Summer 2021 Newsletter

COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: MANATEE COUNTY

Manatee County is located on Florida’s breathtaking Gulf Coast with some of the most beautiful beaches in the country along Anna Maria Island. Many believe our shores were the initial landing spot for Spanish explorer, Hernando de Soto, in 1539. Manatee County, so named for the slow-moving sea cow known as the manatee, was founded in 1855 and included a vast expanse of more than 5,000 square miles, encompassing all of what is now Charlotte County, DeSoto County, Glades County, Hardee County, Sarasota County and Lee County. That huge county was eventually divided and now consists of 743 square miles of land area and 150 square miles of water. The county is home to over 411,000 residents and consists of the Cities of Bradenton, our county seat, Palmetto, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach and a portion of Longboat Key. One area of Mana-

Hon. Charlie Hackney, CFA

tee County, known as Lakewood Ranch, which is situated just east of I-75, was formerly a large farm area and has, over the last twenty years, evolved into consistently one of the top two fastest- growing new home communities in the country. Manatee County and Bradenton, the county seat, have a long and storied past from early estab- lished settlements by Maroons or escaped slaves named Angola in the late 1700’s and ending in 1821. The settlement was abandoned after the Creek Indians, who were aligned with Andrew Jack- son, attacked Angola. Bradenton got its name from Dr. Joseph Braden, who established a large sugar plantation in the area in 1843 and was very financially successful. To help with the shipment from his sugar plantation, Braden constructed a pier in present day Downtown Bradenton where ships could dock and pick up the sugar.

Manatee County is home to a couple large and well known businesses. Bealls of Florida has its headquarters here and was founded in 1915. Tropicana, our favorite orange juice, was founded here in 1950. Manatee County is also home to Port Manatee, the closest deep-water port to South America. Manatee County’s top industries are tourism and agriculture, along with Bealls and

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Summer 2021 Newsletter of the FCIAAO