Siesta Key, Florida

Siesta Key, Florida
Census-designated place
Red Lifeguard Stand at Siesta Key Beach
Location in Sarasota County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 27°16′31″N 82°33′9″W
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Sarasota
Area
• Total	3.5 sq mi (9.0 km2)
• Land	2.4 sq mi (6.1 km2)
• Water	1.1 sq mi (2.9 km2)
Elevation	3 ft (1 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	6,565
• Density	2,775/sq mi (1,071.5/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	34242
Area code	941
FIPS code	12-66000
GNIS feature ID	1802950

Siesta Key is a barrier island off the southwest coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is situated between Roberts Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. A portion of it lies within the city boundary of Sarasota, but the majority of the key is a census-designated place (CDP) in Sarasota County. After the probable Amerindian name of Zarazote for the area and the bay, the key was originally named "Sarasota Key" by European cartographers during exploration beginning in 1513. That name can be seen on maps from the early 18th century as well as on all local maps drawn before the name change to "Siesta Key" in the 1920s. The population was 6,565 at the 2010 census.

Siesta Key is made up of four main districts: Siesta Beach, Crescent Beach, Turtle Beach, and Siesta Key Village.

Siesta Key is part of the Bradenton–Sarasota–Venice Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.0 km²), of which 2.4 square miles (6.1 km²) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.9 km²), or 32.08%, is water. It contains a suburban residential area located on the Siesta Key barrier island on the West coast of Florida, just west of the town of Sarasota. The community on Siesta Key consists of single family homes, condominiums, retail shops and art galleries.

Beaches

Beaches on Siesta Key include Siesta Beach, Crescent Beach, and Turtle Beach. In 2018 the beaches have been impacted by an algae drift known as red tide. This has made the beach unusable for several days at a time. Several tons of dead fish have washed ashore on the beach at various times. In the past, the cycle of red tide has lasted up to eighteen months.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1970	4,460		—
1980	7,010		57.2%
1990	7,772		10.9%
2000	7,150		−8.0%
2010	6,565		−8.2%
source:

Turtle Beach

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,150 people, 3,783 households, and 2,273 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,120.1 people per square mile (1,205.5/km²). There were 7,885 housing units at an average density of 3,440.9/sq mi (1,329.4/km²). There were 3,783 households out of which 9.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were married couples living together, 3.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.89 and the average family size was 2.34.

In the CDP, the population was spread out with 9.0% under the age of 18, 1.8% from 18 to 24, 15.6% from 25 to 44, 33.9% from 45 to 64, and 39.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 60 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $66,397, and the median income for a family was $81,345. Males had a median income of $55,240 versus $32,263 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $53,290. About 3.0% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

Notable regular visitors to Siesta Key include Dick Vitale

See also

• Mary Rockwell Hook

References

• Explore Sarasota and Vicinity, Kenneth F. Tricebock, copyright 1988

External links

• Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce
• Sarasota County government