# Sarasota metropolitan area

The Sarasota metropolitan area is a metropolitan area located in Southwest Florida. The metropolitan area is defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as the North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota Metropolitan Statistical Area, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) consisting of Manatee County and Sarasota County. The principal cities listed by the OMB for the MSA are North Port, Bradenton, Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, and Venice.$^{:65}$ At the 2020 census, the MSA had a population of 833,716. The Census Bureau estimates that its population was 910,108 in 2023.
The North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota MSA is a component of the larger North Port–Bradenton Combined Statistical Area, a combined statistical area (CSA) consisting of the North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota MSA, the Punta Gorda, Florida MSA (Charlotte County), and the Arcadia, Florida, micropolitan statistical area (DeSoto County).$^{:140}$ At the 2020 census, the CSA had a population of 1,054,539. The Census Bureau estimates that its population was 1,152,221 in 2023.

## 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, 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. In 2013, the MSA was renamed North Port–Sarasota–Bradenton metropolitan statistical area. In July 2023, the MSA was renamed to the North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota MSA,$^{:65}$ and the CSA was renamed to the North Port–Bradenton CSA.$^{:140}$ Lakewood Ranch was also added as a principal city within the MSA.

## Demographics
### Counties

| County | 2010 population | 2020 population | 2023 estimate | % change (2020 to 2023) |
| Sarasota County | 379,448 | 434,006 | 469,013 | +8.07% |
| Manatee County | 322,833 | 399,710 | 441,095 | +10.35% |
| Charlotte County | 159,978 | 186,847 | 206,134 | +10.32% |
| DeSoto County | 34,862 | 33,976 | 35,979 | +5.90% |
| Metropolitan statistical area | Metropolitan statistical area | 833,716 | 910,108 | +9.16% |
| Combined statistical area | Combined statistical area | 1,054,539 | 1,152,221 | +9.26% |
* ↑ Population of Sarasota and Manatee counties combined.
* ↑ Population of Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties combined.

### Cities
#### Largest cities

The following is a list of the five largest cities in the Sarasota metropolitan area as ranked by population.
| Rank | City | County | 2010 population | 2020 population | 2023 estimate | % change (2020 to 2023) |
| 1 | North Port | Sarasota | 57,357 | 74,793 | 80,512 | +7.65% |
| 2 | Bradenton | Manatee | 49,546 | 55,698 | 56,289 | +1.06% |
| 3 | Sarasota | Sarasota | 51,917 | 54,842 | 56,218 | +2.51% |
| 4 | Venice | Sarasota | 20,748 | 25,463 | 26,467 | +3.94% |
| 5 | Palmetto | Manatee | 12,606 | 13,323 | 13,449 | +0.95% |

#### Other cities and towns

| Rank | City | County | 2010 population | 2020 population | 2023 estimate | % change (2020 to 2023) |
| 1 | Longboat Key | Sarasota Manatee | 6,888 | 7,052 | 7,512 | +6.52% |
| 2 | Holmes Beach | Manatee | 3,836 | 3,010 | 3,042 | +1.06% |
| 3 | Anna Maria | Manatee | 1,503 | 968 | 850 | −12.19% |
| 4 | Bradenton Beach | Manatee | 1,171 | 908 | 777 | −14.43% |

### Census designated places

The following is a list of census-designated places (CDPs) ranked by population. CDPs in the combined statistical area are included.
| Rank | CDP | County | 2010 population | 2017 estimated (2010 to 2017) |
| 1 | Port Charlotte | Charlotte | 54,392 | 59,654 |
| 2 | South Bradenton | Manatee | 22,178 | 24,935 |
| 3 | Bayshore Gardens | Manatee | 16,323 | 20,047 |
| 4 | Sarasota Springs | Sarasota | 14,395 | 16,386 |
| 5 | Englewood | Sarasota Charlotte | 14,863 | 15,159 |
| 6 | South Venice | Sarasota | 13,949 | 14,535 |
| 7 | Fruitville | Sarasota | 13,224 | 13,541 |
| 8 | Gulf Gate Estates | Sarasota | 10,911 | 10,650 |
| 9 | Bee Ridge | Sarasota | 9,598 | 9,772 |
| 10 | Laurel | Sarasota | 8,171 | 9,283 |
| 11 | Rotonda West | Charlotte | 8,759 | 8,981 |
| 12 | Memphis | Manatee | 7,848 | 8,926 |
| 13 | North Sarasota | Sarasota | 6,982 | 8,728 |
| 14 | Venice Gardens | Sarasota | 7,104 | 7,904 |
| 15 | Southeast Arcadia | Desoto | 6,554 | 7,653 |
| 16 | Southgate | Sarasota | 7,173 | 7,539 |
| 17 | Osprey | Sarasota | 6,100 | 6,734 |
| 18 | Siesta Key | Sarasota | 6,565 | 5,850 |
| 19 | Warm Mineral Springs | Sarasota | 5,061 | 5,305 |
| 20 | South Sarasota | Sarasota | 4,950 | 5,265 |
| 21 | Plantation | Sarasota | 4,919 | 4,790 |
| 22 | Lake Sarasota | Sarasota | 4,679 | 4,718 |
| 23 | The Meadows | Sarasota | 3,994 | 4,383 |
| 24 | Kensington Park | Sarasota | 3,901 | 4,351 |
| 25 | Vamo | Sarasota | 4,727 | 4,345 |
| 26 | Cortez | Manatee | 4,241 | 4,332 |
| 27 | West Bradenton | Manatee | 4,192 | 4,213 |
| 28 | Samoset | Manatee | 3,854 | 3,922 |
| 29 | Ridge Wood Heights | Sarasota | 4,795 | 3,878 |
| 30 | Desoto Lakes | Sarasota | 3,646 | 3,590 |
| 31 | Ellenton | Manatee | 4,275 | 3,423 |
| 32 | Harbour Heights | Charlotte | 2,987 | 3,401 |
| 33 | Nokomis | Sarasota | 3,167 | 3,376 |
| 34 | Cleveland | Charlotte | 2,990 | 3,317 |
| 35 | Whitfield | Manatee | 2,882 | 3,215 |
| 36 | Charlotte Park | Charlotte | 2,325 | 2,058 |
| 37 | Grove City | Charlotte | 1,804 | 2,042 |
| 38 | Solana | Charlotte | 742 | 706 |
| 39 | Gardner | Hardee | 463 | 228 |

## Climate

The Sarasota metropolitan area, like most of Florida, is located in the humid subtropical zone (Köppen climate classification: Cfa), closely bordering on a tropical climate like Southern Florida, characterized by hot, humid summers with frequent afternoon thunderstorms, and relatively drier and mild winters.

## Transportation
### Roads
#### Freeways

* Interstate 75
* Interstate 275

#### U.S. highways

* U.S. Route 19
* U.S. Route 41
* U.S. Route 301

#### State roads

* State Road 37
* State Road 62
* State Road 64
* State Road 70
* State Road 72
* State Road 681
* State Road 684
* State Road 758
* State Road 776
* State Road 777
* State Road 780
* State Road 789

#### County roads

* List of county roads in Charlotte County, Florida
* List of county roads in DeSoto County, Florida
* List of county roads in Manatee County, Florida
* List of county roads in Sarasota County, Florida

### Ports

* SeaPort Manatee

### Airports

* Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport

#### Public airports

* Buchan Airport
* Venice Municipal Airport

### Public transportation

Sarasota and Manatee counties have transit networks, Breeze Transit (formerly Sarasota County Area Transit, SCAT) and Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT), which run bus services in the area. Amtrak operates an Amtrak Thruway route through the area starting in St. Petersburg-Clearwater and ending in Fort Myers, with Sarasota and Ellenton operating as stops along the route.

## Media
### Newspapers

* Anna Maria Island Sun
* Bradenton Herald
* Business Observer, a business newspaper published in Sarasota, serves several other regions of Florida.
* East County Observer
* Longboat Observer
* The Bradenton Times, an online newspaper.
* The Islander
* Sarasota Herald-Tribune
* Siesta Key Observer
* Sarasota Observer
* Tempo News
* Venice Gondolier Sun

### Magazines

* Sarasota Magazine
* SRQ Magazine
* Venice: Gulf Coast Living Magazine

### Television

* ABC 7
* WSNN (SNN)

### Radio

* WBRD
* WCTQ
* WDIZ (AM)
* WHPT
* WJIS
* WKDW-LP
* WKES
* WLSS
* WRUB (FM)
* WSDV
* WSLR-LP
* WSMR (FM)
* WSRQ (AM)
* WTMY
* WWPR (AM)

## Education

Public education is provided by Manatee County School District and Sarasota County Public Schools.

### Colleges and universities

The following college/university campuses exist in the metropolitan area.
* Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training
* East West College of Natural Medicine
* Everglades University
* Florida State University College of Medicine
* Keiser University
* LECOM
* Ringling College of Art and Design
* New College of Florida
* State College of Florida Sarasota-Manatee
* USF Sarasota-Manatee

## Economy

The Sarasota Metropolitan Area has a gross metropolitan product of $45.41 billion as of 2023.

## Recreation and culture
### Parks/nature reserves
#### Federally owned

DeSoto National Memorial

#### State owned

* Lake Manatee State Park
* Myakka River State Park
* Oscar Scherer State Park
* Terra Ceia Preserve

### Museums

* Bishop Museum of Science and Nature
* Florida Maritime Museum
* Florida Railroad Museum
* John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
* Palmetto Historical Park
* Sarasota Classic Car Museum

### Theatres

* Florida Studio Theatre
* Sarasota Opera House
* Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall