This formerly sleepy hamlet in south Sarasota County is now on the radar of homebuyers looking for new value-centric homes, a friendly small-town ambiance and the full services of a city. Founded in 1959, North Port’s star is on the rise, posting 28% population growth since 2010 to reach just over 80,000 residents. It was named Redfin’s second-fastest growing Florida city in 2022. North Port’s boom is also attracting new businesses, including Sarasota Memorial Hospital-North Port, currently in preconstruction planning.
Within North Port’s 100 square miles, the city maintains 400 acres of parklands, three recreational buildings and a world-class aquatic center. The city’s two dozen parks offer unique experiences and a host of outdoor recreation opportunities – from hiking, biking and equestrian trials, kayak launches, baseball fields, basketball courts, a skate park, fishing, and playgrounds. Myakahatchee Creek Environmental Park and Oaks Park are favorites for nature lovers and birdwatchers. North Port also operates Warm Mineral Springs, a National Register of Historic Places site, where mineral-rich 85-degree healing waters have attracted fans for decades. The city coordinates fitness programs, youth sports and sport leagues, arts and crafts, outdoor concerts, special events and activities throughout the year.
Fringed by the natural beauty of the surrounding Peace River State Forest and the 37,000-acre Myakka River State Park with its popular canopy boardwalk above the trees, North Port is the only Florida city with its own state forest – the 8,000-acre Myakka State Forest. It also offers golf courses, 80 miles of freshwater canals and waterways, access to Charlotte Harbor from the picturesque Myakka River, Florida’s first Wild and Scenic River, and is convenient to a choice of celebrated white-sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. North Port is also the spring training home of the Atlanta Braves at CoolToday Park in Wellen Park and the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sport Park.
