Sarasota is a city in Sarasota County on the Southwestern coast of Floria, USA. Its official limits include Sarasota Bay and several barrier islands between the bay and the Gulf of Mexico. These islands (known as keys) include Siesta Key and Lido Key and are famous worldwide for the quality of their beaches. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Sarasota had a population of 54,349 in 2004.. Sarasota is a principal city of the Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the seat of Sarasota County.