SARASOTA

WHERE URBAN AMENITIES MEET SMALL TOWN LIVING

Sarasota County was created in 1921.

Although the origin of the name is unknown there are two popular theories.  Some believe it is named for a word in the indigenous Calusa language, whose meaning may be "point of rocks" or "Place of the Dance" while others believe it was named after Hernando de Soto's daughter Sara. According the Florida League of Cities the name first appeared in print on a 1763 land grant map as "Zarazote".

History

Sarasota was incorporated as a town in 1902 and re-platted in 1912 and incorporated as a city in 1913.  After WWI the economic boom began.Those climbing the social ladder, desiring new jobs, and seeking investment opportunities made Sarasota a focal point for relocation swarming the area in droves.

Joseph Daniel Anderson was one of the first pioneers and early leaders in Sarasota. He homesteaded the land in the Mystic River Valley, brought agricultural industry producing vegetables, sugar cane and citrus and raised cattle and swine in the Myakka/Pinedale area.

Also attracted to this area were many of the Ringling brothers who would develop The Ringling Brothers Circus bringing performers and staff members that would in turn began to settle in Sarasota, establishing the Ringling Circus as part of the Sarasota community.

Charles and Edith Ringling built their bayfront mansion in the early 1920s.  This mansion is now known internationally as the Edith Ringling Estate and center of the campus of New College of Florida.

Culture

There is no shortage of cultural stimulus with in the Sarasota community.  It is home of The Florida West Coast Symphony, Sarasota Ballet; Sarasota Opera; Florida Studio Theater and The Sarasota Players.

The Van Wezel bayfront performing arts hall brings national and international productions to the Sarasota area and the Asolo Theater located on the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art property provides a venue for students of Florida State University's theater arts and film program.

Sports

The Sarasota area is an incredibly popular golf destination that includes one golf course originally laid out for the hotel John Ringling planned to construct on Longboat Key’s southern tip.

Sarasota is home to Ed Smith Stadium, home to the minor league Sarasota Reds. Before 1997, the city had a long association with the Chicago White Sox; (once known as the Sarasota White Sox) that predates the 1989 construction of Ed Smith Stadium.

For information about the history arts and events for this area please visit our Things To Do page.

Famous Faces

Chris Browne – Author/Cartoonist & Writer of Hagar the Horrible and Raising Duncan

Stephen King - Author

Audrey Landers, Judy Landers and Ruth Landers - Landers Productions

Mike Peters - Creator of Mother Goose and Grimm

Dick Smothers – American comedian, composer and musician

Jerry Springer – former Democratic mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio; musician; television personality and controversial television tabloid talk show host

Adrienne Vittadini - Fashion designer

Tennis

Nick - Tennis coach celebrity

Monica Seles - Professional women's tennis champion

Music

Dickie Betts - The Allman Brothers Band

Brian Johnson – lead singer for AC/DC

Request our Free Bradenton, Sarasota and Anna Maria Island Relocation Package. It's packed full of useful and important information about the Bradenton, Sarasota and Anna Maria Island, Florida area. Don't move here without it! Remember: we'll send it to you for free and without obligation. Just fill out the form and we will send it right out... 

It's our job to know EVERYTHING about Bradenton, Sarasota and Anna Maria Island! Ask us any question. Or request a FREE information package. There's no obligation, and we promise to get back to you quickly...