Sarasota County was created in 1921 in Southwest Florida on the Gulf Coast. The area which now makes up Sarasota County was originally part of Hillsborough County and later Manatee County before it was divided up to become Sarasota County. It is unknown where the name Sarasota originated from, although some believe it was named after the daughter of famous explorer Hernando de Soto, whose name was Sara. Many of the local residents of Sarasota County refer to it as “Key West of the Gulf” because of its many barrier islands and the popular tourist locations of Long Boat Key and Siesta Key. The beaches of Sarasota County have been featured in popular television shows and magazines. Sarasota County is also known for the Sarasota Film Festival which is held annually and attracts independent films from around the world. The beautiful architectural designs in the area were inspired by the late John Ringling and his wife Mabel Ringling’s affection for Italian architecture. Whether you are looking for beautiful white sand beaches, enriching arts and culture, excellent schools, diverse shopping districts, or the fun that natural Florida has to offer, Sarasota County is the perfect place to call home.
Home Buyer Information
- Sarasota County consists of 24 cities
- The Average Home Listing Price in Sarasota County is $319,000
- The Average Home Listing Price Per Square Foot in Sarasota County is $184
- The Average Home Selling Price in Sarasota County is $275,000
- The Average Home / Apartment Rental Price in Sarasota County is $1,894 per month
- The Median Household Income in Sarasota County is $43,477 per year
Community Information
- Sarasota Herald Tribune – everything you need to know about the local Sarasota County area news https://www.heraldtribune.com/news
- Sarasota County Community Information – https://www.scgov.net/
- Sarasota Bradenton International Airport – https://srq-airport.com/
- Venice Municipal Airport – https://www.venicegov.com/government/airport
- Sarasota County Property Appraiser – https://www.sc-pa.com/
- Sarasota County Clerk of Courts – https://www.sarasotacler.com/
- Sarasota County Tax Collector – https://www.sarasotataxcollector.com/
Local School Information
Sarasota County Schools is proud to be one of only two A rated school districts in the State of Florida every year since grading began in 2004. This rating shows Sarasota County School District’s commitment to their vision to “place learning at the center of its activities to enable all learners to lead productive, responsible, and healthful lives” and their mission to “prepare students to achieve the highest learning standards by engaging a high-quality staff, involved parents, and a supportive community.” Serving more than 43,000 students in their 53 public schools and 5,676 students in their 37 private schools.
- Sarasota County Public Schools – https://www.sarasotacountyschools.net/
- Sarasota County Private Schools – http://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/private-schools/parent-info.stml
- Sarasota County Charter Schools – http://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/charter-schools/charter-school-faqs.stml
- Information About Florida’s School Choice Program – floridaschoolchoice.org
- School Reviews and Information – greatschools.org/florida or www.privateschoolreview.com/florida/sarasota-county
- Keiser University Sarasota – https://www.keiser-education.com/Sarasota
- New College of Florida – https://www.ncf.edu/
- Ringling College of Art and Design – https://www.ringling.edu/
- State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota – https://www.scf.edu/
- University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee – https://usfsm.edu/
- East West College of Natural Medicine – https://www.ewcollege.edu/
- Suncoast Technical Education Center – https://www.sunteched.com/
Crime Data
- Sarasota County Crime Statistics – https://www.neighborhoodscout.com/fl/sarasota/crime
- Sarasota County Interactive Crime Map – https://spotcrime.com/fl/sarasota+county
- Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office – https://www.sarasotasheriff.org/
- Florida Department of Law Enforcement – fdle.state.fl.us/FSAC/County-Profiles/Sarasota.aspx
- Sexual Offenders and Predators Information – https://offender.fdle.state.fl.us/offender/sops/neighborhoodSearch.jsf
Utilities Contact Information
- Sarasota County Water Utilities – 941-861-6790 or https://www.scgov.net/government/utilities-water/utilities
- Englewood Water District – 941-474-3217 or https://englewoodwater.com/
- Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority – 941-316-8313 or http://www.regionalwater.org/ –
- Florida Power and Light (Electric) – 800-226-3545 or https://www.fpl.com/
- SunPower / Mirasol Solar (Electric) – 941-379-5651 or https://us.sunpower.com/
- Ferrell Gas – 941-373-9428 or https://www.ferrellgas.com/
- Suburban Propane – 941-755-1531 or https://www.suburbanpropane.com/
- Detweiler’s Propane and Gas Service – 941-921-5305 or http://detweilerspropane.com/
- Exede Internet Service – 855-627-2553 or https://www.exede.com/
- AT&T Internet and Phone Services – 941-342-6758 or https://www.att.com/
- Bright House Networks / Spectrum (Cable, Internet, and Phone Services) – 888-289-8988 or https://www.brighthouse.com or https://www.spectrum.com/
- Comcast (Cable, Internet, and Phone Services) – 941-371-6700 or https://www.xfinity.com/
- DirecTV Cable Services – 941-373-1621 or https://www.directv.com/
Shopping
- The Mall at University Town Center – 941-552-7000 or https://www.mallatutc.com/
- Westfield Siesta Key – 941-955-0900 or https://www.westfield.com/siestakey
- Westfield Sarasota Square – 941-922-9609 or https://www.westfield.com/sarasota
- Sarasota Pavilion – https://www.sarasotapavilion.com/
- Armand’s Circle Shops & Restaurants – 941-388-1554 or https://www.starmandscircleassoc.com/
Things To Do
- Historic Spanish Point – 941-966-5214 or https://www.historicspanishpoint.org/
- Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium – 941-388-4441 or https://mote.org/
- Marie Selby Botanical Gardens – 941-366-5731 or https://selby.org/
- Sarasota Jungle Gardens – 941-355-5305 or https://www.sarasotajunglegardens.com/
- South Florida Museum and Bishop Planetarium – 941-746-4131 or https://www.southfloridamuseum.org/
- TreeUmph! Adventure Course – 941-322-2130 or https://www.treeumph.com/bradenton
- Economy Tackle / Dolphin Paddlesports – 941-922-9671 or https://www.floridakayak.com/
- Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary – 941-371-6377 or https://bigcathabitat.org/
- Children’s Garden – 941-330-1711 or https://www.thechildrensgarden.com/
- The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art – 941-359-5700 or https://www.ringling.org/
- Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy – 941-364-3399 or https://www.whimsymuseum.org/
- Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf – 941-351-6620 or https://www.smugglersgolf.com/
- Mixon Fruit Farms – 941-748-5829 or https://www.mixon.com/
- Dakin Dairy Farms – 941-322-2802 or https://dakindairyfarms.com/
- LeBarge Tropical Cruises – 941-366-6116 or https://lebargetropicalcruises.com/
- Siesta Key Beach – 941-861-5000 or https://www.visitsarasota.com/siesta-key
- Siesta Key Village – https://www.escape-to-sarasota.com/siesta-key-village.html
- Lido Beach – 941-861-5000 or https:// http://www.lidokey.net/beach.shtml
- South Lido Park – 941-861-7275 or http://www.lidokey.net/beach.shtml
- Caspersen Beach – 941-861-5000 or https://www.visitsarasota.com/parks/caspersen-beach-park
- Venice Beach – https://www.visitsarasota.com/venice
- Manasota Key Beach – beachhunter.net/manasotakey.htm
- Crowley Museum and Nature Center – 941-322-1000 or https://crowleyfl.org/
- Jumpin Fun Sports – 941-388-5867 or https://jumpinfunsports.com/
- The Circus Arts Conservatory – 941-355-9335 or https://circusarts.org/
- Sarasota Opera – 941-328-1300 or http://www.sarasotaopera.org/
- Sarasota Orchestra – 941-953-3434 or https://www.sarasotaorchestra.org/
- Ca d’Zan Mansion at The Ringling – 941-359-5700 or https://www.ringling.org/ca-dzan
- Sarasota Paddlebboard Company – 941-650-2241 or https://www.sarasotapaddleboardcompany.com/
- Nathan Benderson Park – 941-358-7275 or https://nathanbendersonpark.org/
- Myakka River State Park – 941-361-6511 or https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/myakka-river-state-park
- Legacy Trail – https://www.scgov.net/visitors/parks-and-recreation/the-legacy-trail
- Turtle Beach Campground – 941-861-2267 or https://www.scgov.net/visitors/parks-and-recreation/turtle-beach-campground
- Sarasota Classic Car Museum – 941-355-6228 or https://www.sarasotacarmuseum.org/