Bird Key is a small island located just south of Sarasota. The key was named by explorer Ponce de Leon, who at one time owned the island and all of its surrounding land. Today it’s home to many exclusive homes that are only accessible by boat or helicopter – which has led to some pretty intense competition for them! But in addition to being an enclave for affluent people looking for privacy, there are also public beaches on Bird Key as well as parks maintained by the City of Sarasota.
The history behind this historic city often goes back much further than you would imagine–including those within your own living room! Take a look below:
-Ponce de Leon is the original explorer of this area.
-He found the key in 1521 and named it for its bird nesting ground, but De Leon never actually set foot on the island.
-The first inhabitant was a Spanish fisherman who built his home there around 1639.
-By 1763, when Florida became a British territory following an agreement between Spain and England, John Bartram discovered that Bird Key had become inhabited by runaway slaves from Georgia plantations to whom he gave shelter in exchange for help with botanical research.
Today, the island is home to many exclusive homes that are only accessible by boat or helicopter, which has led to some pretty intense competition for them. But in addition to being an enclave for affluent people looking for privacy, there are also public beaches on Bird Key as well as parks maintained by the City of Sarasota.
