History of Sarasota, Florida in Timeline

Sarasota, the county seat of Sarasota County, Florida, is a city located in Southwest Florida. Part of the Greater Tampa Bay Area, it sits north of Fort Myers and Punta Gorda. Sarasota's city limits encompass Sarasota Bay and several barrier islands situated between the bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The city is considered a principal city within the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area. As per the 2020 US census, Sarasota's population was recorded at 54,842, reflecting an increase from the 51,917 residents counted in the 2010 census.

October 14, 1902: Incorporation as a Town

Sarasota was officially incorporated as a town on October 14, 1902, with John Hamilton Gillespie serving as its first mayor.

1903: Sarasota Woman's Club Founded

The Sarasota Woman's Club was founded in 1903 to create a meeting place for social events, activities, and forums.

May 13, 1913: Transition to City Government

On May 13, 1913, Sarasota transitioned to a city form of government, and A.B. Edwards became the first mayor under the new system.

1913: Sarasota Becomes a City

In 1913, Sarasota's municipal government was officially incorporated, transitioning from a town to a city structure.

January 1, 1915: Sarasota Woman's Club Building Cornerstone Laid

The cornerstone for the Sarasota Woman's Club building, located at the corner of Palm Avenue and Park Street, was laid on January 1, 1915. The building served as the town's first library and hosted numerous clubs and public committee gatherings.

1921: Donation of the Sarasota Courthouse

Charles Ringling donated the Sarasota Courthouse, designed by Dwight James Baum, to the newly formed Sarasota County in 1921.

1921: Sarasota County Established

Sarasota was designated the county seat in 1921 when Sarasota County was formed from a portion of Manatee County.

1925: Edward Theatre Opens

A. B. Edwards constructed a theater in 1925 designed for both vaudeville acts and movie showings. The venue hosted famous performers like Sally Rand, Tommy Dorsey, Will Rogers, and Elvis Presley. Today, known as the Sarasota Opera House, the restored building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

1926: Real Estate Crash

The real estate boom that had significantly expanded Sarasota's city limits began to crash in 1926, causing the city limits to shrink to less than a quarter of their peak size.

1927: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Moves to Sarasota

John Ringling moved the winter quarters of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus to Sarasota in 1927.

1929: Lowe's Field Serves as Sarasota's Main Airport

Before the opening of Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, Lowe's Field functioned as the main airport for the Sarasota area from 1929 to 1941.

1931: Historic Asolo Theatre Dismantled

The Historic Asolo Theater, originally built in 1798 for Queen Caterina of Cyprus' palace in Asolo, Italy, was dismantled in 1931.

1937: Completion of the Municipal Auditorium

The Municipal Auditorium, designed by Thomas Reed Martin and Clarence A. Martin, was completed in 1937 as a WPA community project.

1937: Municipal Auditorium-Recreation Club Opens

The Municipal Auditorium-Recreation Club was built in 1937 with funding from the Works Progress Administration, the municipal government, and local residents and business owners. It quickly became a hub for sports, entertainment, and recreation in Sarasota.

1941: Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport Opens

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), the major airport serving Sarasota and Manatee counties, officially opened in 1941.

1945: Commission-Manager Government Adopted

In 1945, the city of Sarasota transitioned to a commission-manager form of government. This structure comprises a five-person commission elected through popular vote.

1948: Establishment of the Tibbals Learning Center

The Tibbals Learning Center, part of the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, was established in 1948.

1949: Founding of the Florida West Coast Symphony

The Florida West Coast Symphony, now known as the Sarasota Orchestra, was founded in 1949 by Ruth Cotton Butler.

1951: Palm Tree Playhouse Opens

Originally the Park-Seventh Movie House, the building that would become the Gompertz Theatre was renamed the Palm Tree Playhouse in 1951.

1952: Premiere of "The Greatest Show on Earth"

Cecil B. DeMille filmed and premiered his movie "The Greatest Show on Earth," starring James Stewart, Charlton Heston, and Betty Hutton, in Sarasota in 1952.

1956: U.S. Sister City Program Launched

President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed the U.S. sister city program in 1956 as a citizen diplomacy initiative.

1957: Sarasota Ski-A-Rees Founded

The Sarasota Ski-A-Rees, an amateur water ski show team, was formed in 1957. They perform free weekly water ski shows for the public at Ken Thompson Park, seasonally.

1963: Sarasota Sister City Chapter Established

The Sarasota chapter of the U.S. sister city program was established in 1963.

1971: Seaboard Coast Line Ends Passenger Service to Sarasota

The Seaboard Coast Line's West Coast Champion, the last passenger train to service Sarasota, made its final stop at the company's depot in 1971.

1974: Christine Chubbuck Suicide

Sarasota made national news in 1974 when WWSB (then called WXLT) news anchor Christine Chubbuck tragically shot herself live on-air in July of 1974.

1976: Sarasota Woman's Club Building Saved From Demolition

The Sarasota Woman's Club building was saved from demolition in 1976 by Marian McKenna, a patron and supporter of the arts. She purchased the building and later sold it to Florida Studio Theatre.

1985: Keating Theatre on National Register

The Sarasota Woman's Club building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

1989: New Asolo Theatre Constructed

Architect Stuart Barger designed and oversaw the construction of a new Asolo Theater in 1989. It houses a rococo, historic Scottish theater previously known as the Dunfermline Opera House.

1993: Regal Cruise Line Begins Operations

Port Manatee welcomed a new cruise line, Regal Cruise Line, which began operations in 1993.

1998: First Sarasota Film Festival

The first Sarasota Film Festival, which showcases independent films, was held in 1998.

1998: Filming of "Great Expectations" and "Palmetto"

Two movies, "Great Expectations" directed by Alfonso Cuaron and "Palmetto" directed by Volker Schlondorff, were filmed in Sarasota in 1998.

April 18, 2003: Regal Cruise Line Seized

Regal Cruise Line, operating out of Port Manatee, was seized by U.S. Marshals on April 18, 2003, for lack of maintenance.

2003: Keating Theatre Renamed

After further renovations in 2003, the former Sarasota Woman's Club building, then used as a theatre, was renamed the Keating Theatre.

2003: Gompertz Theatre Purchased by FST

Florida Studio Theatre purchased the Gompertz Theatre in 2003. The building was originally the Park-Seventh Movie House in the 1920s.

2003: Filming of "Out of Time"

The crime drama "Out of Time," starring Denzel Washington and Eva Mendes, filmed scenes at the Blackburn Point Bridge, Boca Grande, and Cortez in 2003.

2004: Bea Friedman Room Added

In 2004, the Keating Theatre expanded its lobby space with the addition of the Bea Friedman Room.

2005: Sarasota Marathon Begins

The inaugural Sarasota Marathon took place in 2005.

2006: Sarasota School Board Approves Demolition of Riverview High School

The Sarasota County School Board voted to demolish Paul Rudolph's Riverview High School in 2006, despite community opposition.

March 2007: National Trust for Historic Preservation Charrette

A charrette organized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation proposed an innovative plan to preserve Riverview High School in March 2007.

June 2008: Final Decision to Demolish Riverview High School

The Sarasota School Board made the final decision to demolish Riverview High School in June 2008.

2008: Riverview High School Added to World Monuments Fund Watch List

The World Monuments Fund added Riverview High School to its list of the 100 Most Endangered Sites in 2008.

June 2009: Demolition of Riverview High School

Riverview High School was demolished in June 2009.

2009: Founding of the Sarasota Improv Festival

The Sarasota Improv Festival, founded by Rebecca Hopkins, debuted in 2009, bringing together improvisational performers from around the world.

2009: Premiere of the Ringling International Arts Festival

The first Ringling International Arts Festival premiered and held its closing event at the historic Asolo Theater in 2009.

2010: 2010 Census - Households and Families

According to the 2010 United States census, Sarasota was home to 22,775 households and 11,603 families.

2010: Sarasota Marathon Becomes Half Marathon

Due to declining sponsorship and registration, the Sarasota Marathon transitioned into a half marathon in 2010. The race starts and finishes near the John and Mable Ringling Museum.

2010: 2010 US Census

The 2010 United States census recorded Sarasota's population at 51,917.

2010: Baltimore Orioles Begin Spring Training at Ed Smith Stadium

The Baltimore Orioles began holding spring training at Sarasota's Ed Smith Stadium in 2010. The Orioles also established minor league facilities at the Buck O'Neil Baseball Complex in Twin Lakes Park.

2010: Sarasota Chalk Festival Becomes International

The Sarasota Chalk Festival, held annually in Burns Square, became the first international street painting festival in the United States in 2010.

2010: First Harvey Milk Festival

The inaugural Harvey Milk Festival, advocating for civil rights and focusing on the LGBTQ community, took place in 2010.

2013: Filming of "Parker" at Ca' d'Zan

Scenes for the action movie "Parker," starring Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez, were filmed at the Ca' d'Zan mansion in Sarasota in 2013.

2013: Sarasota Thunder Forms

The Sarasota Thunder, an indoor football team intended to play in the Ultimate Indoor Football League, was established in 2013 but unfortunately folded soon after.

2013: Whiskey Obsession Festival Established

The Whiskey Obsession Festival, the largest of its kind in Florida, was established in Sarasota in 2013. The festival showcases hundreds of whiskies from around the globe and features professional brand ambassadors and distillers who participate in panel discussions, classes, and tastings.

2014: Sarasota Chalk Festival Moves to Venice

In 2014, the Sarasota Chalk Festival was moved to Venice, FL, although it retained its original name.

2014: Sarasota Hosts World Cup Final

Sarasota had the honor of hosting the modern pentathlon World Cup Final in 2014.

June 2015: USRowing's Youth National Championship Regatta at Nathan Benderson Park

Nathan Benderson Park hosted USRowing's Youth National Championship Regatta in June 2015.

2016: U.S. Olympic Rowing Team Trials at Nathan Benderson Park

Nathan Benderson Park was chosen as the venue for the trials of the men's and women's U.S. rowing teams for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

June 2017: Filming of "KillRoy Was Here"

Director Kevin Smith shot his film "KillRoy Was Here" in Sarasota in June 2017.

October 1, 2017: World Rowing Championships at Nathan Benderson Park

The World Rowing Championships took place at Nathan Benderson Park's specialized rowing course from September 23 to October 1, 2017.

2017: The Circus Arts Conservatory at the Smithsonian Folk Festival

The Circus Arts Conservatory, home to Circus Sarasota and Sailor Circus, participated in the Smithsonian Folk Festival in 2017.

2017: Sarasota Ski-A-Rees Win National Championship

The Sarasota Ski-A-Rees achieved a significant milestone in 2017 by winning the National Show Ski Championships.

2018: NCAA Women's Rowing National Championship at Nathan Benderson Park

The NCAA women's rowing national championship, encompassing Divisions I, II, and III, was held at Nathan Benderson Park in 2018.

December 2019: Opening of the Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College

A former Sarasota High School building, renovated at a cost of $30 million, opened as the Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College in December 2019.

2020: Education Levels

Data from 2020 showed that 90.0% of Sarasota's population aged 25 and above had completed high school. Furthermore, 37.2% of the same demographic held at least a bachelor's degree.

2020: Veteran and Foreign-Born Population

In 2020, Sarasota was home to 4,056 veterans. Additionally, 16.7% of the city's population were individuals born outside of the United States.

2020: Housing and Technology Access

In 2020, the median gross rent in Sarasota was $1,177. Notably, 92.5% of households possessed a computer, and 84.2% had a broadband internet subscription.

2020: Income and Poverty

In 2020, the median household income in Sarasota was $56,093, while the per capita income reached $43,387. However, a concerning 15.6% of the population lived below the poverty line.

2020: 2020 US Census

The 2020 U.S. census recorded Sarasota's population at 54,842, an increase from the 51,917 residents counted in 2010.

2020: U.S. Olympic Rowing Team Trials at Nathan Benderson Park

The trials for the men's and women's U.S. rowing teams for the 2020 Summer Olympics were held at Nathan Benderson Park.

2021: Rowing Events at Nathan Benderson Park

Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota hosted several significant rowing events in 2021, including USRowing's Youth National Championship Regatta and the NCAA women's rowing national championship for Divisions I, II, and III.

2021: U-18 Baseball World Cup

Sarasota and Bradenton jointly hosted the U-18 Baseball World Cup in 2021.

2022: Release of "KillRoy Was Here"

Kevin Smith's film "KillRoy Was Here," shot in Sarasota, was released in 2022.

2022: Rowing Events at Nathan Benderson Park

Nathan Benderson Park continued to be a hub for rowing in 2022, hosting USRowing's Youth National Championship Regatta and the NCAA women's rowing national championship for Divisions I, II, and III.

2023: USRowing's Youth National Championship Regatta at Nathan Benderson Park

Nathan Benderson Park hosted USRowing's Youth National Championship Regatta in 2023.

2023: Sarasota Paradise Football Club Founded

The Sarasota Paradise, an amateur USL League Two soccer team, was founded in 2023. The team plays its home games at Charlie Cleland Stadium at Ihrig Field.