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Sarasota Demographics |
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Established 1921
County Seat: Sarasota
Name: The name "Sarasota" may be based on a Spanish word meaning "a place for dancing" in honor of dance ceremonies that took place near the bay or it may be for Sara Sota, daughter of the Spanish explorer, Hernando de Soto, or for the Indian word meaning "Point of Rocks"
Size: 573 square miles
Water Area: 154 square miles
Topography: Mostly Flat
Average Elevation: 18 feet above sea level
Beaches: 37 miles
Cities: Sarasota, Venice, North Port, Longboat Key, Englewood as well as the communities of Manasota Beach, Casperson Beach, Casey Key, Siesta Beach, Lido Beach, St. Armand's Key, Osprey and Nokomis
Population: 306,900 (1995 estimate)
Civilian Workforce: 129,000 (1994 estimate) with a 3.05% increase in job growth through 1996 (projected)
Median Age: 48.9 years
Birth Rate: 8.6 per 1,000 (1993 average)
Average Personal Income: $27,719 (1993)
Ranked among the nation's 15 most livable communities by Money Magazine
Average year-round Temperature: 72 degrees Fahrenheit
Average Annual Rainfall: about 54 inches, greatest in summer
Humidity: From 58% to 88%
Sarasota County Government Information (941) 951-5200
County Property Assessor/Appraiser (941) 951-5650
Education: The School Board of Sarasota County is the largest employer in the county with 3,731 employees.
Total Schools Population is approximately 30,000.
Children entering kindergarten must reach the age of five on or before September 1st of the current school year. State law requires proof of immunizations. A physical done within 12 months prior to enrollment is also required. Contact the Sarasota County Health Department at (941) 954-2900
Sarasota County Health Department
2200 Ringling Blvd.
Sarasota, Florida
There are 27 Elementary schools (1st through 5th grade),6 Middle schools (6th through 8th grade) and 7 High schools. Sarasota County ranks 16th out of 67 Florida counties for school enrollment. 79% of its teachers hold more than a Bachelor's Degree. For more information regarding the Sarasota County Public School System please call (941) 927-8811
Sarasota County School Board
1960 Landings Blvd.
Sarasota, Florida
Exceptional Student Education phone number is (941) 361-6544
Transportation Department phone number is (941) 486-2141
Postsecondary Education is offered through the following: University of South Florida (941) 359-4310, University of Sarasota (941) 379-0404, Sarasota County Technical Institute (941) 924-1365, Ringling School of Art & Design (941) 351-5100, New College (USF) (941) 359-4200, Eckerd College ( Main Campus is in St. Petersburg) (941) 957-3397
Financial Deposits: more than 7 Billion (1994)
Four local banks are subsidiaries of institutions ranked among the nation's top ten
Daily Newspaper: The Sarasota Herald Tribune (Parent Company: The New York Times)
Travel Transportation:
Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport (941) 359-5200
11 Major and Commuter airlines serving more than 1.7 million passengers each year
There are 3 International airports within 60 miles of Sarasota (City).
Port Manatee, the 4th largest deep-water port in Florida, is less than a half hour drive.
Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) Bus Service (941) 951-5850
Highways 301, 41 and Interstate 75 are main North/South Arteries
Public Utilities:
Florida Power & Light (941) 379-1424
General Telephone (941) 952-5524
People's Gas System (941) 366-4277
Comcast Cablevision (941) 371-6700
Average Florida Power & Light electric bill (which services Sarasota County) for 1,000 kilowatt hours is $71.71 Vs Tampa Electric $82.52 or Florida Power Corp. of St. Petersburg $84.17
Hospitals:
Sarasota Memorial (941) 917-9000
almost 1,000 bed public hospital, ranks in the top 25 in the country for open heart surgeries and has the only Level III NeoNatal Intensive Care Unit in a 4 county area
Venice Hospital (South County) (941) 485-7711
350 beds
Englewood Community Hospital (South County) (941) 475-6571
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