"Zarazote" (Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice: transplants, real estate, home)

[Sunshine Rules]

"Zarazote" Do you know that is the original name of Sarasota from 1763? It meant a place for dancing.
However, Sarasota didn't officially become a town until 1902, with a population of 53 residents. At that time Sarasota & Manatee counties were joined, as one large region, and would remain so for the next 2 decades.

Sarasota’s first real estate developer, J.H. Gillespie, arrived in Sarasota in 1886. He came at his father's request to help develop 50,000 acres of land for approximately 60 Scottish families who had bought into what could be called the first planned development in Sarasota, called Ormiston Colony. He also became the first mayor of Sarasota once the town was incorporated.

Gillespie built the very first golf course in Florida, which was also the second golf course in the United States in 1904. It was located on Links Ave.

In 1902 the railroad came to Sarasota, building the first bridge across the Manatee River.

Communities, such as Overtown, Bay Haven, Indian Beach, Shell Beach, The Uplands, Bee Ridge and Fruitville were developed.

John & Mable Ringling, of circus fame, started spending winters in the area as of 1911 and eventually bought land for a winter home for themselves and also land for a winter location for the circus. Did you know Ringling street in Sarasota is named for Charles Ringling, not his brother John? Charles at that time was very invested in local government as well as owning a local bank.

During this time period City Island was created -- it was built from soil excavated from a business venture to make a shipping port for business where Centennial Park is now located. The port was never very successful (thank goodness).

The first big land boom was in the 1920's, when John Ringling tried to change the city into a resort town to rival those along the East Coast of Florida. Ringling planned for casinos, bayside mansions, yacht basins and resorts.

Of course we all know what happened in the late 1920's.

Another interesting fact: Sarasota's city limits went from 2 square miles when founded, to 67 square miles in 1925 to just 17 square miles in 1926 as a means of saving money after bonds issues by the city began failing.

From 1927 until 1959 the Ringling Circus had their winter headquarters in Sarasota. In 1959 they moved the headquarters to Venice.

Sarasota experienced it's next big population expansion starting in the 1950's. Subdivisions were popping up away from the city limits of Sarasota, creating the start of urban sprawl.


So we here could easily be called Zarazotans now if not for the name change somewhere along the way from 1763 to 1902.

[Eda_Pimentel]

Yes, many of us know our own history. Newcomers generally don't, or don't bother for whatever reason.


One of the biggest Lack of Knowledge that I see and hear even now, is that transplants don't know that there was no such thing as Sarasota, or Sarasota County. It was ALL Manatee County in the first place. The second biggest Lack of Knowledge that I see and hear and read even now, and on a continuum is that they call (name) every town, city, unincorporated land in Manatee County, "Bradenton", which is a total lack of regard for the truth, thus perpetuating ignorance. I hear this nonsense almost daily.


Heck, if they can't figure out the truth of even where they choose to buy a house, I have little expectation that they will appreciate that Sarasota was called "Zarasota" from a historical perspective, when many can not appreciate the correct nomenclature of the Present Day geo-political environment.


I do appreciate your contribution however.

[Claudiahansen]

That is really interesting, @Sunshine Rules!

[Sunshine Rules]

Originally Posted by Claudiahansen

That is really interesting, @Sunshine Rules!

Thanks for the positive feedback.

[beach43ofus]

Here's a detailed article about the possible origins of the word "Sarasota":

New Theories of the Origin of the Name Sarasota | Sarasota History Alive!

The Columbian neighborhood called Zarazota sounds like a plausible explanation, but so does DeSoto's daughter named Sarah, plus Soto combined to make Sara Desoto, later morphing into Sarasota.

The Calusa indians had no such word in their language, so the word is unlikely to come from Native Americans.