INTERACTIVE: Sarasota County population grows 1.9%

Mirroring the explosion in development in Sarasota County, U.S. Census Bureau estimates released Thursday show the region remains one of the fastest-growing counties in the country.

Thanks to roughly 8,900 new transplants, Sarasota County’s population grew 1.9% in 2016. The average growth rate for all counties in the U.S. hovered at less than 0.1% and Florida as a whole grew 1.8%.

“We know economic development comes with that. More attention comes with that. Opportunities come with that,” said Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce President Kevin Cooper of the latest numbers.

See how Sarasota sizes up to other counties in the state using the interactive map below.