| North Port, Florida | |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Motto: | "Achieve Anything" |
| Etymology: | Shortened form of North Port Charlotte |
| Image Blank Emblem: | Logo of North Port Florida.png |
| Blank Emblem Type: | Logo |
| Mapsize: | 250x200px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Government Type: | Commission-Manager |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Alice White |
| Leader Title1: | Vice Mayor |
| Leader Name1: | Phil Stokes |
| Leader Title2: | Commissioners |
| Leader Name2: | Barbara Langdon, Pete Emrich, and Debbie McDowell |
| Leader Title3: | City Manager |
| Leader Name3: | Alfred Jerome Fletcher, II |
| Leader Title4: | City Clerk |
| Leader Name4: | Heather Faust |
| Established Title: | Incorporated (City of North Port Charlotte) |
| Established Title2: | Reincorporated (City of North Port) |
| Established Date2: | 1974 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 104.21 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 99.38 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 4.83 |
| Area Water Percent: | 4.40 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 74793 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 752.60 |
| Population Urban Footnotes: | (Port Charlotte–North Port, FL) |
| Population Urban: | 199,998 (US: 194th)[2] |
| Population Density Urban Sq Mi: | 1,484.8 |
| Population Metro Footnotes: | (North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL MSA) |
| Population Metro: | 859,760 (US: 70th) |
| Population Blank1 Title: | CSA |
| Population Blank1 Footnotes: | (North Port-Sarasota, FL CSA) |
| Population Blank1: | 1,089,011 (US: 56th) |
| Timezone: | EST |
| Utc Offset: | −05:00 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | −04:00 |
| Coordinates: | 27.0661°N -82.1719°W[3] |
| Elevation M: | 3 |
| Elevation Ft: | 10 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP codes |
| Postal Code: | 34286-34291, 34293 |
| Area Code Type: | Area codes |
| Area Code: | 941 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Footnotes: | [4] |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2022 |
| Population Est: | 85,099 |
| Area Total Km2: | 269.91 |
| Area Land Km2: | 257.39 |
| Area Water Km2: | 12.52 |
| Population Density Km2: | 290.58 |
North Port is a city located in Sarasota County, Florida, United States. The population was 74,793 at the 2020 US Census,[5] up from 57,357 at the 2010 US Census.[6] 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.[7] [8] It is home to the Little Salt Spring, an archaeological and paleontological site owned by the University of Miami.
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.[9]
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.[10] The city itself was incorporated in 1959.[11] [12]
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.[13] [14]
The approximate coordinates for the City of North Port is located at 27.0661°N -82.1719°W.
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 104.16sqmi, of which 99.58sqmi is land and 4.58sqmi (4.40%) is water.
Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park is in North Port.
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).
| 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% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 74,793 people, 25,592 households, and 19,716 families residing in the city.[17]
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.[18]
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.[18]
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 57,357 people, 20,201 households, and 14,018 families residing in the city.[19]
North Port is the Spring Training home for the Atlanta Braves, who hold extended spring training in North Port.[20]
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.[21] The museum has since relocated, first to Miami, and then to the present location in Titusville, Florida.[22] [23]
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.[24]
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:[25]
The city of North Port has its own police force, fire department, and waste management.[26] City Hall of North Port is located at 4970 City Hall Boulevard.[27]
North Port has five elementary schools, one public charter school, two middle schools, one high school, and one college [28] operated by Sarasota County Public Schools.