Sarasota County, distinguished for its beaches, resorts, art, and culture, is located on the Gulf Coast of Southwest Florida.

Sarasota County extends from the cities of Sarasota in the north to Englewood in the south and North Port in the east. Sarasota County is over 700 square miles and almost 25% of that is water. As of 2010 the population of Sarasota was nearly 380,000. The 2018 estimated population is just over 425,000. The major towns and cities are:

  • Sarasota, FL
  • Osprey, FL
  • Laurel, FL
  • Nokomis, FL
  • Venice, FL
  • Englewood, FL
  • North Port, FL

As a coastal county, Sarasota County is home to a number of great beaches: Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Lido Key, Venice Beach, and Manasota Key.

A Nerve Center of Art & Culture

Sarasota is the most notable city of Florida's "Cultural Coast." Performing and visual arts; aquariums, zoos, and gardens; museums, galleries, and theaters - the area has an abundance of art, culture, and stunning nature.

  • John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
  • Historic Asolo Theater
  • Edward Theatre
  • Florida Studio Theatre
  • Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
  • Sarasota Ballet
  • Sarasota Orchestra
  • Mote Marine Laboratory
  • Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
  • Sarasota Jungle Gardens

Sarasota Festivals

In addition to its theaters, museums, gardens, and zoos, Sarasota celebrates art and culture with a variety of festivals, including:

The Sarasota Film Festival, one of Florida's largest film festivals, is held annually in April to showcase hundreds of independent films and their makers from around the world.

The Sarasota Improv Festival, organized by the Florida Studio Theatre, features improv troups from around the nation as well as Canada and the UK.

The Sarasota Chalk Festival, now held in Venice Florida, is another annually held festival and the first international street painting festival in the United States. The festival celebrates the 16th century practice of Italian street painting and features a new theme each year.

Sarasota Education

Sarasota County is also home to a number of higher learning institutions:

  • New College of Florida
  • Ringling College of Art and Design
  • State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (Venice Campus)
  • USF Sarasota-Manatee (Sarasota Campus)
  • FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training
  • Keiser University of Sarasota

Sarasota is a great place to live, work, and relax. Let's keep it that way and support local businesses and services!