Sarasota

Sarasota is a city on the southwestern coast of Florida and the county seat of Sarasota County. Located on the Gulf of Mexico, it is part of the Tampa Bay region. The city sits on a peninsula with several barrier islands, including Siesta Key, Lido Key, and Longboat Key, which are known for their beaches and coastal parks. The population is around 57,000 residents.

Historically, the area was inhabited by Indigenous peoples such as the Tocobaga and Calusa before European contact. European-American settlement began in the late 19th century, and Sarasota grew with the arrival of the railroad and early 20th-century development. The city gained broader recognition in the 1920s with the Ringling family, who established a cultural campus that includes the Ringling Museum of Art, the Circus Museum, and the Ca’ d’Zan mansion, shaping Sarasota’s cultural identity.

Prominent attractions include The Ringling, the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, and the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium. The downtown bayfront hosts performance venues such as the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, while Siesta Key Beach and nearby islands attract visitors for recreation. The economy centers on tourism, healthcare, education, and the arts, with a notable emphasis on cultural institutions and waterfront amenities.

Sarasota experiences a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and mild winters. Transportation options include the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) and connections to major highways that link the city with Tampa and other Florida cities.