North Port
cityNorth Port is a growing city located in Sarasota County, Florida, situated between Tampa and Fort Myers. As a principal city in the Sarasota metropolitan area, it offers a blend of suburban living with access to natural attractions. The population was 74,793 at the 2020 census, and recent estimates place it over 100,000. North Port's economy is diverse, with major employment sectors including healthcare, construction, and retail trade. The city is also the spring training home of the Atlanta Braves, contributing to its economic profile. The city government is focused on sustainable growth, investment, and development to diversify the economy and provide local employment opportunities. What makes North Port distinctive is its combination of natural features like Warm Mineral Springs and Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, along with a growing sense of community. The city's history includes pre-Columbian Native American settlements, and its development as a master-planned community by the General Development Corporation in the 1950s. North Port continues to evolve, balancing growth with quality of life for its residents.
North Port, Florida
- Classification
- City
- FIPS Code
- 12-49675
- Country
- United States
- County
- Sarasota
- Region
- Southwestern Florida
- Elevation
- 16 ft
- Total Area
- 104.21 sq mi
- Land Area
- 99.38 sq mi
- Water Area
- 4.83 sq mi
- Latitude
- 27.06611
- Longitude
- -82.18861
- Climate
- North Port has a humid subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. The average temperature ranges from 50°F in January to 93°F in July.
- Notable Features
- Warm Mineral Springs · Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park · Little Salt Spring
- Neighboring Areas
- Port Charlotte · Sarasota · Venice · Englewood
- Population (2020)
- 74,793
- Est. Population (2026)
- 101,564
- Median Age
- 49.3
- Median Income
- $84,049
- Poverty Rate
- 6.69%
- Owner-Occupied
- 80.9%
- Racial & Ethnic Composition
- In 2024, North Port was 77.3% White, 12.7% Hispanic, and 4% Black.
- Government Type
- Commission-Manager
- Governing Body
- City Commission
- School District
- Sarasota County Schools
- Municipal Services
- Police · Fire · Public Works · Utilities · Parks & Recreation
- Unemployment Rate
- 4.7%
- Economic Profile
- Residential · Suburban · Commercial
- Employment Sectors
- Health Care & Social Assistance · Construction · Retail Trade
- Major Employers
- Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (future) · Atlanta Braves (Spring Training)
- Students
- 45,000
- School Districts
- Sarasota County Schools
- Colleges & Universities
- Suncoast Technical College · State College of Florida-Manatee-Sarasota (nearby)
- Transportation
- US 41 · Interstate 75 · Public Transportation · Private Car Services
- Utilities
- Municipal Water · Wastewater Services · Broadband
- Major Facilities
- Warm Mineral Springs Park · North Port Aquatic Center · Sarasota Memorial Hospital (planned)
- Outdoor Access
- Yes
- Major Recreation Areas
- Myakka State Forest · Warm Mineral Springs Park · Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park
- Parks & Trails
- City Parks · Trail Systems · Myakkahatchee Creek Greenway Nature Trail
- Incorporated
- 1959
- Named After
- Originally named North Port Charlotte, as the northern Sarasota County portion of the Port Charlotte development
- Historical Significance
- Evolved from a planned community to a growing city with a focus on balancing development and natural resources
- Key Events
- Pre-Columbian Native American settlements · 1950s: Development by General Development Corporation (GDC) · 1959: Incorporated as North Port Charlotte · 1974: Name changed to North Port · 2022: Impacted by Hurricane Ian