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Cities of Manatee County


 
Cities - Community Profile
Whether in one of the nine unique municipalities or in the urban/residential areas, Manatee County offers a diversity of lifestyles.  From the home you choose, to the way you play, to the place you work…there is something for everyone.
Here’s a sketch of the cities in Manatee County
Anna Maria
Located at the northern tip of Anna Maria Island, the City of Anna Maria is a finger-like stretch of homes, beaches, dunes, and sea oats.  At the mouth of Tampa Bay, it lies between the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay.  A mere 1.5 square miles in size, Anna Maria has1,831 year-round residents in a quaint, beachfront community.  Widespread beach access is available both on the Gulf of Mexico and on Sarasota Bay.  Two rustic, old Florida fishing piers, Anna Maria City Pier and the Rod n’ Reel Pier, are popular with anglers.
Source:  Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Bradenton
Bradenton is the largest city in the Greater Bradenton Area with a 2009 population of approximately 53,973.  It is also the seat of government for Manatee County.  A center for finance, business, health care, and culture, Bradenton has a business friendly environment.  It is a city, yet it has small town charm and appeal.  In addition to an Enterprise Zone to promote business development, efforts to renovate the city’s central core area including “Old Main Street” and to develop city owned property along the Manatee River continue.  
Bradenton Beach
Source:  Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Bradenton Beach is a small beach community at the southern tip of Anna Maria Island, with 1,577 year-round residents.  A vacation destination, Bradenton Beach boasts a variety of accommodations from no-frill to luxury inns.  Thirty-five percent of the town’s property is set aside for public recreation.  At the southern tip of the town are two large public beaches.  The historic and renovated Bridge Street is dotted with restaurants and nightlife.  On Leffis Key, a restored salt-water marsh, visitors can use nature trails, boardwalks, and view Sarasota Bay from scenic overlooks.
Ellenton
Ellenton, located in the north central part of Manatee County, is best known for its two major attractions, the Gamble Plantation State Historical Site and the Prime Outlet Mall. Both can be found on U.S. 301.  It is located along the Manatee River. Ellenton is just minutes away from Bradenton and Sarasota, with the beach communities of Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach and Longboat Key just a short drive away. Over a fifth of the area within Ellenton's designated boundaries is water.
Source:  Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Holmes Beach
Holmes Beach is the largest of three municipalities on the barrier island of Anna Maria and is bordered by Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.  Primarily a residential community with a year-round population of almost 5,119, Holmes Beach is also a popular vacation destination with numerous motels and cottages.  Many other wide, accessible beaches complement the Manatee County Public Beach.  Year-round events and festivals bring a strong sense of pride to the community.
Lakewood Ranch
Lakewood Ranch is a 7,000-acre master-planned community featuring seven villages that offer a variety of lifestyles from townhouses to estate living.  Dramatic landscapes include forest and wetland preserves and hundreds of species of native wildlife.  Recreational facilities include Lakewood Ranch Country Club and Athletic Center, the Sarasota Cricket Club, nine world class polo fields and a variety of community parks, lakes and preserves.  Lakewood Ranch is home to retail businesses, industrial firms and professional practices, plus a wide choice of high-quality sites and buildings.  The community features shopping, dining, excellent schools and healthcare facilities.
Longboat Key
Located south of Anna Maria Island, across the Longboat Pass, Longboat Key is primarily a luxury resort and retirement community.  The Key is shared by two counties…Manatee in the north and Sarasota in the south.  Longboat Key’s 7,000 year-round residents enjoy 12 miles of Gulf-front beaches.  A barrier island lying between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Longboat Key features a nationally known tennis resort, luxury resorts, fine dining, exclusive shops, and two private golf courses.
Source:  Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Palmetto
Source:  Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Palmetto is the second largest city in the Greater Bradenton Area with a population of 14,407.  Located north of Bradenton across the Manatee River, it is the home of the area’s agricultural industry, primarily the growing and shipping of tomatoes.  An Enterprise Zone in Palmetto offers tax benefits to new and expanding businesses.  Like Bradenton, Palmetto is placing renewed emphasis on public spaces along the Manatee River and is renovating its “Old Town,” an historic and commercial district.  Palmetto has one of the largest community redevelopment districts in the state.  Palmetto has the historic grace of old Florida waterfront, a sense of community, and a sense of purpose.
Parrish
Parrish, located in the northeast section of the county, is home to the Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum, which operates a heritage railroad and tourist excursion along six miles of the former Seaboard Air Line railway route.
Source: parrishflorida.com