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Sarasota County, Florida

65 topographic sheets cover 60 settlements here, and 103 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

103 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Florida within the United States
Sarasota County within Florida

What the record shows

  • 794 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 103 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 79 buildings, 19 districts, 4 sites and 1 structure.
  • 2 of the 103 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 60 populated places in this county; 60 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

103

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
American National Bank Buildingbuilding199898001154
Appleby Buildingbuilding200101000683
Armada Road Multi-Family Districtdistrict198989002049
William Martin Armistead Housebuilding200909000165
Atlantic Coast Line Passenger Depotbuilding198484000957
Bacheller-Brewer Model Home Estatedistrict199291002034
Bacon and Tomlin, Inc.building198484003829
Bay Haven Schoolbuilding198484003832
Bee Ridge Woman's Clubbuilding199595000052
Frank and Matilda Binz Housebuilding199494000736
Bispham-Wilson Historic Districtdistrict200202001010
Blackburn Point Bridgestructure200101000290
Blalock Housebuilding198989000235
Bryson-Crane Housebuilding200505000501
Burns Court Historic Districtdistrict198484003830
Burns Realty Company-Karl Bickel Housebuilding198787000196
William J. Burns Housebuilding199797000248
Waters and Elsa Burrows Historic Districtdistrict201211001077
Ca d' Zanbuilding198282001039
Casa Del Marbuilding199797000051
Central-Cocoanut Historic Districtdistrict200505000599
Chidsey Librarybuilding201111000241
City Waterworksbuilding198484003831
Corrigan Housebuilding199494000528
Crisp Buildingbuilding200000000388
F.A. DeCanizares Housebuilding198484003833
DeMarcay Hotelbuilding198484003834
Downtown Sarasota Historic Districtdistrict200909000183
Eagle Point Historic Districtdistrict199191001448
Earle Housebuilding199393000908
Edgewood Historic Districtdistrict198989002048
Edwards Theatrebuilding198484003835
El Patio Apartmentsbuilding199393000390
El Vernona Apartments-Broadway Apartmentsbuilding198484003836
El Vernona Hotel-John Ringling Hotelbuilding198787000197
Field Estatebuilding198686001238
Frances-Carlton Apartmentsbuilding198484003837
Dr. Joseph Halton Housebuilding198484003838
Harding Circle Historic Districtsite200100001650
Hermitage-Whitney Historic Districtdistrict200202001261
Hotel Venicebuilding198484000961
House at 507 Jackson Drivebuilding199898000060
House at 710 Armada Road Southbuilding198989001073
John Nolen Plan of Venice Historic Districtdistrict201010000840
Johnson Chapel Missionary Baptist Churchbuilding199797001218
Johnson-Schoolcrafy Buildingbuilding199696001522
Edson Keith Estatedistrict199191000282
Dr. Walter Kennedy Housebuilding199494000349
S.H. Kress Buildingbuilding198484003839
Lamolithic Historic Districtdistrict2025100012256
Laurel Park Historic Districtdistrict200808000164
Hilton Leech House and Amagansett Art Schoolbuilding199595000732
Charles E. Leigh Housebuilding2019100003412
Lemon Bay Woman's Clubbuilding198888001150
Levillain-Letton Housebuilding198989000234
Little Salt Springssite197979000692
Maine Colony Historic Districtbuilding200505001118
Manasota Beach Club Historic Districtdistrict2023100008818
Markowitz Housebuilding2022100007477
Miakka School Housebuilding198686001458
Municipal Auditorium-Recreation Clubbuilding199595000164
Newtown Historic Districtdistrict2024100010223
Lucienne Nielsen Housebuilding200707000163
Nokomis Beach Pavilionbuilding201313000320
Osprey Schoolbuilding199494000707
Out of Door Schoolbuilding199494001276
Overtown Historic Districtdistrict200202000781
Christy Payne Mansionbuilding199898001201
Capt. W. F. Purdy Housebuilding198484003840
L.D. Reagin Housebuilding198484000111
Leonard Reid Housebuilding200202000780
Revere Quality Institute Housebuilding200807001200
Rigby's La Plaza Historic Districtdistrict199494000373
Rosemary Cemeterysite200303001143
Roth Cigar Factorybuilding198484003841
Paul Rudolph Sarasota High School Additionbuilding201212000365
Sanderling Beach Clubbuilding199494000618
Sarasota County Chamber of Commerce Buildingbuilding2020100005395
Sarasota County Courthousebuilding198484003842
Sarasota Garden Centerbuilding2022100007394
Sarasota Herald Buildingbuilding198484003843
Sarasota High Schoolbuilding198484003844
Sarasota Times Buildingbuilding198484003845
Sarasota Woman's Clubbuilding198585000087
George Schueler Housebuilding199797001170
Scott Commercial Buildingbuilding201614001116
South Side Schoolbuilding198484003846
Southwick-Harmon Housebuilding200101001180
St. Paul Lutheran Churchbuilding2024100010494
Thoms Housebuilding199494000666
Triangle Innbuilding199696000175
U.S. Post Office-Federal Buildingbuilding198484003847
Umbrella Housebuilding2019100003417
Valencia Hotel and Arcadebuilding199494001303
Venezia Park Historic Districtdistrict198989002047
Venice Depotbuilding198989001072
Warm Mineral Springssite197777000408
Warm Mineral Springs Building Complexbuilding2019100004352
Warm Mineral Springs Motelbuilding201312001255
J. G. Whitfield Estatebuilding198585002177
H.B. William Housebuilding198484003848
Dr. C. B. Wilson Housebuilding198484003849
Worth's Blockbuilding199898000651

Photographs from libraries nationwide

21 of 111 shown

Selected from the Digital Public Library of America's 111 image records catalogued for this county. Every one shown here carries a public-domain status or a licence that permits reuse on a site that carries advertising; non-commercial, share-alike and restricted images are excluded. The selection is spread across the county's towns (at most eight per town), so no single institution's bulk upload crowds out the rest. Each opens the holding library's record, and the complete set at the Digital Public Library of America is one click away.

Aerial view of Sarasota, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Aerial view of Sarasota, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Inner court of Ringling Museum, Sarasota, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Inner court of Ringling Museum, Sarasota, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
New-Pass Fishing Camp, (Longboat Key), Sarasota, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
New-Pass Fishing Camp, (Longboat Key), Sarasota, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Edgewater Beach, (on the Gulf of Mexico), Longboat Key, Box 131, Route 5, Sarasota, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Edgewater Beach, (on the Gulf of Mexico), Longboat Key, Box 131, Route 5, Sarasota, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Royal Palm Lodge, North Tamiami Trail at 23rd St., (U.S. 41), Sarasota, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Royal Palm Lodge, North Tamiami Trail at 23rd St., (U.S. 41), Sarasota, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Pines Square Court, U.S. Route 41, Sarasota, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Pines Square Court, U.S. Route 41, Sarasota, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
"Gulf to Bay," Longboat Key, Sarasota, Florida, 12 miles of white sand beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, excellent fishing and boating on Sarasota bay, Boston Public Library - undated
"Gulf to Bay," Longboat Key, Sarasota, Florida, 12 miles of white sand beaches on the Gulf of Mexico, excellent fishing and boating on Sarasota bay. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Oakwood Motor Court, U.S. Route 41, Sarasota, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Oakwood Motor Court, U.S. Route 41, Sarasota, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
The greatest show on Earth unloading, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Boston Public Library - undated
The greatest show on Earth unloading, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Gulf Palms Motel, South Tamiami Trail U.S. 41, Venice, Florida (on the Gulf), Boston Public Library - undated
Gulf Palms Motel, South Tamiami Trail U.S. 41, Venice, Florida (on the Gulf). Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Estates Motor Lodge, Venice, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Estates Motor Lodge, Venice, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Sports fishermen, Venice (on the Gulf), Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Sports fishermen, Venice (on the Gulf), Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Cruiser, Tarpon Bar (for charter), Boston Public Library - undated
Cruiser, Tarpon Bar (for charter). Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Royal Coachmen Resort, luxury campground, P.O. Box 398, Venice, Florida 33595, Boston Public Library - undated
Royal Coachmen Resort, luxury campground, P.O. Box 398, Venice, Florida 33595. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Seminole Tourist Lodge, Boston Public Library - undated
Seminole Tourist Lodge. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Beach scene at Siesta Beach Pavilion, Siesta Key, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Beach scene at Siesta Beach Pavilion, Siesta Key, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Bay N'Gulf Cottages, (Manasota Key), Venice, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Bay N'Gulf Cottages, (Manasota Key), Venice, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Venice Motel, Venice, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Venice Motel, Venice, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
K.M.I. on parade at Venice, Boston Public Library - undated
K.M.I. on parade at Venice. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
K.M.I. on parade, Venice, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
K.M.I. on parade, Venice, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
The famous Venice Jetties, Venice, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
The famous Venice Jetties, Venice, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.

The county from the air

43 shown

Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 728 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 43 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-03-03, scale 1:28400
1952-03-03, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-03-03, scale 1:28400
1952-03-03, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-03-03, scale 1:28400
1952-03-03, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-03-03, scale 1:28400
1952-03-03, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1962-03-28, scale 1:24000
1962-03-28, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1962-03-28, scale 1:24000
1962-03-28, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1962-03-28, scale 1:24000
1962-03-28, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-01-28, scale 1:24000
1963-01-28, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-01-28, scale 1:24000
1963-01-28, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-01-28, scale 1:24000
1963-01-28, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1963-01-28, scale 1:24000
1963-01-28, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-10-14, scale 1:124783
1969-10-14, scale 1:124783. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-10-14, scale 1:124783
1969-10-14, scale 1:124783. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-12-06, scale 1:21000
1971-12-06, scale 1:21000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-12-06, scale 1:21000
1971-12-06, scale 1:21000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-12-06, scale 1:21000
1971-12-06, scale 1:21000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-01-15, scale 1:80000
1979-01-15, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1982-05-15, scale 1:12195
1982-05-15, scale 1:12195. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1982-05-15, scale 1:12195
1982-05-15, scale 1:12195. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1983-01-16, scale 1:14555
1983-01-16, scale 1:14555. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1983-01-16, scale 1:14555
1983-01-16, scale 1:14555. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 2004-08-20, scale 1:65200
2004-08-20, scale 1:65200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 2004-08-20, scale 1:65200
2004-08-20, scale 1:65200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-04-07, scale 1:60000
1950-04-07, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-04-07, scale 1:60000
1950-04-07, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-04-07, scale 1:60000
1950-04-07, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-04-07, scale 1:60000
1950-04-07, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-03-04, scale 1:28400
1951-03-04, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-03-04, scale 1:28400
1951-03-04, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-03-04, scale 1:28400
1951-03-04, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-03-04, scale 1:28400
1951-03-04, scale 1:28400. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1962-03-28, scale 1:24000
1962-03-28, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-10-14, scale 1:124783
1969-10-14, scale 1:124783. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-10-14, scale 1:124783
1969-10-14, scale 1:124783. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-12-06, scale 1:21000
1971-12-06, scale 1:21000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-01-15, scale 1:80000
1979-01-15, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-01-15, scale 1:80000
1979-01-15, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1979-01-15, scale 1:80000
1979-01-15, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1982-05-15, scale 1:12195
1982-05-15, scale 1:12195. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1982-05-15, scale 1:12195
1982-05-15, scale 1:12195. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1983-01-16, scale 1:14555
1983-01-16, scale 1:14555. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1983-01-16, scale 1:14555
1983-01-16, scale 1:14555. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 2004-08-20, scale 1:65200
2004-08-20, scale 1:65200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

66 stations, 28 gages

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.

The 1950 census, district by district

38 districts

Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.

  • 58-1Sarasota city, comprising Commissioner's District 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5: Sarasota city - That part in Commissioner's District 1 Bounded by Indian Beach Drive; Commissioner's District line, N. East Ave.; 18th; North Orange Ave.
  • 58-2Sarasota city - That part in Commissioner's District 1 Bounded by 18th; Washington Blvd., Seaboard Air Line Railroad, Washington Blvd.; Main, Osprey Ave., 9th; North Orange Ave.
  • 58-3Sarasota city - That part in Commissioner's District 1 Bounded by 18th; Shade Ave.; Sarapalmbee Trail, Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, Main; Washington Blvd.
  • 58-4Sarasota city - That part in Commissioner's District 1 Bounded by 18th, Lockwood Ridge Rd., Commissioner's District line; City limits; City limits, Commissioner's District line, Sarapalmbee Trail; Shade Ave.
  • 58-5Sarasota city - That part in Commissioner's District 2 Bounded by Sarapalmbee Trail; Commissioner's District line, City limits; Bahia Vista Ave.; Robert, Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
  • 58-6Sarasota city - That part in Commissioner's District 2, excluding Sarasota Terrace Hotel Bounded by Main; Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, Robert; Bahia Vista Ave.; Washington Blvd.
  • 58-7Sarasota Terrace Hotel (In Sarasota city, Commissioner's District 2)
  • 58-8Sarasota city - That part in Commissioner's District 2 Bounded by 9th, Osprey Ave., Main; Washington Blvd.; Oak; Pineapple, N. Lemon Ave.
  • 58-9AN/A
  • 58-9BN/A
  • 58-10John Ringling Hotel (In Sarasota city, Commissioner's District 2)
  • 58-11Orange Blossom Hotel (In Sarasota city, Commissioner's District 2)
  • 58-12Sarasota Hotel (In Sarasota city, Commissioner's District 2)
  • 58-13ASarasota city - That part in Commissioner's District 3 Bounded by Commissioner's District line, Hyde Park Blvd.; Washington Blvd., Goldenrod, Osprey Ave., North Dr., Sarasota Bay; City limits; Commissioner's District line
  • 58-13BSarasota city - That part in Commissioner's District 3 Bounded by North Dr., Osprey Ave., Goldenrod; Washington Blvd.; City limits; Commissioner's District line
  • 58-14ASarasota city - That part in Commissioner's District 4 Bounded by Pineapple, Main; Washington Blvd.; Prospect; Commissioner's District line
  • 58-14BSarasota city - That part in Commissioner's District 4 Bounded by Prospect; Washington Blvd.; Hyde Park Blvd., Commissioner's District line; Commissioner's District line
  • 58-15Sarasota city - That part in Commissioner's District 4 Bounded by Bahia Vista Trail; City limits; City limits; Washington Blvd.
  • 58-16Sarasota city - That part in Commissioner's District 5 Bounded by City limits; City limits; Myrtle Ave.; Tamiami Trail
  • 58-17Sarasota city - That part in Commissioner's District 5 Bounded by City limits; Tamiami Trail; Terminal Park, Commissioner's District line; City limits
  • 58-18BSarasota city - That part in Commissioner's District 5 Bounded by City limits; City limits; 33rd; Gillispie, Broadway, Pershing Ave. extended
  • 58-18ASarasota city - That part in Commissioner's District 5 Bounded by Myrtle Ave., City limits; Pershing Ave. extended, Broadway, Gillispie; Indian Beach Dr.; Tamiami Trail
  • 58-19Sarasota city - That part in Commissioner's District 5 Bounded by Indian Beach Drive; N. Orange Ave.; Terminal Park; Tamiami Trail
  • 58-20Sarasota city - That part in Commissioner's District 5 Bounded by City limits; City limits; Commissioner's District line, Lockwood Ridge Rd., 18th; N. East Ave., Commissioner's District line
  • 58-21Commissioner's District 1, outside Sarasota city: East Sarasota, unincorporated Bounded by Sugar Bowl Rd. extended, Sugar Bowl Rd.; Unnamed Rd., State Hwy. 780, Unnamed Rd., Unnamed Rd. extended; Commissioner's District line; Commissioner's District line, Sarasota city limits
  • 58-22Commissioner's District 1 - That part outside Sarasota city and the unincorporated place of East Sarasota. (See separate map for boundaries of East Sarasota) (Remainder of Commissioner's District 1 is in Sarasota city)
  • 58-23Bee Ridge, unincorporated, comprising Commissioner's District 2 and 4: Bee Ridge, unincorporated - That part in Commissioner's District 2 Bounded by State Hwy. 72, Unnamed Rd.; Unnamed Rd.; State Hwy. 782; Unnamed Rd. extended, Unnamed Rd., Unnamed street, Commissioner's District line
  • 58-24Bee Ridge, unincorporated - That part in Commissioner's District 4 Bounded by State Hwy. 72; Commissioner's District line; Unnamed street, Unnamed street extended; Unnamed stream
  • 58-25Commissioner's District 2 - That part, outside Sarasota city and the unincorporated place of Bee Ridge (See separate map for boundaries of Bee Ridge) (Remainder of Commissioner's District 2 is in Sarasota city and the unincorporated place of Bee Ridge)
  • 58-26N/A
  • 58-27Worthington Hotel and Apartments (In Venice city)
  • 58-28ACommissioner's District 3 - That part east of Sarasota Bay and north of Midnight Pass, outside Sarasota city
  • 58-28BCommissioner's District 3 - That part west of Sarasota Bay and north of unnamed creek, outside Sarasota city
  • 58-28CCommissioner's District 3 - That part east of Sarasota Bay, south of Midnight Pass and north of Venice city
  • 58-28DCommissioner's District 3 - That part south of unnamed creek and east of Sarasota city, outside Venice city
  • 58-29Commissioner's District 4, outside Sarasota city and the unincorporated place of Bee Ridge: Commissioner's District 4 - That part west of Miakka River and north and west of U.S. Hwy. 41 outside Sarasota city and the unincorporated place of Bee Ridge (See separate map for boundaries of Bee Ridge)
  • 58-30Commissioner's District 4 - That part. east of Miakka River and south and west of U.S. Hwy. 41 (Remainder of Commissioner's District 4 is in Sarasota city and the unincorporated place of Bee Ridge)
  • 58-31Commissioner's District 5 - That part outside Sarasota city (Remainder of Commissioner's District 5 is in Sarasota city)

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

2,008 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 2,008 of them, burning about 45,510 acres. 768 started naturally and 159 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Natural768
Equipment and vehicle use432
Missing data/not specified/undetermined300
Arson/incendiarism159
Misuse of fire by a minor130
Debris and open burning61
Railroad operations and maintenance57
Recreation and ceremony53
Fireworks18
Power generation/transmission/distribution17
Smoking13

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
17 April 2001Missing data/not specified/undetermined5,932 acresFlorida Forest ServiceCARLTON 01
14 May 2000Natural5,837 acresFlorida Forest ServiceFLOWERS (CARLTON RESERVE)
13 May 2017Missing data/not specified/undetermined3,112 acresFlorida Forest ServiceRAINTREE BLVD 2 (58)
25 May 2012Debris and open burning1,674 acresFlorida Forest ServiceMYAKKA STATE PARK (58)
19 April 2001Equipment and vehicle use1,350 acresFlorida Forest Servicenot named
1 June 1999Natural900 acresFlorida Forest Servicenot named
21 March 2009Missing data/not specified/undetermined780 acresFlorida Forest Service58-BORDER RD FIRE-0225
5 June 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined662 acresFlorida Forest ServiceNORTH POWERLINE WETLAND (58)

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1951 to 2025

60 of 385 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 385 reports for this county, causing 7 deaths, 85 injuries and about $65,921,000 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind149
Tornado84
Hail48
Flood34
Lightning27
Heavy Rain11
Waterspout11
Flash Flood10
Wildfire6
Rip Current2
Funnel Cloud2
Dust Devil1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
March 1985Tornado (F3)not stated2 killed, 45 hurt, $25,000,000no account filed
June 2018LightningPine Shrs1 killed, 1 hurtA man and woman at the beach began to head for shelter as it started to rain. The man was struck by lightning, knocking back the woman back. The man was transported to a hospital, but was unable to be revived.
August 2017FloodLongboat Key1 killed, $50,000Heavy rain started to fall over Sarasota County on the 26th and continued through the 28th, with as much as 16 inches of rainfall. The highest rain totals were reported along the coast, with 14.74 inches falling in 3 days at the Sarasota/Bradenton Airport in Manatee County. This led to numerous reports of streets flooding across the area, mainly on the 26th through early morning on the 27th.||One fatality was reported in Sarasota County on the afternoon of the 27th, when a 73 year old man driving through a flooded parking lot at the dog track in Sarasota ended up in a drainage ditch and drowned inside the vehicle. A separate car also drove into the drainage ditch in the same parking lot, but was able to escape unharmed.
December 1998Thunderstorm WindVenice1 killed, $30,000A 77 year-old male died from the combined effects of a heart attack and hypothermia when his 21 foot fishing boat was overturned by two estimated 18-20 foot waves, approximately 10 miles southwest of Venice, Florida. The sudden and large waves were generated by estimated winds of 25 to 40 mph from a fast-moving cold front that extended from the Eastern Gulf of Mexico northeast across West Central Florida.
August 2016LightningNewton Hgts1 killedA 50 year old homeless woman was struck and killed by lightning. She was seeking shelter under a gazebo in the park.
July 2014LightningSouth Sarasota1 killedA 39 year old man was struck and killed by lightning while roofing a home near Siesta Key. The man was taken to a nearby hospital but was unable to be revived.
August 1987Tornado (F1)not stated6 hurt, $250,000no account filed
December 1971Tornado (F2)not stated5 hurt, $250,000no account filed
April 2005Thunderstorm WindVenice5 hurt, $10,000Video and eye witness reports suggested a wet microburst dropped near downtown Venice and produced light damage to 15 mobile homes in the Bay Indies and Ridgewood subdivisions, mostly to car ports and roofs. However, the winds blew out windows, caused five injuries, and sent patrons diving for cover under tables at a restaurant on the 500 block of East Venice Avenue. The Venice Fire Station Number 2 sustained roof damage and a training trailer behind the station was knocked on its side.
December 1971Tornado (F2)not stated3 hurt, $25,000no account filed
January 2016Tornado (EF2)Pine Shrs2 hurt, $12,000,000An NWS Storm Survey crew found damage to multiple homes and structures along the path of the tornado. One home on Siesta Key had the second floor collapse on to the first. Two people were injured in that home. The tornado was 350 yards wide as it came ashore on Siesta Key before narrowing to around 100 yards wide as it crossed the intercoastal waterways.
November 1968Tornado (F2)not stated2 hurt, $250,000no account filed
March 2022Tornado (EF1)Sarasota Beach1 hurt, $1,000,000Video of tornadno from Sarasota PD. Damage to roof at industrial building on 2100 block of 10th street causing 1 million dollars in damage to building and contents.
December 1978Tornado (F1)not stated1 hurt, $250,000no account filed
February 2001WildfireNorth Port1 hurt, $100,000no account filed
December 1958Tornado (F1)not stated1 hurt, $25,000no account filed
May 1998Thunderstorm WindEnglewood1 hurt, $12,000Thunderstorm winds of up to 45 mph produced five foot waves which capsized a fourteen foot boat and injured a man thrown overboard in Lemon Bay.
May 1998Thunderstorm WindSouth Venice1 hurt, $10,000A 23 year-old man trying to take down a flag suffered several broken bones when he was lifted and thrown 20 to 30 feet over the corner of a restaurants roof as he clung to the tethered line of the flagpole during a thunderstorm downburst.Thunderstorm winds also downed a large tree atop a home which caused roof, lanai and screen porch damage in Sarasota.
January 2009Thunderstorm WindRidge Wood Heights1 hurt, $1,000Several small tree limbs snapped, shopping carts were turned over and the awning of a grocery store was damaged in Sarasota. A woman pushing a shopping cart and holding an umbrella was knocked down while walking to her car. She was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.
July 2020LightningSiesta Key1 hurtA 14-year-old boy was struck in the chest by lightning while he and his family were walking from the beach to their hotel. The boy had numerous burns and a hole in his shoe where the lightning exited his body. He was put on a ventilator and did survive the strike. The family was on vacation from Houston.
July 2010LightningWarm Mineral Springs1 hurtA 45-year-old construction worker was struck by lightning while packing up his tools on a jobsite in North Port. The strike entered his right knee and exited his left foot. He suffered burns around the entrance and exit areas and was hospitalized.
June 2008LightningRidge Wood Heights1 hurtA 28 year old man was struck and injured by lightning while wade fishing in the Gulf off of Siesta Key.
May 2005LightningVenice1 hurtLightning struck near a construction worker and injured him while he worked with power tools in the rain.
June 2003LightningSarasota Beach1 hurtA Pennsylvania woman was struck by lightning while collecting shells at Turtle Beach on the south end of Siesta Key. The bolt struck the woman near her neck, blackened her face, and left her swimming suit in shreds. She was knocked unconscious and was in a coma for three days after the strike. Her husband was performing CPR when the ambulance arrived. He stated the storms and clouds were miles away and that this was a "bolt out of the blue".
June 2001LightningVenice1 hurtLightning struck a stopped postal mail delivery truck and slightly injured a 54 year old male postal mail carrier inside the vehicle on Guadeloupe Avenue in the Bay Indies community of Venice. The victim noted that rain had begun as he stopped to check a mailbox, and then felt the hair on his arms stand up prior to the lightning strike.
July 1999LightningSarasota1 hurtAn adult male was struck and injured by the sideflash of lightning which struck a nearby tree while attempting to exit his vehicle. Reported by WWSB-TV of Sarasota.
April 1998Rip CurrentSarasota1 hurtA 21 year-old male nearly drowned and was injured when caught in a rip current off the beach of Siesta Key. The injured swimmer was found face down in the water by rescuers who later resuscitated the rip current victim.
August 1996LightningSarasota1 hurtno account filed
June 2024FloodCoral Cove$10,000,000Sarasota County Emergency Management reported multiple cars partially inundated in flood waters with water also entering some business structures at the lowest levels in St Armands Circle. No injuries reported.
August 1973Tornado (F1)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
November 1997Flash FloodSarasota$2,300,000no account filed
June 2024FloodSarasota$750,000Multiple public reports received of an unknown number of stranded vehicles in flooded streets near downtown Sarasota.
August 2006LightningSarasota$550,000Lightning sparked a fire that destroyed a home on the 700 block of Shorecrest Drive.
March 1998Tornado (F1)Sarasota$500,000A tornado touched down at the Tuttle Elementary School at Brink Avenue north of County Road 780 (Fruitville Road) in Sarasota and severely damaged six classrooms, a portion of a portable dining room, downed a concrete wall and reduced a pavilion to a pile of rubble. Six additional classrooms incurred minor damage from the tornado before it lifted and dissipated. A few trees and large tree limbs were downed by the tornado before it lifted and dissipated.
March 1998Flash FloodSarasota$500,000Three to six inches of rain with isolated amounts up to ten inches fell over a large part of Sarasota county which caused the waters of the Philipi Creek along Greer and Gehardt Streets near County Road 773 to overflow its banks. Up to 45 homes were damaged by floodwaters of the Philipi Creek with damage estimated at one half million dollars.
June 1994Thunderstorm WindOsprey$500,000Thunderstorm winds did $100,000 damage mostly to the roof of a restaurant and to covers on adjacent marina.
June 2009Tornado (EF1)Hidden River$350,000The tornado touched down along Fruitville Road, snapping a few trees, and then traveled south into a plant farm. It tore two metal beams from the foundation of a metal building on the farm and then moved across a field of more than two dozen greenhouses, destroying or seriously damaging all but one. The tornado then continued south into a wooded area, where it damaged a few more trees before lifting. Winds were estimated around 95mph.
January 1999Tornado (F0)Venice$350,000A National Weather Service damage survey, in coordination with Sarasota Emergency Management officials, concluded that a tornado in the high end of the F0 range, first touched down in the Lazy River mobile home park along U.S. Highway 41 and the Myakka River. The tornado continued to move east southeast and sporadically touched down in the Harbor Cove, Lacasa, Harbor Isles and Holiday mobile home parks along and south of U.S. Highway 41 before it lifted and dissipated near the intersection of U.S. Highway 41 and Hikina Drive.The tornado caused moderate roof and structural damage to three weathered mobile homes and caused minor roof, porch, lanai and carport damage to an additional 300 mobile homes along its path. Also, a few large trees along the tornado path were snapped or toppled.
September 2016FloodLongboat Key$250,000Heavy rain from Hurricane Hermine fell across Sarasota County, with the three day total rainfall ranging from 4 to 7 inches. The highest rain accumulation recorded during the event was 6.88 inches at the CWOP station in South Sarasota. The rain caused widespread street flooding across the eastern half of the county, and flood waters caused some residents to evacuate from their homes in Sarasota. Total damage from flooding was roughly estimated at $250,000.
June 2012FloodWarm Mineral Springs$250,000The Myakka River reached flood stage on the 27th from heavy rains from Tropical Storm Debby. The flooding continued through the end of the month, ending with a level of 8.12 feet, or 1.12 feet above flood stage. ||The water flooded several homes in the Playmore neighborhood near US 41 west of North Port.
April 2000WildfireNorth Port$250,000Wildfires destroyed a fire truck, consumed a home, damaged an out building and burned over 300 acres of brush and scrub trees along U.S. Highway 41 and the Myakka River Bridge west of North Port.
January 1999Tornado (F0)Sarasota$250,000A National Weather Service damage survey concluded that a tornado touched downed at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron, 2.5 miles west of downtown Sarasota and toppled 34 boats on storage trailers. Ten of the boats sustained mast damage while most others received minor hull damage. The tornado continued across Sarasota Bay as a waterspout and moved east and onshore near the intersection of U.S. Highway 41 and Boulevard of the Arts in Sarasota. The tornado sporadically snapped tree limbs before it lifted and dissipated near the intersection of Seventh Street and Central in Sarasota.
January 1998FloodCountywide$250,000Heavy rains of four to five inches caused localized flooding of roadways and low lying areas. Several cars stalled and incurred water damage between U.S. Highways 41 and 301 in Sarasota.
September 1997Flash FloodSarasota$250,000no account filed
April 1988Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
July 1983Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
August 1981Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
January 1978Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
February 1970Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
November 1968Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
February 2006LightningVenice$230,000Lightning started an attic fire and destroyed a home on Sugarwood Way.
July 2021FloodWarm Mineral Springs$200,000Law enforcement and media reported road closures and 240 homes surrounded by water in North Port due to flooding. There was 2 to 4 feet of water in the streets. About a half of dozen vehicles were stranded in the water and required rescuing.
August 2003Flash FloodSarasota$200,000Three to five inches of rain in 80 minutes caused one foot of water to enter some Sarasota businesses on 17th Street between Euclid and Mango Avenues. The listed damage amount does not include inventory. Numerous vehicles were abandoned in the area due to the high water.
March 1998FloodSarasota$200,000The Myakka River at Myakka State Park crested at 10.57 feet on the 22nd, over three and a half feet above the flood stage of seven feet. Over 20 homes downstream were damaged from the floodwaters of the Myakka River.
February 1998FloodSarasota$200,000The Myakka River at Myakka State Park crested at 10.1 feet on the 20th, over three feet above the flood stage of seven feet. Over 20 homes downstream were damaged from floodwaters of the Myakka.
February 1998Tornado (F1)Venice$200,000A tornado touched down and blew over several large trees atop homes which caused significant roof damage along Bellini and Picasso Roads near Casey Key.A resident with an anemometer located 50 feet above ground level reported a wind gust of 109 mph at the 1800 block of Casey Key. Several power poles, wires, trees and chimneys were downed by the tornado before it lifted and dissipated.
June 1997LightningSarasota$185,000Lightning ignited a fire that destroyed 5,060 acres of scrub and brush, destroyed one home, partly damaged another and damaged several vehicles, along a four mile stretch of River Road between U.S. Highway 41 and State Road 776.
March 2017Thunderstorm WindOsprey$150,000Power lines were reported down at Tamiami Trail and MacEwen Drive in Osprey. Additionally, a member of the public reported that in a nearby neighborhood, The Oaks, 3 pool cages were destroyed, aluminum poles holding nets protecting tennis courts from a golf course were ripped out of the ground, a large palm tree was uprooted, and several other homes sustained minor unspecified damage. The damage appeared to follow a narrow path, and may have been caused by a gustnado.
March 2003Tornado (F0)Sarasota$150,000The National Weather Service storm survey found tornado and straight line wind damage with maximum winds estimated at 65 to 70 mph. The tornado damage began along 47th street near North Water Park and continued east to the Windmill Village North mobile home park. Seven permanent homes and 10 mobiles homes had shingle, carport, tree, and lanai damage.
March 2001Thunderstorm WindSarasota$150,000Utility company representatives reported that thunderstorm winds downed numerous large trees, branches and power lines from Sarasota east to the Interstate 75 corridor in Sarasota county.

Mines and quarries

19 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 19 workings inside this county. 12 still produce and 7 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Stone, Crushed/Broken4
Limestone, General4
Calcium3
Sand3
Phosphorus-Phosphates2
Sand and Gravel, Construction2
Uranium, Iron, Magnesite, Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite1
Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite, Iron, Magnesite, Uranium, Water, Free1
Dolomite1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Sarasota County Deposit No. 1Phosphorus-Phosphates, Uranium, Iron, Magnesite, Aluminum, Fluorine-FluoriteProspect1962
Sarasota County Deposit No. 2Phosphorus-Phosphates, Aluminum, Fluorine-Fluorite, Iron, Magnesite, Uranium, Water, FreeOccurrence
Sarasota Dolomite QuarryDolomiteOccurrence
Everglades Estates PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Newburn PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Dot Sarasota - Cow Pen Slough MineSandUnknownSand
General Development Corp. - County MineSandProducer
Laurel Pit Fla. Truck. & Excava.CalciumProducer
Myakka River Resources - Green MineSandUnknownSand
Pit Number 007CalciumProducer
Rigby PitCalciumProducer
Apac-Florida - Laurel Shell PitLimestone, GeneralProducerLimestone
Brown Road PitStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Deans Contracting - Section 35 MineLimestone, GeneralProducerLimestone
Everglades PitStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Hanchey MineStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Laurel PitStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Quality Aggregates - Richardson Rd. PitLimestone, GeneralProducerLimestone
Stephen T. Deans - Section 21 MineLimestone, GeneralProducerLimestone

Every populated place in the county

60

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.