Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County Florida. Sarasota has a 2023 population of 56,003. It is also the county seat of Sarasota County.Sarasota is currently growing at a rate of 1.12% annually and its population has increased by 3.41% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 54,155 in 2020.
The average household income in Sarasota is $104,910 with a poverty rate of 14.36%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Sarasota is 49 years, 47.3 years for males, and 50.7 years for females.
Sarasota is a city located in the state of Florida. Specifically, it is located in Sarasota County, where it is the county seat. Sarasota is located along Florida’s southwestern coast and includes the Sarasota Bay and multiple barrier islands.
Over 16% of the population lives below the federal poverty line. Some of the city’s top employers include Board’s Head, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Aviation Recorders, and Doctors Hospital of Sarasota.
Sarasota has primarily seen growth in its population since the 1910 census. The city’s population was over 11,000 by 1940 before tripling in 1960. The city reached over 50,000 residents at the time of the 1990 census and continued to grow through the next decade. However, at the time of the 2010 census, the population had dropped by 1.5%. However, current estimates show that the population has since rebounded and has grown by 9% since the last census, indicating that this coastal city has much growth in its future.
Sarasota’s history began over 10,000 years ago, with research showing that native people occupied it. Europeans first discovered the area in the early 1500s. In 1539, the city was named “ZaraSota” by Hernando de Soto. At this time, Sarasota was not settled but was instead a place for fishing camps.
During the 1800s, Sarasota was the site of Fort Armistead. Because of epidemics, however, the fort was abandoned. Many of the natives were also killed by these illnesses, while the remaining inhabitants were forced to move south.
European cities began arriving at what was now known as Zara Zote during the 1840s. As the area was settled, it took on the name Sara Sota before becoming Sarasota. The village was incorporated as a town in 1902. It was later incorporated as a city in 1913.
Throughout the early 20th century, the city began to expand, taking over the neighboring communities. The city grew with the development of grand estates along Shell Beach, a hotel, and the railroad. An interesting fact is that Sarasota attracted members of the Ringling family of the Ringling Brothers Circus.
After World War I was when the city began to see growth, with many moving here to find jobs. Unfortunately, the city was affected by the Great Depression, like many others. Many of the city’s wealthiest residents went into bankruptcy following the market crash. However, just as other cities did, Sarasota did recover from this financial crisis. However, many years later, an economic crisis would once again plague the city. Sarasota is believed to be an epicenter of the real estate crash of 2008, which affected much of the United States.
Today, the city is a mix of history and modern attractions. Many historic homes and neighborhoods remain intact, while other areas of the city have been updated with shopping centers, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses. The city’s economy is primarily based on tourism, with many coming to the city to enjoy the beautiful beaches and all that Sarasota has to offer.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Sarasota was:
2.84
Average Family Size
2.1
Average Household Size
56.5%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
82.55% of Sarasota residents speak only English, while 17.45% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 12.22% of the population.
14.36%
Overall Poverty Rate
13.77%
Male Poverty Rate
14.87%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Sarasota is Black, with 43.01% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Sarasota is White, with 9.25% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.59%. Among those working part-time, it was 16.77%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 18.62%.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
40.1%
Overall Marriage Rate
43.3%
Male Marriage Rate
37.2%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 45-54.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
10.45%
Veteran Poverty Rate
31.68%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
53.7%
Labor Force Participation
52.1%
Employment Rate
3.1%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
31.76%
Born in Sarasota
83.81%
Native Born
14.4%
Foreign Born
7.19%
Non Citizen
7.22%
Naturalized
83.81% of Sarasota residents were born in the United States, with 31.76% having been born in Florida. 7.19% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.