MYTH OF SARASOTA: THAT IT IS A BOOM TOWN, HOT BED OF GROWTH

If you look at the construction cranes and new apartments, hotels and condominiums in downtown Sarasota, you easily could reach the conclusion Sarasota is a boom town.

But let’s put things in historical perspective. 

Take a look at the accompanying population data. On a 40-year timeline, Sarasota County, the city of Sarasota and Longboat Key have been the slowest growing places on the Gulf Coast of Florida south of Tampa Bay.

While Florida has added a net increase of 12.7 million people, the city of Sarasota’s population has increased by only 2,842 — a meager 5% growth rate over 40 years. Longboat Key actually has declined in population. And Sarasota County as a whole has lagged behind all of its neighboring counties in terms of percentage growth. Moral of the story: Regulatory policies matter.