St. Armands Key, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
St. Armands Key
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Island
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House on St. Armands Key
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| Etymology: Charles St. Armand | |
| Nickname(s):
St. Armand's Key, St. Armand Key
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| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Sarasota |
St. Armands Key is a beautiful island located in Sarasota Bay on the west coast of Florida in the United States. It is part of the city of Sarasota, Florida. The island is connected to the mainland by a bridge called the John Ringling Causeway.
History of St. Armands Key
The island's name comes from a Frenchman named Charles St. Amand. He bought land on the island way back in 1893. His name was accidentally spelled wrong in the official land papers. This misspelled name is still used for the island today.
A famous circus owner named John Ringling bought the St. Armands Key property in 1917. He had a big plan to build homes and a shopping area shaped like a circle. At that time, there was no bridge to the island. So, Ringling used an old steamboat called the "Success" to help with the work. John Ringling paid for the bridge to be built, connecting the island to the mainland. In 1926, he was the very first person to drive across it!
St. Armands Circle: Shopping and Fun
St. Armands Key is famous for its large traffic circle. There's a small park right in the middle of it. This traffic circle is known as St. Armands Circle, or simply "The Circle." This area is mostly for businesses. It has more than 130 stores and restaurants! You can find many places to eat, clothing shops, and other stores here.
The Circle also has a special "statue walk." These statues were originally bought by John Ringling himself. He loved fine art very much. In 2007, a project called "The Save Our Statues" helped to clean and fix these statues. It was finished in early 2008. There are ongoing efforts to keep the statues and the landscaping looking nice. These efforts try to match John Ringling's original plans from the 1920s.
St. Armands Circle connects to different roads. The shops are located on the outside of the circle:
- To the north, State Road 789 leads to Longboat Key.
- To the east, John Ringling Boulevard goes to the city of Sarasota. It connects with U.S. 41, which heads north to the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport.
- To the south, you can find Lido Key and Lido Beach.
Circus Ring of Fame
St. Armands Circle is also home to the amazing Circus Ring of Fame. More than 150 large bronze plaques are placed around the park. These plaques honor famous circus performers and important people who helped the circus arts. They share the names and stories of those recognized for their achievements in circus culture. Some of the honored people include Paul Binder, Bello Nock, Nik Wallenda, and the King Charles Troupe.
