted for a style of mid-century modern architecture, adapted and customized to fit Florida’s climate. Many of the architects of the Sarasota Modern style later became world-renowned, including Paul Rudolph, who chaired the Yale School of Architecture.

Venice is known as the “shark tooth capital” because the predators’ fossilized teeth can be found in such large numbers on the city’s beaches. Much of Florida was underwater in prehistoric times, and marine life flourished where people now live. Layers of fossils dating back 10,000 years are now buried near the coastline and brought to shore by waves and storms.

Warm Mineral Springs in North Port is Florida’s only warm mineral spring and the world’s largest. It’s also one of the nation’s most significant archeological sites. Divers plumbing its 250-foot depths have discovered evidence of man dating back 10,000 years.

Vital Statistics

Sarasota County

Notable: Sarasota County includes four incorporated municipalities along with unincorporated communities, farmland and protected lands. More than 60% of its residents live in the county’s unincorporated areas. Many residents are seasonal; the population grows by around 25% in the winter. Based on U.S. Census records, the county’s median age of 55.7 skews higher than the national average of 38.2. But the overall metro area, which includes Bradenton to the north in Manatee County, was the eighth-fastest growing U.S. metro area for millennials between 2010 and 2015, according to the Brookings Institute.

Sarasota (city)

Notable: Sarasota, including Lido and Bird Keys, is the county seat, financial center and shopping, entertainment and cultural heart of the area. The vibrancy of downtown and the city’s hospitality industry is reflected by the fact that revenue generated by dining and lodging in the city accounts for more than 40% of all revenue generated by the county’s hospitality industry.

Longboat Key

Notable: Longboat Key is divided between Sarasota and Manatee counties. It’s retiree-heavy, with a median age of 71, less than 2% of residents under 18 and more than 68% over 65. Residents are also on average wealthier (per capita income of $97,221 in 2016) and more highly educated (63.1% have a bachelor’s degree or higher.)

North Port

Notable: North Port is the fastest- growing city in Sarasota County and one of Florida’s largest cities by land mass. It grew 15.7% between 2010 and 2017 and surpassed Sarasota as the most populated municipality in the county. Its residents are also younger, with a median age of 45.9. Housing is more affordable than in the northern part of the county, with a median home value of just over $200,000, according to Zillow.

Venice

Notable: Venice’s population leans toward retirement age, with 58.8% of residents 65 or older, though residents on average are less affluent than in Longboat Key, the only municipality with a higher percentage of retirees; per capita income in 2016 was $32,450.

Unincorporated Communities

Communities: Nokomis, Siesta Key, Casey Key, Manasota Key, Osprey, Englewood and Lakewood Ranch

Notable: Communities along the Gulf swell during winter season. Englewood and Lakewood Ranch are special tax districts. Until recently, Lakewood Ranch’s footprint in Sarasota County was limited to commercial development.

Growth Rate Estimates 2010-17

Top 10 Employers

Employer — # of Local Employees

Sarasota Memorial Health — 4,563
PGT Innovations — 2,000
Publix — 1,733
Venice Regional Medical Center — 812
Sun Hydraulics — 632
Tervis — 570
Shared Services Center — 455
FCCI Insurance — 426
Doctors Hospital — 415
Jackson Hewitt — 337

Politics

Sarasota County is strongly Republican, though traditionally more fiscally conservative than socially conservative. Republicans make up 42.5% of registered voters, with 30.3% registered as Democrats and 27.1% registered as no party affiliation.

The city of Sarasota has a commission- manager form of government. The five-member elected commission appoints the city manager, who acts as the chief city administrative officer. The commission also annually elects a mayor among them. The mayor serves a ceremonial role.