Sarasota metropolitan area

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, and the CSA was renamed to the North Port–Bradenton CSA. Lakewood Ranch was also added as a principal city within the MSA. ==Demographics==

{{US Census population Counties Cities Largest cities The following is a list of the five largest cities in the Sarasota metropolitan area as ranked by population.5,000--> Other cities and towns Census designated places The following is a list of census-designated places (CDPs) ranked by population. CDPs in the combined statistical area are included. ==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 ==See also==