Cemeteries in Sarasota (City)

Sarasota, located on Florida’s Gulf Coast, originated as a modest fishing village in the mid-1800s and was incorporated as a town in 1902.

The area was originally inhabited by the Calusa people before Spanish explorers arrived in the 16th century. The city’s name may derive from a Spanish interpretation of an Indigenous word meaning “point of land” or “place of dancing.” European-American settlers, primarily of Scottish, English, and German descent, established homesteads in the 19th century, drawn by the climate and natural beauty. Religious life centered around Protestant denominations. Sarasota experienced rapid growth during the Florida Land Boom of the 1920s, significantly influenced by John and Charles Ringling of the Ringling Bros. Circus, whose investments in art, real estate, and culture helped shape the city’s identity. Sarasota is now known for its arts and coastal charm.

Rosemary Cemetery, established in 1886, remains one of the city’s oldest and most significant burial grounds.