Osprey, Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Osprey, Florida
Census-designated place
Guptill House in Osprey, Sarasota, Florida
Location in Sarasota County and the state of Florida
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Sarasota
Area
• Total	6.07 sq mi (15.73 km2)
• Land	5.23 sq mi (13.54 km2)
• Water	0.85 sq mi (2.19 km2)
Elevation	10 ft (3 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	6,690
• Density	1,280.14/sq mi (494.22/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	34229
Area code(s)	941
FIPS code	12-53425
GNIS feature ID	0288268

Osprey is a lovely community located in Sarasota County, Florida, in the United States. It's a special kind of place called a "census-designated place" (CDP). This means it's an area identified by the U.S. Census Bureau for statistics. In 2020, about 6,690 people lived here. This was an increase from 6,100 people in 2010. Osprey is part of the larger North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota, Florida metropolitan area.

Geography of Osprey

Osprey covers a total area of about 6.1 square miles (15.7 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 5.5 square miles (13.5 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.6 square miles (2.2 square kilometers), is water.

Osprey's Population Changes

The number of people living in Osprey has grown quite a bit over the years.

• In 1990, about 2,597 people lived in Osprey.
• By 2000, the population grew to 4,143 people.
• In 2010, it reached 6,100 residents.
• The latest count in 2020 showed 6,690 people called Osprey home.

The average age of people in Osprey in 2000 was 54 years old. About 14% of the population was under 18 years old.

Interesting Places to Visit in Osprey

Osprey has some cool places to explore, blending history with nature.

Historic Spanish Point Museum

One of the most famous spots is Historic Spanish Point. This is a large museum and environmental complex covering 30 acres. It's a great place to learn about history and nature.

• Prehistoric Shell Mound: You can see ancient shell mounds left by early people.
• Pioneer Homestead: There's a museum showing what a pioneer home looked like around the turn of the 20th century.
• Historic Buildings: You can also find an old citrus packing house, a chapel, and a boatyard.
• Gardens and Trails: The complex has beautiful gardens and nature trails to walk through.

Nature Parks and Preserves

Osprey is also home to important natural areas that protect local wildlife.

• Oscar Scherer State Park: This park is known for protecting the threatened Florida scrub jay. These unique birds live only in Florida's scrub habitats.
• Scherer Thaxton Preserve: This is another protected area that helps keep the Florida scrub jay safe.

Blackburn Point Bridge

You can also see the Blackburn Point Bridge in Osprey. This is a one-lane bridge that crosses the Intracoastal Waterway. It's a historic landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Osprey Public Library at Historic Spanish Point

The Osprey Public Library is a special place with a rich history. It's located right at Historic Spanish Point.

A Small Library with Big Connections

This library is the smallest in Sarasota County. It's only 630 square feet, but it offers a lot! It's known as a "connections" library. This means it gives you online access to all the resources of the entire library system. You can pick up and drop off books from other libraries here too. The library opened on November 10, 2011. It also offers free Wi-Fi access.

History of the Osprey School Building

The building where the library is located used to be the Osprey School. This school served the Osprey and Vamo communities from 1927 until 1976. The land for the school was part of a large homestead owned by John and Eliza Webb, who settled in Spanish Point in 1867.

• School Construction: The Webb family sold the land for just $10 in 1926 so a new school could be built.
• Unique Design: The school was designed by architect M. Leo Elliot. He created a Spanish Colonial Revival-style building. It had a special layout with classrooms in a line. This design used cross-ventilation to keep the building cool in Florida's hot climate.
• Early Challenges: The school opened in 1927. Like many schools during tough economic times, it had to close for several months in 1933 due to lack of money. Parents and teachers helped keep it going.
• Modern Updates: After World War II, the school was updated in 1959 with air conditioning and heating.
• School Closure: The Osprey School closed in June 1976. Students then went to schools in nearby communities.
• Historic Landmark: In 1994, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• New Life as a Library: After being used for other purposes, part of the old schoolhouse became the Osprey Public Library in 2011.

Images for kids

• 

  Guptill House in Osprey, Sarasota, Florida

• 

  Location of Osprey in Sarasota County, Florida

• Historic Spanish Point.jpg

  Historic Spanish Point offers a glimpse into the past.

• Blackburn Point Bridge.jpg

  The historic Blackburn Point Bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway.

See also

In Spanish: Osprey para niños