The Sarasota metropolitan area is a

metropolitan area A metropolitan area or metro is a region that consists of a densely populated urban agglomeration and its surrounding territories sharing industries, commercial areas, transport network, infrastructures and housing. A metro area usually com ...

located in Southwest Florida. The metropolitan area is defined by the Office of Management and Budget as the North Port–Sarasota–Bradenton metropolitan statistical area as a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) consisting of

Manatee County Manatee County is a county in the Central Florida portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 US Census, the population was 399,710. Manatee County is part of the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton Metropolitan Statistical Area. Its county s ...

and

Sarasota County Sarasota County is a county located in Southwest Florida. At the 2020 US census, the population was 434,006. Its county seat is Sarasota and its largest city is North Port. Sarasota County is part of the North Port–Sarasota–Bradenton, FL m ...

. The largest cities in the MSA are North Port, Sarasota, and Bradenton. At the 2020 census, the MSA had a population of 833,716. The federal government defines the North Port–Sarasota combined statistical area as a combined statistical area (CSA) consisting of the combination of the North Port–Sarasota–Bradenton MSA, the Punta Gorda, Florida MSA ( Charlotte County), and the Arcadia, Florida, micropolitan statistical area ( DeSoto County). At the 2020 census, the CSA had a population of 1,054,539.

History of the metropolitan area designations

The Sarasota standard metropolitan statistical area (SMSA) was first defined in 1973, and included only Sarasota County. The Bradenton SMSA was defined after the

1980 United States census The United States census of 1980, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 226,545,805, an increase of 11.4 percent over the 203,184,772 persons enumerated during the 1970 census. It was th ...

, and included only Manatee County. The two MSAs were combined in 1993 as the Sarasota–Bradenton metropolitan statistical area. Venice was added as a principal city after the 2000 census. In 2007, the MSA was renamed the Bradenton–Sarasota–Venice MSA because Bradenton's population then exceeded that of Sarasota. In 2009, the area was designated the North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota MSA after North Port qualified as a "principal city" under the metropolitan statistical area definition and was determined to be the largest of the area's three principal cities. As of 2013, the MSA was renamed to its current name: North Port–Sarasota–Bradenton metropolitan statistical area. The North Port–Sarasota–Bradenton MSA is a component of the larger North Port–Sarasota combined statistical area (CSA), which also includes the

Punta Gorda, Florida , nickname = , settlement_type = City , motto = , image_skyline = Punta Gorda City Hall.jpg , imagesize = 250px , image_caption = Punta Gorda City Hall , image_fla ...

MSA, and the

Arcadia, Florida Arcadia is a city and county seat of DeSoto County, Florida, United States. Its population was 7,637 as of the 2010 census, with an estimated population of 7,722 in 2014. Arcadia's Historic District is listed on the National Register of Histor ...

, micropolitan statistical area (μSA).

Demographics

Counties

Cities

Largest cities

The following is a list of the five largest cities in the Sarasota metropolitan area as ranked by population.

Other cities and towns

Census designated places

The following is a list of census-designated places (CDPs) ranked by population. CDPs in the combined statistical area are included.

Climate

The Sarasota metropolitan area, like most of Florida, is located in the humid tropical zone as it is in the southern part of Florida. There are hot, humid summers with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and relatively drier and mild winters.

Transportation

Roads

Freeways

Interstate 75 * I-275

Interstate 275 Bradenton FL US 41 Green Bridge02

U.S. highways

U.S. Route 19 U.S. Route 19 (US 19) is a north–south U.S. Highway in the Eastern United States. Despite encroaching Interstate Highways, the route has remained a long-haul road, connecting the Gulf of Mexico with Lake Erie. The highway's southern ...

U.S. Route 41 U.S. Route 41, also U.S. Highway 41 (US 41), is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway that runs from Miami, Florida, to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Until 1949, the part in southern Florida, from Naples to Miami, ...

U.S. Route 301 U.S. Route 301 (US 301) is a spur of U.S. Route 1 running through the South Atlantic States. It runs from Biddles Corner, Delaware at Delaware Route 1 to Sarasota, Florida at U.S. Route 41. It passes through the states of Delaware, Mar ...

State roads

State Road 37 * Florida 62

State Road 62 * Florida 64

State Road 64 * Florida 70

State Road 70 * Florida 72

State Road 72 * Florida 681

State Road 681 * Florida 684

State Road 684 * Florida 758

State Road 758 * Florida 776

State Road 776 * Florida 777

State Road 777 * Florida 780

State Road 780 * Florida 789

State Road 789

County roads

* List of county roads in Charlotte County, Florida *

List of county roads in DeSoto County, Florida The following numbered county roads exist in DeSoto County, Florida. As with most Florida counties, numbers are assigned in a statewide grid. County road list References FDOT map of DeSoto County, Florida List of county roads in Manatee County, Florida The following is a list of county roads in Manatee County, Florida. All county roads are maintained by the county in which they reside. County roads in Manatee County Notes References FDOT GIS data accessed January 2014 {{FLCR County ...

List of county roads in Sarasota County, Florida The following is a list of county roads in Sarasota County, Florida. All county roads are maintained by the county where they reside, although not all routes are marked with standard county road shields. County roads in Sarasota County Notes ...

Ports

SeaPort Manatee SeaPort Manatee is a county-owned deepwater seaport located in the eastern Gulf of Mexico at the entrance to Tampa Bay in northern Manatee County, Florida. It is one of Florida's largest deepwater seaports and also regarded as the closest U.S. d ...

Airports

* Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

Public airports

Buchan Airport Buchan Airport is a public airport located in Englewood, Florida, United States, and operated/owned by Sarasota County. History Before Buchan Airport was built, Hygeia, a subdivision consisting of approximately , was planned to be built durin ...

Venice Municipal Airport Venice Municipal Airport is a city managed public-use airport located south of the central business district of Venice, a city in Sarasota County, Florida, United States. History The airport was built during the 1940s by the United States ...

Public transportation

SCAT bus 1419 servicing route 23 near Venice Beach, front

Both Sarasota and Manatee counties have their own transit networks, SCAT and MCAT, which runs bus services in the area. Amtrak does operate a Thruway Route going through the area starting in St. Petersburg-

Clearwater Clearwater or Clear Water may refer to: Places Canada * Clear Water Academy, a private Catholic school located in Calgary, Alberta * Clearwater (provincial electoral district), a former provincial electoral district in Alberta * Clearwater, Briti ...

and ending in Fort Myers, with Sarasota and Ellenton operating as stops along the route.

Media

Newspapers

* ''

Anna Maria Island Sun Anna may refer to: People Surname and given name * Anna (name) Mononym * Anna the Prophetess, in the Gospel of Luke * Anna (wife of Artabasdos) (fl. 715–773) * Anna (daughter of Boris I) (9th–10th century) * Anna (Anisia) (fl. 1218 to 1221) ...

'' * '' Bradenton Herald'' * ''

Business Observer Business is the practice of making one's living or making money by producing or buying and selling products (such as goods and services). It is also "any activity or enterprise entered into for profit." Having a business name does not separat ...

'', a business newspaper that is published in Sarasota, but serves several other regions of Florida. * '' East County Observer'' * '' Longboat Observer'' * ''

The Bradenton Times ''The Bradenton Times'' is an online newspaper founded and continuously published on the Internet from Bradenton, Florida. It is a web news and community resource site for Bradenton and Manatee County designed to supply broad coverage of infor ...

'', an online newspaper. * ''

The Islander Islander, Islanders, or The Islanders may refer to: People * Islander, referring to Jersey people * Islander, New Zealand-English term usually meaning Pacific Islander Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''The Islander'' (Rylant novel), ...

'' * ''

Sarasota Herald-Tribune The ''Sarasota Herald-Tribune'' is a daily newspaper, located in Sarasota, Florida, founded in 1925 as the ''Sarasota Herald''. History The newspaper was owned by The New York Times Company from 1982 to 2012. It was then owned by Halifax Media ...

'' * ''

Siesta Key Observer The ''Siesta Key Observer'' (previously known as the ''Pelican Press'') is an American weekly free newspaper serving Siesta Key, Florida. Founded in 1971 by John and Elizabeth Davidson, it is now a part of a family of twelve community and busines ...

'' * '' Sarasota Observer'' *'' Tempo News'' *''

Venice Gondolier Sun Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...

Magazines

* '' Sarasota Magazine'' * ''

SRQ Magazine SRQ or srq may refer to: * Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport, by IATA code, Sarasota County, Florida * South East Asian Airlines Cebgo, Inc., operating as Cebgo (stylized in all lowercase as cebgo), is the regional brand of Cebu Pacifi ...

'' * Venice: Gulf Coast Living Magazine

Television

* ABC 7 * WSNN (SNN)

Radio

* WBRD *

WCTQ WCTQ (92.1 FM) is a radio station broadcasting with a classic country music format. Licensed to Venice, Florida, United States, the station serves the Sarasota area. It is currently owned by iHeartMedia. History Before the 2011 holiday season, ...

WDIZ (AM) WDIZ (1320 AM) is a commercial radio station broadcasting an oldies format. Licensed to Venice, Florida, United States, the station serves the Sarasota metropolitan area. WDIZ is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. and calls itself "Oldies 1320", ''Venic ...

* WHPT *

WJIS WJIS 88.1 FM, known on air as The JOY FM, is a Christian adult contemporary station serving North, Central and Southwest Florida, including the Sarasota/Bradenton and Tampa Bay areas, and is owned by the Radio Training Network. Network On ...

WKDW-LP WKDW-LP is a Variety formatted broadcast radio station licensed to North Port, Florida, serving North Port and Warm Mineral Springs Warm Mineral Springs is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sarasota County, Florida, United States. The popul ...

* WKES *

WLSS WLSS is a radio station serving the Sarasota, Florida area with a news/talk format. It broadcasts on AM frequency 930 kHz and is under ownership of Salem Communications. WLSS is the most powerful AM station in the Sarasota-Bradenton market. I ...

WRUB (FM) WRUB (106.5 FM broadcasting, FM) is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish language, Spanish contemporary hit radio, hits format. Licensed to Sarasota, Florida, United States, it serves the Sarasota / Bradenton, Florida, Bradenton and Tampa Bay Ar ...

WSDV WSDV (1450 AM) is a commercial radio station licensed to Sarasota, Florida, and broadcasting to the Sarasota - Bradenton radio market. The station airs a hot adult contemporary format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. WSDV is powered at 1,000 ...

* WSLR-LP *

WSMR (FM) WSMR (89.1 MHz) is a non-commercial FM radio station licensed to Sarasota, Florida, United States. It is owned by the University of South Florida and programs a classical music format. WSMR broadcasts from a transmitter located near the inter ...

* WSRQ (AM) * WTMY *

WWPR (AM) WWPR (1490 kHz) is an American AM radio station licensed to serve the community of Bradenton, the county seat of Manatee County, Florida, United States. The station is currently owned and operated by Vidify Media, Inc. Programming On weekdays, ...

Education

Public education is provided by

Manatee County School District The School District of Manatee County, in Manatee County, Florida, provides education to over 50,000 students. It employs over 7,000 people. The School District is managed by the Manatee County School Board and the Superintendent. Cynthia Saund ...

and

Sarasota County Public Schools The District School Board of Sarasota, commonly known as Sarasota County Schools, is a public school district serving all of Sarasota County, Florida. As of 2017, the total number of students is approximately 43,150. The school district's leader ...

Colleges and universities

The following college/university campuses exist in the metropolitan area. * Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training *

East West College of Natural Medicine East West College of Natural Medicine (EWCNM) is an acupuncture, Chinese medicine, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, and massage school in Sarasota, Florida Sarasota () is a city in Sarasota County on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of ...

Everglades University Everglades University, formerly known as the American Flyers College, is a private university with its main campus in Boca Raton, Florida, and several other campuses throughout the state. Everglades offers bachelor's and master's degree programs, ...

* Florida State University College of Medicine *

Keiser University Keiser University is a private university with its main campus in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and flagship residential campus in West Palm Beach, Florida. Additional branches are located in other parts of Florida and internationally. Keiser provides ...

* LECOM * Ringling College of Art and Design *

New College of Florida New College of Florida is a public liberal arts college in Sarasota, Florida. It was founded in 1960 as a private institution known simply as New College, spent several years merged into the University of South Florida, and in 2001 became an aut ...

* State College of Florida Sarasota-Manatee * USF Sarasota-Manatee

Economy

The Sarasota Metropolitan Area has a gross metropolitan product of $34.3 billion as of 2018.

Recreation and culture

Parks/nature reserves

Federally owned

DeSoto National Memorial

State owned

Lake Manatee State Park Lake Manatee State Park (Lake Manatee State Recreation Area) is a Florida State Parks, State Park in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the south shore of Lake Manatee. It is east of Interstate 75 in Florida, I-75 on Florida State Road 64, ...

Myakka River State Park Myakka River State Park is a Florida State Park, that is located east of Interstate 75 in Sarasota County and a portion of southeastern Manatee County on the Atlantic coastal plain. This state park consists of , making it one of the state's ...

Oscar Scherer State Park Oscar Scherer State Park is a Florida State Park located between Sarasota and Venice, near Osprey. The address is 1843 South Tamiami Trail. There are more than 250,000 visitors a year. History The park's genesis was in 1955, when Elsa Scherer Bu ...

Terra Ceia Preserve Terra Ceia Preserve (also known as Frog Creek and Terra Ceia State Park) is a preserve located in Manatee County, Florida north of Palmetto Palmetto (meaning "little palm") may refer to: Palms Several small palms in the Arecaceae (palm tre ...

Ringling Museum entrance main facade Sarasota Florida

Museums

* Bishop Museum of Science and Nature * Florida Maritime Museum *

Florida Railroad Museum The Florida Railroad Museum is a railroad museum located in Parrish, Florida. The museum operates a heritage railroad and offers round-trip tourist excursions along six miles of the former Seaboard Air Line Sarasota Subdivision in Manatee Count ...

* John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art * Palmetto Historical Park *

Sarasota Classic Car Museum The Sarasota Classic Car Museum is located at 5500 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Florida, United States. It houses about 100 vintage cars of all types in a facility with constantly rotating collection. The museum displays rare cars and ones own ...

Theatres

* Florida Studio Theatre *

Sarasota Opera House The Sarasota Opera House (originally the Edwards Theatre) is an historic theatre, now opera house, located at 61 North Pineapple Avenue in Sarasota, Florida. The building was the vision of A.B. Edwards, the first mayor of Sarasota. It opened on Apri ...

Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall is a performing arts venue located at 777 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Florida neighboring the Sarasota Bay. The main theater of the facility contains 1,741 seats. History The initial construction of the 1, ...

References

External links

Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical area
definitions {{Florida Sarasota, Florida Bradenton, Florida Venice, Florida North Port, Florida Manatee County, Florida Sarasota County, Florida South Florida Central Florida 1973 establishments in Florida