Longboat Key is a town on a Gulf Coast barrier island in southwest Florida, set between the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay and divided almost evenly between Manatee and Sarasota counties. The town was incorporated in 1955 and is coterminous with the island that shares its name, making the entire community a single, narrow strip of beachfront and bayfront land running north to south. It sits directly south of Anna Maria Island and north of Lido Key, both connected by bridges that are the island's only road links. The island has long been a destination for those seeking a quieter, more refined version of Florida's Gulf Coast. Its roughly twelve miles of white-sand beach, low-rise development, and limited access have kept it less crowded than neighboring resort communities. Tourism and seasonal residency are central to the economy, with luxury resorts, condominiums, golf clubs, and restaurants providing much of the island's activity and employment. Despite its resort character, Longboat Key is a functioning town with its own government, public works, and recreation programs. The full-time population of about 7,500 grows considerably in winter, when seasonal residents return to their island homes. The town's identity is shaped by careful land-use rules that preserve its low profile and natural shoreline. For residents, Longboat Key offers an unusually tranquil coastal setting. Quick Point Nature Preserve and Joan M. Durante Park protect natural shoreline habitat, and the bay side provides protected water for kayaking and boating. At the same time, the island is a short drive from the cultural institutions of Sarasota and Bradenton, including The Ringling museum, Mote Marine Laboratory, and the boutiques of St. Armands Circle. It appeals to retirees, second-home owners, and anyone drawn to Gulf-front living with a sense of seclusion.