Sarasota County is named for a word in the indigenous Calusa language which means “Point of Rocks” or “Place of the Dance”.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Manatee County
E – Manatee County and DeSoto County
S – Charlotte County
W – Gulf of Mexico
Created: May 14, 1921 
County Seat:
Sarasota 1921 – present
County Courthouse – Sarasota
Location: 2000 Main Street / South Washington Boulevard
Built: 1925 – 1927
Style: Spanish-Mediterranean Revival
Architect: Dwight James Baum
Contractor: Stevenson & Cameron
Description: The building faces north and is a two story yellow colored stucco and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Sarasota. The building has a high square tower in the center with open rounded dome at the top. The east and west wings form a courtyard with the tower at the south end. The building is shaped like an “H” with arcades connecting the east and west wings. The building has stucco over hollow clay. The County Circuit Court courtroom section is on the east side. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 12th Judicial District and County Court. Additions were added in 1955 and 1965.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Sarasota County Courthouse
County Judicial Center – Sarasota
Location: 2071 Ringland Boulevard / East Avenue
Built: 1997 – 1998
Style: Modern
Architect: Hansen. Meyer, Barger + Dean Associates
Contractor: Metric–Dooley and Mack Construction
Description: The building faces north and is a two story concrete and glass structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Sarasota. The north front has a lower section with open arches and balcony. The main building rises to long vertical windows near the top.
County Administration Center – Sarasota
Location: 101 South Washington Boulevard / Ringland Boulevard
Built: 1924 – 1925
Style: Mediterranean
Architect: Pringle & Smith
Contractor: Charles Edward Ringling
Description: The building faces west and is an eleven story concrete and steel structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Sarasota. The building was constructed as The Ringling Terrace Hotel and later named as the Sarasota Terrace Hotel. On the west side is the central entrance on the first story. In 1972, the hotel was purchased by the county. The building was renovated in 1981. The architect was West and Conveys.
South County Administration Center – South Venice
Location: 4000 South Tamaimi Trail / Annex Road
Built: 1978 – 1988
Style: Modern
Architect: George Palero Architect, Inc.
Contractor: Bill Halfacre, Inc.
Description: The building faces north and is a two story stucco, concrete and glass structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds on the southeast side of South Venice with a pond on the north side. The north front of the rectangular building has a projecting central section with arched entrance and peaked roof. The windows are arched on the second story. The roof is hipped. On the south side is a small building containing the Commissioner Chambers. The building is named as the Robert L Anderson South County Administration Center.
See: The 12th Judicial District includes DeSoto County and Manatee County.
See: The county is located in the Second Judicial District of the Court of Appeal – Second Judicial District located in Lakeland and Tampa.
County Courthouse - Sarasota
Photos taken 2009 and 2015