North Port, Florida

North Port, Florida
City
North Port Public Library
North Port Public Library
Official seal of North Port, Florida
Seal
Official logo of North Port, Florida
Logo
Etymology: Shortened form of North Port Charlotte
Motto: 
"Achieve Anything"
Location in Sarasota County, Florida
Location in Sarasota County, Florida
North Port is located in Florida
North Port
North Port
Location within Florida
North Port is located in the United States
North Port
North Port
Location within the United States
Coordinates: 27°03′58″N 82°11′19″W / 27.06611°N 82.18861°W / 27.06611; -82.18861[5]
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountySarasota
Incorporated (City of North Port Charlotte)June 18, 1959 (1959-06-18)[1][2]
Reincorporated
(City of North Port)		1974[1][2]
Government
 • TypeCommission-Manager
Area
[3]
 • City
104.21 sq mi (269.91 km2)
 • Land99.38 sq mi (257.39 km2)
 • Water4.83 sq mi (12.52 km2)  4.40%
Elevation
[5]
16 ft (4.9 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City
74,793
 • Density752.6/sq mi (290.58/km2)
 • Urban
 (Port Charlotte–North Port, FL)
199,998 (US: 194th)[4]
 • Urban density1,484.8/sq mi (573.3/km2)
 • Metro
 (North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL MSA)
859,760 (US: 70th)
 • CSA
 (North Port-Sarasota, FL CSA)
1,089,011 (US: 56th)
Time zoneUTC−05:00 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−04:00 (EDT)
ZIP codes
34286-34291, 34293
Area codes941
FIPS code12-49675
GNIS feature ID2404398[5]
Websitenorthportfl.gov

North Port is a city in Sarasota County, Florida, United States. The population was 74,793 at the 2020 census.[6] It is a principal city in the Sarasota metropolitan 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.[1][2] It is home to the Little Salt Spring, an archaeological and paleontological site owned by the University of Miami.

North Port includes Wellen Park, a master-planned community of over 7,000 acres with shopping, restaurants, distinct neighborhoods, and a vibrant downtown.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9] The city itself was incorporated in 1959.[1][10]

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.[11][12]

Geography

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.

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

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1960178—
19702,2441,160.7%
19806,205176.5%
199011,97393.0%
200022,79790.4%
201057,357151.6%
202074,79330.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[13][14][6]

Racial and ethnic composition

North Port racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race Pop 2010[15] Pop 2020[16] % 2010 % 2020
White (NH) 46,752 58,417 81.51% 78.10%
Black or African American (NH) 3,824 3,788 6.67% 5.06%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 109 154 0.19% 0.21%
Asian (NH) 648 1,249 1.13% 1.67%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) 23 35 0.04% 0.05%
Some other race (NH) 112 371 0.20% 0.50%
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) 885 2,924 1.54% 3.91%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5,004 7,855 8.72% 10.50%
Total 57,357 74,793 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, North Port had a population of 74,793. The median age was 49.0 years, 19.4% of residents were under the age of 18, and 27.6% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.7 males age 18 and over. Additionally, 4.8% of residents were under 5 years old and 52.5% of the population was female.[17][18][19]

About 95.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 4.2% lived in rural areas.[20]

There were 29,827 households in North Port; 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 58.2% were married-couple households, 13.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[17]

The city had 19,716 families.[21]

There were 33,672 housing units, of which 11.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.5%.[17]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[18]
Race Number Percent
White 60,346 80.7%
Black or African American 3,967 5.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 239 0.3%
Asian 1,281 1.7%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 40 0.1%
Some other race 2,385 3.2%
Two or more races 6,535 8.7%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 7,855 10.5%

In 2020, the median household income was $64,543. The per capita income was $34,514, and 7.0% of residents were below the poverty line.[19]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 57,357 people, 20,201 households, and 14,018 families residing in the city.[22]

Economy

North Port is the Spring Training home for the Atlanta Braves, who hold extended spring training in North Port.[23]

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.[24] The museum has since relocated, first to Miami, and then to the present location in Titusville, Florida.[25][26]

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.[27]

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:[28]

  • 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.[29] City Hall of North Port is located at 4970 City Hall Boulevard.[30]

Entrance to North Port High School

Education

North Port has five elementary schools, one public charter school (Imagine School at North Port), two middle schools, and one high school (North Port High School) operated by Sarasota County Public Schools.[31] Suncoast Technical College is also in the city.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "City of North Port History Book". Archived from the original on August 14, 2015. Retrieved December 23, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c City of North Port Charter, §1.02, City Ordinance 74-5
  3. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  4. ^ "List of 2020 Census Urban Areas". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: North Port, Florida
  6. ^ a b US Census Bureau. "US Census Bureau Quick Facts - North Port city, Florida". US Census Bureau Quick Facts. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  7. ^ "New Home Communities In Venice Florida". Wellen Park. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
  8. ^ Milanich, Jerald T. (1994). Archaeology of Precolumbian Florida. Gainesville: University Press of Florida. p. 53. ISBN 9780813012728.
  9. ^ Grove, Marshall W. (2009). North Port : the first 50 years. North Port, Fla.: City of North Port. pp. 17–19. ISBN 978-0976759461.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ Licon, Adriana; Anderson, Curt (October 1, 2022). "After Ian, river flooding menaces Florida inland towns". Associated Press. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  12. ^ "Draft Public Action Plan". www.scgov.net. Sarasota County. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  13. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. ^ "North Port city, Florida". Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010; 2010 Demographic Profile Data. U.S. Census Bureau.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  18. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  19. ^ a b "QuickFacts North Port city, Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  20. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2026.
  21. ^ "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: North Port city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
  22. ^ "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: North Port city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^ Murdock, Zack (January 24, 2017). "Atlanta Braves executives 'can't wait' to land in North Port stadium". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  24. ^ Arenberg, Gerald (1965). "National Police Museum and Hall of Fame". American Bar Association Journal. 51 (2): 161–162. JSTOR 25723117. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  25. ^ Yanez, Luisa (February 6, 1990). "POLICE HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM MOVES TO MIAMI". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  26. ^ "American Police Hall of Fame & Museum". Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  27. ^ "Our Story". North Port Art Center. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  28. ^ "City Commission | North Port, FL". Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  29. ^ "City Services". City of North Port. Archived from the original on November 28, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  30. ^ "Contact us". City of North Port. Archived from the original on November 28, 2018. Retrieved November 27, 2018.
  31. ^ "North Port, FL : Education". Archived from the original on August 19, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
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