Residents and visitors alike flock to Gulf and bay shores for swimming, boating, fishing and just plain taking it easy. Manatee County is named after the West Indian Manatee an easygoing aquatic mammal. In the warmest months, manatees can be seen in area waters grazing through pastures of sea grass. They are protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Picturesque villages and resort communities dot the barrier islands and bay shores. Inland are bright cityscapes, modern family oriented developments, luxurious country club communities, and thousands of acres of peaceful countryside. The eastern part of the county, with its rural atmosphere, is an area of recent development and a center for fruit and vegetable production and colorful crops of flowers and cattle.
Area history takes you deep into the past, to the arrival of Hernando DeSoto in Tampa Bay in 1539. In May of that year, he led an army of 600 conquistadors ashore at the mouth of the Manatee River in search of gold and other riches. DeSoto never found the gold he sought, and ignored the riches of land and water all around him. It was another three centuries before anyone discovered the treasure that DeSoto overlooked. But finally in 1842, Josiah Gates came upon the haven of the gentle Manatee, and when he and others laid out their settlement, they gave it the name of the creature the Spaniards had called the sea cow. 
When the railroad came shortly after the turn of the last century, and bridges and highways made access easy, the once rural area became a mecca for retirees and vacationers. The first winter residents came in 1924, and by the 1930's, major league baseball players were regular springtime residents. Some, like St. Louis Cardinals' pitcher Dizzie Dean, stayed through the winter. In 1969, the Pittsburgh Pirates began spring training in Bradenton, and today, they train at a newly renovated McKechnie Field. Today, it is not surprising that so many people have chosen Manatee County. Their choice attests to the vitality of the area that continues to draw people from all walks of life, whether young families, corporate executives, or retirees.
Interstate 75, the major north-south route through the county, brought a boom in residential development to surrounding areas. Manatee County has six major population centers. The two largest incorporated communities, Bradenton and Palmetto, are on the mainland. The next largest encompasses the island of Longboat Key. Anna Maria Island at the entrance to Tampa Bay is the site of the other three communities: Anna Maria at the northern tip, Holmes Beach near the center, and Bradenton Beach to the south. In the near future we expect the community of Lakewood Ranch to incorporate and become Manatee County's newest city. (See descriptions below)
BRADENTON
Bradenton is pronounced as if it were spelled Bray-din-tin. The county's largest city and the county seat, Bradenton is also its center of commerce, government, health and social services, and much of the area's cultural life. Increasingly cosmopolitan in character, the city retains its small-town charm. Founded in the 1840's as the Village of Manatee, Bradenton is one of the southwest Florida's oldest cities. It was named for Joseph Braden, an early settler who grew sugar cane and operated a sugar mill.
From Wikipedia: The U. S. Census Bureau estimated the city's 2006 population at 53,986. Bradenton is the largest Principal City of the Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 682833. It is the county seat of Manatee County.
Visit the City of Bradenton Website.
PALMETTO
Lying along the northern shore of the Manatee River, Palmetto is the second largest city in the county with a population just over 14,000. Chartered in 1897, the city blends past and present. Restored elegant older homes on Palmetto's west side lend an atmosphere of days gone by, while large condominium developments speak boldly of today.
Palmetto is the agricultural center of the county and is noted for its fruit and vegetable production, especially tomatoes. Many business owners have also discovered downtown Palmetto as an excellent place to locate their businesses. The area continues to grow and has been the target of much redevelopment.
LONGBOAT KEY
Longboat Key is a barrier island community located on Florida’s west coast. The Town lies within two counties. The northern portion of Longboat Key is in Manatee County and the southern portion is in Sarasota County. The island is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico on the West and Sarasota Bay on the Wast.
The history of Longboat Key includes that of the Calusa and Timucuan Indians, who resided there in the 1500's --when the Gulf of Mexico was six feet lower than it is today. Longboat Key was initially settled by pioneers who were awarded land grants under the Homestead Act of 1862.
Today, located on Longboat Key are about 1,500 single family homes, 7,000 condominium units and about 1,000 tourist accommodations
Twelve miles of white sand beaches have helped to make this a luxury resort community. The area is popular among retirees and is also a popular resort and second home community. Longboat Key has a population of approximately 8,000 permanent residents and grows to approximately 20,000 during peak tourist season.
ANNA MARIA
Popular since the early 1900's, Anna Maria was founded by Charles Roser, father of the Fig Newton, who reportedly made his fortune when he sold the recipe to Nabisco. The town numbers about 2,000 residents who treasure the life they enjoy on the island. Between the Gulf and the Intercoastal Waterway, Anna Maria is surrounded on three sides by beaches, which are part of an island-wide program to replenish and protect them from erosion.
From Wikipedia: The population was 1,814 at the 2000 census. According to the 2005 U.S. Censue Bureau's estimates, the city grew slightly to 1,867. The city occupies the northern part of Anna Maria Island and is one of three municipalities on the island. The others are Holmes Beach in the center and Bradenton Beach on the south.
HOLMES BEACH
The 600-acre village on the Gulf of Mexico got its name from developer John Holmes. Incorporated in 1950, Holmes Beach it is the island's largest community. The Manatee Public beach pictured here is a great place to work on your sun tan and to catch a beautiful sunset.
BRADENTON BEACH
Near the southern end of the island, Bradenton Beach has a population of about 1,600. It was incorporated in 1953 and grew up around the first bridge to the mainland. Much of the community's restored business district is oriented toward vacationers who come to enjoy the surrounding beaches, especially Coquina Beach which is a 96-acre public recreational park.
Visitors enjoy walking to shops, beach side restaurants, and the sandy beaches.
LAKEWOOD RANCH
Award-winning Lakewood Ranch is an 8,500 acre master-planned community located between SR 64 to the North and University Parkway to the South, all on the East side of I-75 in Manatee/Sarasota counties. Seven villages, offering a variety of lifestyles from townhomes to estate living, share dramatic landscapes with forest and wetland preserves and hundreds of species of native wildlife.
Recreational facilities include Lakewood Ranch Country Club and Athletic Center, 54 holes of Championship golf, the Sarasota Cricket Club, nine world-class polo fields and a variety of community parks, lakes and nature preserves.
A visit to Main Street offers shopping, dining and entertainment you won't find anywhere else. You will discover more than 30 unique restaurants and specialty boutiques that set Main Street apart from every other shopping destination. You may also enjoy the new Lakewood Ranch Cinemas.