Nokomis is a small historic town with a population of 3,334 located between Sarasota and Venice near the Gulf of Mexico. Nokomis Beach is Sarasota County’s oldest public beach comprising 22 acres with 1,700 feet running alongside the Gulf of Mexico and 3,200 feet along the Intracoastal Waterway. This area is known for its stunning white sand beaches.

The history of Nokomis begins in 1868 with the Jessie and Rebecca Knight family, who came to homestead property in Nokomis. They brought 15 children in 8 covered wagons with 300 cows. They built a rough home and a thatched roof church/school building. There is a historic marker where the church stood, which was called Knight’s Chapel.

The community of Nokomis was named after the grandmother of Hiawatha, immortalized in Longfellow’s poem. Hiawatha who lived around 1550, was variously a leader of the Onondaga and Mohawk nations of Native Americans.

Today, Nokomis is a thriving gulf side community with good schools, friendly neighbors and a range of historic buildings and new construction. It is just minutes to many cultural events, art, entertainment, festivals and restaurants.