It is distributed primarily in Longboat Key, Florida as well as other parts of the Sarasota-Bradenton area.

The Longboat Observer was founded in 1978 by Claire and Ralph Hunter.

The 1980s saw the paper grow in step with a real estate boom in the area and the Hunters added staff.

[4][5] In 1995, Matt and Lisa Walsh, with the assistance of a small group of investors including Lisa's parents, bought Longboat Observer to form the private company which became Observer Media Group (OMG).

[1][7] As of 2019, the Longboat Observer has a circulation of 13,373 and is distributed weekly on Thursdays.