Misplaced Pages

North Port, Florida
City
The North Port Public Library
SealLogo
Etymology: Shortened form of North Port Charlotte
Motto: "Achieve Anything"
Location in Sarasota County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 27°3′58″N 82°10′19″W / 27.06611°N 82.17194°W / 27.06611; -82.17194
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Sarasota
Incorporated (City of North Port Charlotte)	June 18, 1959 (1959-06-18)
Reincorporated (City of North Port)	1974
Government
• Type	Commission-Manager
• Mayor	Phil Stokes
• Vice Mayor	Pete Emrich
• Commissioners	Barbara Langdon, Demetrius Petrow, and David Duval
• City Manager	Alfred Jerome Fletcher, II
• City Clerk	Heather Faust
Area
• City	104.21 sq mi (269.91 km)
• Land	99.38 sq mi (257.39 km)
• Water	4.83 sq mi (12.52 km)  4.40%
Elevation	10 ft (3 m)
Population
• City	74,793
• Estimate	85,099
• Density	752.60/sq mi (290.58/km)
• Urban	199,998 (US: 194th)
• Urban density	1,484.8/sq mi (573.3/km)
• Metro	859,760 (US: 70th)
• CSA	1,089,011 (US: 56th)
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (EDT)
ZIP codes	34286-34291, 34293
Area codes	941
FIPS code	12-49675
GNIS feature ID	0294334
Website	cityofnorthport.com

North Port is a city located in Sarasota County, Florida, United States. The population was 74,793 at the 2020 US Census, up from 57,357 at the 2010 US Census. It is a principal city in the North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

It was originally developed by General Development Corporation (GDC) as the northern Sarasota County portion of its Port Charlotte development, the other portion located in the adjacent Charlotte County. GDC dubbed the city, "North Port Charlotte", and it was incorporated under that name through a special act of the Florida Legislature on June 18, 1959. By referendum in 1974, the city's residents approved a change to its name as "North Port", dropping "Charlotte" from its name to proclaim the city as a separate identity. It is home to the Little Salt Spring, an archaeological and paleontological site owned by the University of Miami.

History

Archaeological digs at the Little Salt Spring show that what is now North Port was inhabited by pre-Columbian Native Americans. Evidence of their existence includes projectile points, a carved oak mortar, and a piece of a nonreturnable wooden boomerang.

In 1954, the Mackle Brothers started the General Development Corporation with the intention of selling property in Florida to northerners. Not only would they plat and sell a majority of what is now North Port, the company's employees served on the city's first council. The city itself was incorporated in 1959.

On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian made direct landfall in Florida just south of Sarasota County. North Port, in particular, experienced excessive flooding and the Holiday Park mobile home community was almost completely destroyed.

Geography

The approximate coordinates for the City of North Port is located at 27°3′58″N 82°10′19″W / 27.06611°N 82.17194°W / 27.06611; -82.17194.

North Port is a municipality containing large-scale residential subdivisions along with an extensive network of streets. The municipality has annexed nearby locales, including the area known as Warm Mineral Springs, the location of a notable artesian spring, as well as its own significant residential subdivision.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 104.16 square miles (269.8 km), of which 99.58 square miles (257.9 km) is land and 4.58 square miles (11.9 km) (4.40%) is water.

Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park is in North Port.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, the City of North Port has a humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 74,793 people, 25,592 households, and 19,716 families residing in the city.

Of the 25,592 households in 2020, 4.8% of the population were under 5 years old, 18.6% were under 18 years old, and 26.7% were 65 years and older. 52.5% of the population was female.

In 2020, the median income for a household in the city was $64,543. The per capita income for the city was $34,514. About 7.0% of people were below the poverty line.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 57,357 people, 20,201 households, and 14,018 families residing in the city.

Economy

North Port is the Spring Training home for the Atlanta Braves, who hold extended spring training in North Port.

Arts and culture

In 1960, the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum was opened in North Port. The opening ceremony included remarks from the then Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy. The museum has since relocated, first to Miami, and then to the present location in Titusville, Florida.

In 2007, the North Port Art Guild leased a building from the city and established the North Port Art Center. The center hosts exhibits as well as classes.

Government

North Port has a city commission/city manager form of government.

The current city manager is Alfred Jerome Fletcher, II. The city commission has five members. The mayor/vice mayor roles are voted upon annually from the commission ranks.

As of 2024, the current commission includes:

• Commissioner Demetrius Petrow (District 1)
• Commissioner Barbara Langdon (District 2)
• Commissioner David Duval (District 3)
• Vice Mayor Pete Emrich (District 4)
• Mayor Phil Stokes (District 5)

The city of North Port has its own police force, fire department, and waste management. City Hall of North Port is located at 4970 City Hall Boulevard.

Education

North Port has five elementary schools, one public charter school, two middle schools, one high school, and one college operated by Sarasota County Public Schools.

Public elementary schools

• Atwater Elementary School (K–5)
• Cranberry Elementary School (K–5)
• Glenallen Elementary School (K–5)
• Lamarque Elementary School (K–5)
• Toledo Blade Elementary School (K–5)

Public middle schools

• Heron Creek Middle School (6–8)
• Woodland Middle School (6–8)

Public high school

• North Port High School (9–12)

Charter school

• Imagine School at North Port (K–12)

Higher learning

• Suncoast Technical College

References

1. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
2. ^ City of North Port History Book
3. ^ City of North Port Charter, §1.02, City Ordinance 74-5
4. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
5. "List of 2020 Census Urban Areas". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
6. "North Port". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. October 19, 1979. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
7. ^ US Census Bureau. "US Census Bureau Quick Facts - North Port city, Florida". US Census Bureau Quick Facts. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
8. "North Port city, Florida". Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010; 2010 Demographic Profile Data. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020.
9. Milanich, Jerald T. (1994). Archaeology of Precolumbian Florida. Gainesville: University Press of Florida. p. 53. ISBN 9780813012728.
10. Grove, Marshall W. (2009). North Port : the first 50 years. North Port, Fla.: City of North Port. p. 17-19. ISBN 978-0976759461.
11. City of North Port History Book
12. Staff Report (September 17, 2021). "Archaeology, sprint training, but no port: Five things to know about North Port". Sarasota Herald Tribune. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
13. Licon, Adriana; Anderson, Curt (October 1, 2022). "After Ian, river flooding menaces Florida inland towns". Associated Press. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
14. "Draft Public Action Plan". www.scgov.net. Sarasota County. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
15. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
16. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - North Port city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
17. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - North Port city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
18. "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: North Port city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
19. ^ "QuickFacts North Port city, Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
20. "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: North Port city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
21. Murdock, Zack (January 24, 2017). "Atlanta Braves executives 'can't wait' to land in North Port stadium". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
22. Arenberg, Gerald (1965). "National Police Museum and Hall of Fame". American Bar Association Journal. 51 (2): 161–162. JSTOR 25723117. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
23. Yanez, Luisa (February 6, 1990). "POLICE HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM MOVES TO MIAMI". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
24. "American Police Hall of Fame & Museum". Retrieved May 16, 2022.
25. "Our Story". North Port Art Center. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
26. "City Commission | North Port, FL".
27. "City Services". City of North Port. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
28. "Contact us". City of North Port. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
29. North Port, FL : Education

External links

• City of North Port

v t e Municipalities and communities of Sarasota County, Florida, United States
County seat: Sarasota
Cities	North Port Sarasota Venice
Town	Longboat Key‡
CDPs	Bee Ridge Desoto Acres Desoto Lakes Englewood‡ Fruitville Gulf Gate Kensington Park Lake Sarasota Lakewood Ranch‡ Laurel The Meadows Nokomis North Sarasota Old Miakka Osprey Palmer Ranch Pinecraft Plantation Ridge Wood Heights Sarasota Springs Siesta Key Southgate South Gate Ridge South Sarasota South Venice Vamo Venice Gardens Warm Mineral Springs
Unincorporated communities	Hi Hat Ranch Manasota Verna‡ Wellen Park† Woodmere
Footnotes	†This populated place also has portions within the city limits of North Port, ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Florida portal United States portal

• North Port, Florida
• Cities in Sarasota County, Florida
• Sarasota metropolitan area
• Cities in Florida
• Ukrainian communities in the United States
• Populated places established in 1959
• 1959 establishments in Florida