1979 Map of Sarasota

About this map

The Gulf Coast of Florida transitions from the developed barrier islands of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key to the interior wetlands of the Myakka River basin during the late 1970s. Urban expansion is visible in the corridor between Bradenton and Sarasota, reaching southward through Venice and toward the growing planned communities of North Port and Port Charlotte. Transportation infrastructure like the Sunshine Skyway and the Seaboard Coast Line railroad support this coastal growth, while the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport marks the hub of regional travel. To the east, the landscape remains dominated by conservation and ranching, anchored by the expansive Myakka River State Park and Lake Myakka. This map details the complex shoreline of Sarasota Bay and Little Sarasota Bay, where the interplay of keys, passes like Midnight Pass, and inland drainages such as Cow Pen Slough define the region's geography.