Lakewood Ranch, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lakewood Ranch, Florida
|
||
|---|---|---|
|
||
 Lakewood Ranch, Florida
Location in Florida
Lakewood Ranch, Florida
Location in the United States
|
||
| Country | United States | |
| State | Florida | |
| Counties | Manatee, Sarasota | |
| Established | February 24, 1994 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | CDD and HOA | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 47.05 sq mi (121.86 km2) | |
| • Land | 46.08 sq mi (119.35 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.97 sq mi (2.51 km2) | |
| Elevation | 30 ft (9 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 34,877 | |
| • Density | 756.86/sq mi (292.23/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (EST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) | |
| ZIP codes |
34202, 34211, 34212, 34240
|
|
| Area codes | 941 | |
| FIPS code | 12-39067 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 2571108 | |
Lakewood Ranch is a special kind of community in Florida, United States. It's called a planned community, which means it was carefully designed and built from the ground up. It covers a huge area of about 31,000 acres in Manatee and Sarasota counties.
In 2020, about 34,877 people lived in Lakewood Ranch. It's a place where people live, work, and go to school, all within a well-thought-out plan.
Contents
History of Lakewood Ranch
How it Started: Schroeder-Manatee Ranch
The land that is now Lakewood Ranch was first put together in 1905 by a person named John Schroeder. It was known as Schroeder-Manatee Ranch (SMR). Later, in 1922, a family from Milwaukee called the Uihlein family bought the land. They used it for ranching, which included raising cattle and cutting timber.
Building a Community: From Airport Plans to Homes
In the late 1970s, there was talk about building a new airport near this land. Even though the airport idea didn't happen, the discussions and the building of Interstate 75 nearby made the owners of SMR think about a new plan. They decided to create a large, planned community on the land.
In the 1980s, SMR planned a big resort project called Cypress Banks. It was going to have homes, golf courses, and a hotel. Even though this first big plan didn't get built, the company still had the rights to develop the land. The very first neighborhood, called Summerfield, was built and finished in 1995. This was the start of Lakewood Ranch as we know it today.
Where is Lakewood Ranch?
Lakewood Ranch is located in the southern part of Manatee County and also stretches into Sarasota County. It's a large area that goes from State Road 64 in the north to Fruitville Road in the south. To the west, it's bordered by Interstate 75, and it goes about 7 miles east of the interstate.
The community covers about 47.1 square miles. Most of this area is land, but about 1 square mile is water. The Braden River flows through the southern part of Lakewood Ranch. This river eventually leads to the Manatee River.
People of Lakewood Ranch
Population Growth
Lakewood Ranch has grown quite a bit! Here's how the population has changed:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 34,877 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Who Lives Here?
In 2020, there were 34,877 people living in Lakewood Ranch. These people lived in over 9,500 households. Most people, about 79.8%, lived in the same house as they did the year before.
Here's a look at the different groups of people who live in Lakewood Ranch:
| Group | Number of People (2020) | Percentage (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| White (not Hispanic) | 28,439 | 81.54% |
| Black or African American (not Hispanic) | 822 | 2.36% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (not Hispanic) | 36 | 0.10% |
| Asian (not Hispanic) | 1,310 | 3.76% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (not Hispanic) | 16 | 0.05% |
| Some other race (not Hispanic) | 155 | 0.44% |
| Two or more races (not Hispanic) | 1,207 | 3.46% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2,892 | 8.29% |
| Total | 34,877 | 100.00% |
Age and Education
In 2020, about 20.2% of the people in Lakewood Ranch were under 18 years old. Also, 29.9% were 65 years or older. About half of the population, 49.9%, were female.
Lakewood Ranch is a well-educated community. In 2020, almost everyone over 25 years old (97.9%) had at least a high school degree. More than half of that group (56.1%) had a Bachelor's degree or even higher education.
Most households in Lakewood Ranch have a computer (98.8%) and a fast internet connection (95.1%).
Education in Lakewood Ranch
Lakewood Ranch has many schools, from elementary to college, right within or very close to the community.
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
Colleges and Universities
- State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)
- Keiser University
- Everglades University
Vocational Schools
- Manatee Technical College
- Meridian College
Notable People from Lakewood Ranch
Some well-known people have lived in Lakewood Ranch:
- Harber H. Hall (1920–2020), who was a member of the Illinois Senate.
- Erika Tymrak, a professional soccer player.
- Dick Vitale, a famous basketball broadcaster.
