PUBLIC COMMUNITY INFORMATION

Population
City of Sarasota: 54,639 residents
City of Venice: 21,246 residents
City of North Port: 39,892 residents (2004)
Town of Longboat Key: 5,060 residents
Sarasota County (unincorporated areas): 242,852 residents
Total: 363,689 residents

Tags and Drivers License Offices - Charlotte County
Tags/Englewood: 6868 San Casa Drive, 474-7775.
Tags/Murdock: 18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte, 637-2143, 741-4800.
Tags/Punta Gorda: 410 Taylor St., 637-2141.

Tags and Drivers License Offices - Manatee County
Tags/Downtown office: 415 10th St. W., Bradenton, 741-4800.
Tags/Bradenton: 819 U.S. 301 Blvd.
Tags/Holmes Beach: 3340 E. Bay Drive.
Tags/Palmetto: 1331 U.S. 301.
Tags/Sunshine State Tag Agency: 6807 State Road 70 East.
Driver's License Bureau: 3611 First St. E., Bradenton, 708-6432 or 708-6440.

Tags and Drivers License Offices - Sarasota County
Tags and licenses: Downtown, 101 S. Washington Blvd., Sarasota, 861-8300.
Driver's license bureau: 601 S. Pompano Ave. (behind Robarts Arena), Sarasota, 361-6219
Renewals and testing: 1212 Jacaranda Blvd., Venice, 483-5995 or 483-5997.

Public Transportation
Charlotte County Transit: 7000 Florida St., Punta Gorda, 575-4000.
Manatee County Area Transit: 1108 26th Ave. E., Bradenton, 747-8621.
Sarasota County Area Transit Administration: 5303 Pinkney Ave., Sarasota, 316-1234.
Greyhound Bus Lines: 575 N. Washington Blvd, Sarasota, 955-5735 and 3028 First St. W., Bradenton, 747-2984.
Sarasota-Bradenton Airport: 6000 Airport Circle, Sarasota, 359-2770.
Southwest Florida International Airport: 16000 Chamberlin, Fort Myers, 768-1000.
Tampa International Airport; (800) 767-8882.

Travel
Major access roads: Interstate 75 and U.S. Highway 41 (north-south).
Mileage (to Downtown Sarasota) from other Florida cities: Miami is 223 miles (four hours' drive time); Orlando is 129 miles (two hours' drive time); and Tampa is 57 miles (one hour drive time).

Utilities - Charlotte County
Cable television: Comcast, Port Charlotte, 625-6000.
Electricity: Florida Power & Light, Port Charlotte, 639-1106; Englewood (800) 226-3545
Garbage Collection: Charlotte Sanitation Service, Charlotte Harbor, 629-1106.
Englewood Disposal, Waste Management of Sarasota, Venice, 493-4100.
Telephone: Verizon, 624-3620, (800) 483-7762.

Utilities - Manatee County
Cable television: Time Warner Communications, Bradenton, 748-1822.
Electricity: Florida Power & Light, 917-0708; Peace River Electric Cooperative, 722-2729.
Propane gas: Ferrellgas, Palmetto, 722-1669.
Telephone: Verizon, (800) 483-7762.
Water: Bradenton Water Department, 708-6200.
Sewer/public works: Bradenton, 708-6300.
Sanitation/garbage: Bradenton, 708-6400; Waste Management of Manatee County, Bradenton, 753-7591.
Manatee County Utilities: Bradenton, 792-8811.

Utilities - Sarasota County/North
Cable Television: Comcast, Sarasota, 371-6700.
Electricity: Florida Power & Light, 917-0708.
Garbage, recycling pickup: Waste Management Sarasota, 924-1254.
Natural Gas: Teco Peoples Gas, Sarasota, (877) 832-6747.
Propane gas: Ferrellgas, Sarasota, 358-8710.
Telephone: Verizon, (800) 483-7762.
Water and sewer: County residents need to find out what service area they live in by calling Sarasota County Environmental Services at 373-7237.

Utilities - Sarasota County/South
Cable Television: Comcast, Venice, 484-0602.
Electricity: Florida Power & Light, 917-0708. From the North Port area call (800) 226-3545.
Garbage, recycling pickup: Waste Management of Sarasota, 924-1254; Englewood Disposal, Waste Management of Sarasota, Venice, 493-4100.
North Port Building Department: Public Services, 423-3138.
Utilities: North Port City Hall, Venice, 486-2626.
Telephone: Verizon, (800) 483-7762.
Water and sewer: Venice City Utilities, 486-2626 or North Port Utilities, 426-9500.
Questions or comments: Call the Sarasota County Environmental Services, 861-6236.

Emergency Rooms - Charlotte County
Bon Secours - St. Joseph Hospital 2500 Harbor Blvd., Port Charlotte, 423-5000.
Charlotte Regional Medical Center 809 E. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda, 639-3131.
Columbia Fawcett Memorial Hospital 21298 Olean Blvd., Port Charlotte, 629-1181.

Emergency Rooms - Desoto County
DeSoto Memorial Hospital 900 N. Roberts Ave., Arcadia, (813) 494-8240.

Emergency Rooms - Manatee County
Blake Medical Center 2020 59th St. W., Bradenton, 798-6300.
Manatee Memorial Hospital 206 Second St. E., Bradenton, 745-7466.

Emergency Rooms - Sarasota County
Bon Secours - Venice Hospital 540 The Rialto, Venice, 485-7711
Columbia Doctors Hospital of Sarasota 5731 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, 342-1100.
Columbia Englewood Community Hospital 700 Medical Blvd., Englewood, 475-6571.
Sarasota Memorial Hospital 1700 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 917-9000.

Education
Higher education and adult education courses are offered at the following institutions:
Eckerd College 957-3397
Keiser College 907-3900
Manatee Community College 752-5000
Manatee Technical Institute 752-8100
New College of the University of South Florida 359-4200
Ringling School of Art & Design 351-5100
Sarasota County Technical Institute 924-1365
University of South Florida 359-4200

Newspapers
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune is published in Sarasota County seven days a week. The phone number for circulation and home delivery is 365-6060.
The Bradenton Herald is published in Manatee County seven days a week. The phone number for circulation and home delivery is 800-748-6666.
The Sun Herald is published in Charlotte County seven days a week. The phone number for circulation and home delivery is 877-818-6204.
Other papers available include: The Longboat Observer (weekly); The St. Petersburg Times (daily); The East County Observer (weekly); The Venice Gondolier; and The Tampa Tribune (daily).

Attractions
In addition to its stunning beaches, there are a variety of other attractions you won't want to miss:
South Florida Museum: 201 10th St. W., Bradenton, 746-4131.
Gamble Mansion Plantation: 3708 Patten Ave., Ellenton, 723-4536.
Marie Selby Botanical Garden: 811 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota, 366-5731.
Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium: 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy., Sarasota, 388-4441.
Gulf Coast Wonder and Imagination Zone (G.WIZ): 1001 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota, 906-1851.
Myakka River State Park: 13207 State Road 72, Sarasota, 361-6511.
Pelican Man's Bird Sanctuary: 1708 Ken Thompson Pkwy., Sarasota, 388-4444.
Warm Mineral Springs: 12200 San Servando Ave., Warm Mineral Springs, 426-1692.
Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center: 10941 Burnt Store Road, Punta Gorda, 575-5435.