Timeline | Welcome | The Legend of Sara De Sota

Welcome to the search for Sarasota County history. If you had arrived here 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, you would have found the sea level nearly 90 feet lower than it is at present, the Gulf beach 75 to 100 miles to the west, and the cool, arid climate supporting mammals such as the mammoth, giant sloth, and camel. Some of the sparse information about this time period has been discovered by underwater archaeologists in Little Salt Springs and Warm Mineral Springs. Information about the past hundred years often comes from more familiar sources, such as diaries, photographs, letters, maps, and government records.

The detective's curiosity and perserverance are essential in the quest for an historical understanding of an area and its peoples. Too often, the frequent absence or scarcity of documentation or evidence leaves the researcher with more questions than answers. As you move through this introduction to Sarasota County history, be aware of its incompleteness and, thus, the hazard of drawing more of a conclusion than the evidence justifies. A more complete picture will evolve as more information is uncovered.

Ann A. Shank
Historian, Department of Historical Resources, Sarasota County