Sarasota is a city located on the central west coast of Florida, USA. Its official limits include Sarasota Bay and several barrier islands between the bay and the Gulf of Mexico. These islands (known as keys) include Siesta Key, Lido Key, and Longboat Key and are famous worldwide for the quality of their beaches. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Sarasota had a population of 54,349 in 2004.

Sarasota currently has the city manager and council style of city government. Sarasota is a principal of the Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the county seat for Sarasota County.