Lakewood Ranch, Florida

Lakewood Ranch is a planned community and census-designated place (CDP) in southeastern Manatee County and northeastern Sarasota County, Florida, United States, consisting of approximately 31000 acres. It is part of the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2020 census, the CDP had a population of 34,877.

History
The area originally was assembled in 1905 by John Schroeder as Schroeder-Manatee Ranch (SMR). The land was purchased by members of Milwaukee's Uihlein family in 1922 for ranch operations such as timber and cattle.

In 1977, the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority announced intentions to build a new airport near the Sarasota-Manatee county line about 10 to 20 miles east of its current location, linking to future Interstate 75. The airport authority struck down the idea in 1985 and expanded the existing airport facility. The airport proposal and the construction of Interstate 75 resulted in SMR's board of directors to pursue creating a planned community for the land.

In the 1980s, SMR designed a destination resort project called Cypress Banks. The project consisted of 1800 acres and included 5,000 mixed residential units, three golf courses, and a 300-room hotel. The project and development of regional impact (DRI) were initially denied by Manatee County in 1987 but later approved in December 1989. The project never broke ground and SMR maintained vested rights to the land. The first neighborhood development, Summerfield, was built and completed in 1995.

Geography
Lakewood Ranch is in southern Manatee County and extends south into Sarasota County. The master-planned community spans from State Road 64 to the north, Fruitville Road to the south, Interstate 75 to the west, and approximately 7 miles east of the interstate to Bournside Boulevard.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 47.1 sqmi, of which 46.1 sqmi are land and 1.0 sqmi, or 2.06%, are water. The Braden River flows east to west through the southern part of the community, eventually leading northwest to the Manatee River in the northeast part of Bradenton.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 34,877 people, 9,518 households, and 7,392 families residing in the CDP.

According to the 2020 US census, there were 2.64 persons per household and 79.8% lived in the same house as 1 year prior. The population per square mile was 756.9.

In 2020, 5.1% of the population was under 5 years old, 20.2% were under 18 years old, and 29.9% were 65 years or older. 49.9% of the population were female.

As of 2020, there were 2,378 veterans in the city and 12.2% of the population were foreign born.

In 2020, the median value of owner-occupied housing units was $474,600. The median selected monthly owner costs with a mortgage was $2,544. The median selected monthly owner costs without a mortgage was $918. The median gross rent was $1,899. The median household income was $110,026 and the per capita income was $56,393. 6.3% of the population lived behold the Poverty threshold.

As of 2020, 98.8% of the households had a computer and 95.1% had a broadband internet subscription. 97.9% of the population over the age of 25 had a highschool degree or higher. 56.1% of that same population had a Bachelor's degree or higher.

Government
Lakewood Ranch was established as a development of regional impact (DRI), as defined in Section 380.06 of the Florida Statutes, in December 1989. The master-planned community is maintained through the Lakewood Ranch Stewardship District and five community development districts (CDD) within the District. The District was established on June 14, 2005, by the Florida legislature. The District encompasses 23055 acres within Manatee and Sarasota counties. The CDD's main powers are to plan, finance, construct, operate, and maintain community-wide infrastructure and services specifically for the benefit of its residents.

The Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority (IDA) was created to operate Town Hall and provide administrative, financial, and operations/maintenance services to the Lakewood Ranch CDDs. The IDA is composed of one representative from each CDD.

Education
Schools located within Lakewood Ranch:

Public schools

 * B.D. Gullett Elementary School
 * Braden River Elementary School
 * Braden River Middle School
 * Carlos E. Haile Middle School
 * Dr. Mona Jain Middle School
 * Freedom Elementary School
 * Gilbert W. McNeal Elementary School
 * Imagine School Lakewood Ranch
 * Lakewood Ranch High School
 * Lakewood Ranch Preparatory Academy
 * R. Dan Nolan Middle School
 * Robert E. Willis Elementary School

Private schools

 * Out-of-Door Academy
 * Pinnacle Academy
 * Risen Savior Academy
 * Imagine School
 * Sea of Strengths Academy

College

 * State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota
 * Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)
 * Keiser University
 * Everglades University

Vocational school

 * Manatee Technical College
 * Meridian College

Notable people

 * Harber H. Hall (1920–2020), member of the Illinois Senate from 1973 to 1979. He resided in Lakewood Ranch at the time of his death.
 * Erika Tymrak, soccer player
 * Dick Vitale, basketball broadcaster