County Demographics and Statistics

Sarasota County is located in the southwestern part of the Florida peninsula on the Gulf of Mexico, between Manatee and Charlotte counties. Our economy is largely service-oriented, driven by tourism and the migration of retirees, with the major industries including:

• Health care
• Retail trade
• Hospitality

The 2018 county population is estimated to be approximately 417,000 permanent residents. During the winter months, however, the local population can increase to over 500,000.

Sarasota County Summary Statistics

Source: Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research, 2018 (Resident Population). All other values: U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates

Featured Story Map

Take a tour of 1974 with Sarasota County's new swipe map! The interactive story map allows you to explore how Sarasota County's landscape has changed since 1974, a time when the county's population was at 158,000 residents (versus over 417,000 today).  

View the story map here.

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