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Sarasota County Profile
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Primary Economic Development Contact
Nearest MSA: North Port-Bradenton-Sara
Time Zone: Eastern
Local Area Code(s): 941
Largest Cities:1 North Port
2 Sarasota
3 Venice
Miles* To:
Tallahassee...................................242
Orlando...................................110
Tampa...................................45
Jacksonville...................................217
Miami...................................181
Atlanta...................................460
Chicago...................................1044
Dallas...................................933
New York...................................1045
*Miles are calculated from county seat.
Click here to learn about this county.
Sarasota
1980:202,251
1990:277,776
2010:379,448
2020(p):424,700
2040(p):509,000
(p) Denotes Projected Population
Florida
9,746,961
12,938,071
18,801,310
21,326,800
26,081,800
Sarasota Florida
2007$56,210$39,449
2008$58,065$40,133
2009$56,158$38,965
Average TemperatureHighLow
January:7149
July:9173
Florida Mean Annual Precipitation...........................53
Average Annual Rain Days...........................107
(2010)
In-Migration19,224
Out-Migration16,262
Net-Migration 2,962
*Estimates based on IRS Statistics of Income data
(2010)
Labor Force161,633
Labor Force % of County Population42.6
Number in County Unemployed19,652
Unemployment Rate12.2%

  Monthly labor force data are available from the Florida Agency
  for Workforce Innovation.
N/D = No DataSarasotaFlorida
(2010)
Average Annual Employment132,4707,109,630
Natural Resources & Mining0.3%1.2%
Construction6.5%5.0%
Manufacturing3.7%4.3%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities18.8%21.2%
Information1.7%1.9%
Financial Activities6.7%6.6%
Professional & Business Services13.0%14.8%
Education & Health Services21.2%22.0%
Leisure & Hospitality14.6%13.2%
Other Services3.9%3.3%
Public administration5.2%6.6%
Unclassified0.0%0.0%

Average Annual Wage
(2010)
All Industries$38,669
Construction$36,884
Education & Health Services$42,818
Financial Activities$61,229
Information$47,204
Leisure & Hospitality$20,002
Manufacturing$43,234
Natural Resources & Mining$25,269
Other Services$27,781
Professional & Business Services$45,702
Public administration$48,084
Trade, Transportation and Utilities$32,467
Unclassified$393,418
Major Private Sector Employers

Publix
Business Line: Grocery Store Chain
Number of Employees..................................................... 1,519

Venice Regional Medical Center
Business Line: Hospital
Number of Employees..................................................... 871

PGT Industries
Business Line: Window & Door Manufacturer
Number of Employees..................................................... 724

FCCI Insurance Group
Business Line: Insurance
Number of Employees..................................................... 680

Sun Hydraulics Corporation
Business Line: Manufacturer - Hydraulic Cartridge Valves
Number of Employees..................................................... 590

Comcast Cablevision
Business Line: Cable Service Provider
Number of Employees..................................................... 529

Sunset Automotive Group
Business Line: Automobile Retailer
Number of Employees..................................................... 525

Goodwill Industries
Business Line: Not-for-Profit Retailer
Number of Employees..................................................... 503

Longboat Key Club & Resort
Business Line: Hotel and Resort
Number of Employees..................................................... 480

Doctor's Hospital of Sarasota
Business Line: Hospital
Number of Employees..................................................... 471

Federal InterstatesI-75
Federal HighwaysUS-41, US-301
State HighwaysSR-72, 681, 773, 776, 777, 780
RailroadsCSX Transportation, Seminole Gulf Railway
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Commerical Airline Service:Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport
# Runways2
Longest Paved Runway(ft.)9500
General Aviation AirportsSarasota Bradenton International Airport; Venice Municipal Airport

Local Deep Water PortManatee County Port Authority
Miles to Closest Port15
COUNTY
Countywide Ad Valorem Millage Rates:
Government3.3107
Schools7.6350
Special1.5462
Total12.4919

Ad Valorem Tax Exemption: Yes
Retail Sales Tax (Local Option)1.00
Federal Enterprise ZoneNo
State Enterprise ZoneEZ-5801
STATE
Corporate Income Tax5.5%
Personal Income Tax0.0%
Retail Sales Tax6.0%
Electric Companies:
  • Florida Power & Light Company
  • Peace River Electric Co-op, Inc.

  • Natural Gas Companies:
  • Teco People

  • Telephone Companies:
  • Verizon
  • Sprint
  • AT&T
  • Comcast
  • Bright House Networks

  • Water & Sewer Companies:
  • Sarasota County
  • City of Venice
  • City of Sarasota
  • City of North Port
  • Aqua Utilities


  • Existing Industrial Zoned LandYes
    Number of Acres4,549
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel0

    Industrial ParksYes
    Number of Acres443
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel0

    Foreign Trade ZonesYes
    Zone Number(s)FTZ 169A
    Public
    Schools
    TeachersEnrollments
    Totals:573,05840,899

    Private Schools Available: Yes
    POST SECONDARY EDUCATION SERVING THE COUNTY:

    Colleges/Universities:
  • Ringling College of Art & Design
  • Keiser University
  • New College of Florida
  • University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee
  • State College of Florida

  • Junior/Community Colleges:
  • State College of Florida

  • Technical Schools:
  • Sarasota County Technical Institute

  • Other Schools:
  • Webster University
  • Argosy University
  • Everglades University
  • University of Phoenix
  • Eckerd College

  • Local Radio Stations:
  • 106.5 FM, WDDV 92.1 FM
  • WENG 1530 AM
  • WJIS 88.1 FM
  • WSEB 91.3 FM
  • WTMY 1280 AM
  • WSLR 96.5
  • 1220 AM
  • Local Television Stations:
  • SNN 6
  • WWSB - ABC 7
  • BLAB TV Network (21)
  • Comcast Cable of West Florida, Inc.
  • Talk of the Town
  • Locally Printed Newspapers:
  • The Review
  • Pelican Press
  • Observers: Longboat Key, Siesta, East County, & Osprey
  • Sarasota Herald-Tribune
  • Venice Gondolier
  • Creative Loafing (Weekly Planet)
  • Gulf Coast Business Review
  • The Sarasota Observer

  • Number of Banks:123

    Number of Savings and Loans:6

    Number of Credit Unions:9
    Cost of Living
    Price Level Index, (2010)
    Florida State Average = 100
    2008101.71
    2009101.21
    201099.49
    Medical Services:
  • Doctors Hospital of Sarasota/Columbia HCA
  • Englewood Community Hospital
  • Sarasota Memorial Hospital
  • Venice Regional Medical Center

  • Recreational Opportunities:
  • Baltimore Orioles Spring Training
  • GWiz Science Museum
  • Legacy Trail/Waterway Trail Park
  • Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
  • Mote Marine Laboratory
  • Myakka River State Park
  • Sarasota Jungle Gardens

  • Historical Points Of Interest:
  • Ca d
  • Crowley Museum and Nature Center
  • Historic Spanish Point
  • Phillippi Estate Park and Edson Keith Mansion
  • The Hermitage
  • The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art
  • Towles Court Downtown Sarasota

  • Cultural Events/Festivals:
  • Five Points Theater District
  • Sarasota Ballet
  • Sarasota Film Festival
  • Sarasota Opera
  • Sarasota Orchestra
  • Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
  • Venice Theatre

  • Enterprise Florida, Inc. 800 North Magnolia Avenue, Suite 1100 Orlando, Florida 32803 Phone 407-956-5600 Fax(407)956-5599
    Visit us on the World Wide Web: http://www.eflorida.com