Sarasota County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2010 census, the population was 379,448. Its county seat is Sarasota, and its largest city is North Port. A majority (over 60%) of Sarasota County's residents live in unincorporated areas outside of its four municipalities.Sarasota County is included in the North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.HistorySarasota County was created in 1921. After acquisition by the United States as a territory and once Florida obtained state status, the area now included in the county had been governed by Hillsborough County, then Manatee County as the state was divided into smaller and smaller governmental organizations. Manatee County was carved up to allow the creation of three more counties as well.Although the name was associated with the area from the beginning of European contacts the origin of the name, Sarasota, is unknown. Some believe a fanciful story created for a popular early twentieth-century pageant held in Sarasota, that it was named after the daughter of famous explorer Hernando de Soto's daughter Sara.According to the Florida League of Cities, the name first appeared in print as "Zarazote" on a 1763 land grant map.
