Siesta Key, Florida

{{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2018}} {{Infobox settlement  |official_name = Siesta Key, Florida |other_name = Little Sarasota Key, Sarasota Key |settlement_type = [[Census-designated place]] |image_skyline = Red Lifeguard Stand at Siesta Key Beach.jpg |image_caption = Lifeguard stand at Siesta Key Beach |image_map = Sarasota_County_Florida_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Siesta_Key_Highlighted.svg |mapsize = 250x200px |map_caption = Location in [[Sarasota County, Florida|Sarasota County]] and the state of [[Florida]]  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = United States |subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]] |subdivision_name1 = Florida |subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Florida|County]] |subdivision_name2 = [[Sarasota County, Florida|Sarasota]] |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 =  |established_title =  |established_date = |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name =  |unit_pref = Imperial |area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_12.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=December 2, 2021}}</ref> |area_total_km2 = 8.97 |area_land_km2 = 6.07 |area_water_km2 = 2.90 |area_total_sq_mi = 3.46 |area_land_sq_mi = 2.34 |area_water_sq_mi = 1.12  |population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]] |population_total = 5454 |population_footnotes = |population_density_km2 = 898.23 |population_density_sq_mi = 2326.79  |timezone = [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]] |utc_offset = −05:00 |timezone_DST = EDT |utc_offset_DST = −04:00 |coordinates = {{coord|27|16|41|N|82|33|06|W|type:city|display=inline,title}} |coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> |elevation_ft = 7 |elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>  |postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]] |postal_code = 34242 |area_code = [[Area code 941|941]] |blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]] |blank_info = 12-66000<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> |blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID |blank1_info = 2402852<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2402852}}</ref> |footnotes = }}

'''Siesta Key''' is a [[barrier island]] off the southwest coast of the U.S. state of Florida, located between Roberts Bay and the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. A portion of it lies within the city boundary of [[Sarasota, Florida|Sarasota]], but the majority of the key is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Sarasota County, Florida|Sarasota County]]. Siesta Key is part of the [[North Port, Florida|North Port]]–[[Bradenton, Florida|Bradenton]]–[[Sarasota, Florida]] [[Sarasota metropolitan area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], Siesta Key had a population of 5,454.<ref name="Census2020PLLede">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME%2CP1_001N&for=place%3A66000&in=state%3A12|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=March 11, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref> ==History== From the 19th century to the early 20th century, Siesta Key was known by a variety of names, including Little Sarasota Key and Sarasota Key.<ref name="SHA">{{Cite web |url=http://www.sarasotahistoryalive.com/history/articles/the-siesta-key-beach-pavilion/ |title=The Siesta Key Beach Pavilion |website=Sarasota History Alive! |access-date=September 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404140518/https://www.sarasotahistoryalive.com/history/articles/the-siesta-key-beach-pavilion/ |archive-date=2022-04-04 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The first attempts to develop the key were by the Siesta Land Company in 1907, consisting of Harry Higel, Captain Louis Roberts, and E. M. Arbogast. The company platted the northern end of the key as Siesta on the Gulf of Mexico as well as dredged bayous and built docks.

Access to Siesta Key was by boat or ferry until the first bridge connecting it to the mainland was completed in 1917.<ref name="SHA2">{{Cite web |url=http://www.sarasotahistoryalive.com/history/articles/the-siesta-key-beach-pavilion/ |title=Bridges Played a Role in Siesta Key Development |website=Sarasota History Alive! |access-date=September 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404140518/https://www.sarasotahistoryalive.com/history/articles/the-siesta-key-beach-pavilion/ |archive-date=2022-04-04 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The bridge was replaced in 1927 with the addition of a second bridge located on the southern end of the key. The entire key officially was recognized as Siesta Key by 1952.<ref name="SHA" />

On October 9, 2024, [[Hurricane Milton]] made landfall as a [[Category 3 hurricane]] near Siesta Key.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-10 |title=Hurricane Milton live updates: Monster storm makes landfall near Siesta Key, Florida |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/hurricanes/live-blog/hurricane-milton-live-updates-rcna174774 |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography== According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|9.0|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|6.1|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|2.9|km2|disp=flip}}, or 32.08%, is water.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1266000| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212174205/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1266000| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Siesta Key CDP, Florida| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=April 15, 2013}}</ref>

Siesta Key is made up of four main districts: Siesta Beach, Crescent Beach, Turtle Beach, and Siesta Key Village.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.siestakeychamber.com/home |title=Welcome to Siesta Key! |website=Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce |access-date=September 4, 2018}}</ref> It contains a suburban residential area located on the Siesta Key barrier island on the West coast of Florida, just west of the town of Sarasota. The community on Siesta Key consists of single-family homes, condominiums, retail shops, and art galleries.

===Beaches=== Beaches on Siesta Key include [[Siesta Beach]],<ref name="Ferguson 2015 p. 125">{{cite book | last=Ferguson | first=J. | title=Moon Sarasota & Naples: Including Sanibel Island & the Everglades | publisher=Avalon Travel Publishing | series=Moon Handbooks | year=2015 | isbn=978-1-63121-156-0 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g3QuCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT125| page=125}}</ref> Crescent Beach,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Crescent+Beach,+FL+32080/@29.7387049,-81.2772876,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x88e69977c882aea5:0xe61a1afbdfe01fae!8m2!3d29.76886!4d-81.2536786|title=Google Maps|website=Google Maps|access-date=January 18, 2017}}</ref> and [[Turtle Beach (Florida)|Turtle Beach]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Adams | first=Rick | title=Erosion of Turtle Beach to be repaired with beach restoration project | website=Sarasota News| date=December 10, 2015 | url=http://www.mysuncoast.com/news/local/erosion-of-turtle-beach-to-be-repaired-with-beach-restoration/article_1ae46a6e-9f92-11e5-9d6c-f33f8a3fc9d5.html | access-date=February 6, 2016}}</ref>

==Demographics== {{US Census population |align=right |1970= 4460 |1980= 7010 |1990= 7772 |2000= 7150 |2010= 6565 |2020= 5454 |footnote=source:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=CENSUS OF POPULATION AND HOUSING (1790-2000) |publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]] |access-date=July 31, 2010}}</ref> | align-fn = center }} [[File:2017 Sarasota Turtle Beach at Siesta Key 1 FRD 9601.jpg|thumb|right|The sand of Turtle Beach]]

[[File:ISS018-E-35194 - View of Florida.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of parts of [[Phillippi Creek]] connecting to Robert Bay and the intercoastal waterway by [[Siesta Key]] taken from ISS Expedition 18]]

===2020 census=== As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], Siesta Key had a population of 5,454. The median age was 64.6 years. 7.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 49.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.4 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=place%3A66000&in=state%3A12|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=place%3A66000&in=state%3A12|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=April 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=place%3A66000&in=state%3A12|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=April 28, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 2,814 households in Siesta Key, of which 10.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 56.6% were married-couple households, 15.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 7,792 housing units, of which 63.9% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 79.8%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

{| class="wikitable" |+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census<ref name="Census2020PL"/> ! Race !! Number !! Percent |- | [[White Americans|White]] || 5,074 || 93.0% |- | [[African Americans|Black or African American]] || 12 || 0.2% |- | [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian and Alaska Native]] || 6 || 0.1% |- | [[Asian Americans|Asian]] || 78 || 1.4% |- | [[Native Hawaiians|Native Hawaiian]] and [[Pacific Islander|Other Pacific Islander]] || 2 || 0.0% |- | Some other race || 51 || 0.9% |- | [[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races]] || 231 || 4.2% |- | ''[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race)'' || 157 || 2.9% |}

===Demographic estimates=== As of 2022, 1.0% of the population was under 5 years old and 51.2% were female persons. 11.8% of the population were foreign-born persons, and there were 483 veterans living in the CDP.<ref name="QuickFacts2022">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts Siesta Key CDP, Florida |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/siestakeycdpflorida/PST045222 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=15 November 2023}}</ref>

===Income and poverty=== The median household income was $108,527. 3.3% of the population lived below the [[Poverty thresholds (United States Census Bureau)|poverty threshold]]. 98.7% of households had a computer, and 91.3% of households had a broadband internet subscription.<ref name="QuickFacts2022"/>

{{clear left}} ==Notable people== *[[Frederick Fennell]] (1914-2004), noted band conductor and musical educator. *[[John D. MacDonald]] (1916-1986), author of the [[Travis McGee]] series and other works of mid-20th-century fiction<ref>{{Cite web | title=Siesta Key home | url=http://jdmhomepage.org/jdmhomepage.org/Siesta_Key_home.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001175229/http://jdmhomepage.org:80/jdmhomepage.org/Siesta_Key_home.html | access-date=2025-08-22 | archive-date=2009-10-01}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}} * ''Explore Sarasota and Vicinity'', Kenneth F. Tricebock, 1988

==External links== {{Commons category}} * [http://www.siestakeychamber.com Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce] * [http://www.scgov.net Sarasota County government]

[[Category:Census-designated places in Florida]] [[Category:Census-designated places in Sarasota County, Florida]] [[Category:Populated coastal places in Florida on the Gulf of Mexico]] [[Category:Sarasota metropolitan area]]