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Population (Last US Census 2020)
55,698
Median House Value
$416,265
Population Growth In Recent Years
2022 Growth Rate
1.09% (615)
Growth Since 2020
-0.73% (-418)
Located on Florida's Gulf Coast, Bradenton is south of Tampa and north of
Sarasota. We love living here because it's a wonderful place to raise a family,
work, and play. You can enjoy the view of the Manatee River from Bradenton's
Riverwalk, which offers several ways to enjoy the water. We have the Village of
the Arts, home to LECOM Park, where the Pittsburgh Pirates play spring
training baseball, and we're within minutes of beautiful Anna Maria Island. We
also host the Bradenton Blues Festival, which has become one of the best
blues festivals in the country. Our city has so many things to be proud of—
public art, beautiful parks, fine dining and entertainment. Of course, our most
important asset is our residents. During a challenging year, we have been
strong and resilient together. And that has made us even stronger for the
future.
Top 7 Things To Do In Bradenton
1. Emerson Point Preserve
Emerson Point Preserve is a 365-acre nature reserve located at the tip of Snead Island in western Palmetto, at the mouth of the Manatee River. The preserve features stunning examples of Florida's native plant and wildlife communities, as well as several prehistoric and historic sites. Among these is the Native American Portavant Temple Mound.
Other attractions include an observation tower with breathtaking views of Terra Ceia Bay, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, and a welcome/ranger station that provides information for visitors. The preserve has several multi-use trails for hiking, mountain biking, and jogging, and boardwalks wind through the reserve. There are also two small picnic shelters and a large ten-table picnic shelter, as well as a canoe/kayak launch.
2. Florida Maritime Museum
The Florida Maritime Museum (FMM) is a museum dedicated to preserving the history of Florida's maritime industry. Located on 4 acres of land in the historic fishing village of Cortez and housed in a 1912 schoolhouse, the museum showcases the importance of the regional commercial fishing industry. It features a variety of exhibits displaying historical artifacts, photographs, instruments, boat models, tools, and shells from the Gulf of Mexico.
The museum also has a research library filled with diaries, books, periodicals, plans, ship logs, records, and letters, as well as a range of archival material on maritime subjects.
3. Village of the Arts
The Village of the Arts is an artistic community located in the Sarasota-Bradenton area, encompassing 36 acres and featuring over 100 homes, restaurants, cafes, art galleries, studios, and workshops. It is home to many artists who live and work in beautifully restored cottages dating back to the 1920s and 1930s, which have been renovated and painted in bright colors, adding to the already artsy atmosphere.
In the village, you can find a variety of art galleries, studios, and workshops showcasing and selling the work of the resident artists. The charming town offers a range of activities, such as admiring the unique architecture, visiting art galleries and studios, dining out or sipping coffee at a sidewalk cafe, or simply strolling through the streets and taking in the vibrant atmosphere.
4. De Soto National Memorial
The De Soto National Memorial is a memorial dedicated to commemorating the landing of Hernando de Soto in 1539 and the subsequent exploration by Europeans of what is now the southern United States. Located in Manatee County, 5 miles west of Bradenton, the memorial sits on 26 acres of beautiful landscape where the Manatee River flows into Tampa Bay, including 3,000 feet of coastline.
Visitors can enjoy activities such as kayaking, canoeing, nature and hiking trails, picnicking, camping, fishing, and birdwatching at the De Soto National Memorial.
5. Lake Manatee State Park
Lake Manatee State Park is a 556-acre state park that extends for 3 miles along the south shore of Lake Manatee, about 15 miles east of Bradenton. It offers a range of outdoor activities, including freshwater fishing, boating, canoeing and kayaking, swimming and sunbathing, hiking, and picnicking.
The park was created when a dam was built across the Manatee River in the mid-1960s. Its natural habitats consist mainly of sand pine scrub and pine flatwoods, with some hardwood forests and depression marshes. It features full camping facilities a short walk from the lake, as well as a picturesque picnic pavilion.
There is also a lakeshore beach ideal for swimming and sunbathing, with modern restrooms with showers located nearby.
6. Palma Sola Botanical Park
Palma Sola Botanical Park is a 10-acre botanical garden that features a wide variety of flowering trees, rare palms, and fruit trees, as well as a butterfly garden, a picnic pavilion, and two gazebos for weddings. The park also has a children's playground and three lakes with bridges.
Established in 1990 to preserve the Manatee County palm nursery and create a beautiful public space, Palma Sola Botanical Park includes the Galleria and Baden buildings and offers educational programs and workshops. The gardens can be rented for special events, such as weddings, and are open to the public daily throughout the year.
7. Passage Key National Wildlife Refuge
The Passage Key National Wildlife Refuge is a 30-acre meandering barrier island and wildlife sanctuary located offshore from St. Petersburg. Established in 1905, the refuge originally consisted of vast mangrove swamps and a freshwater lake, and was home to a variety of bird species, including brown pelicans, black skimmers, laughing gulls, sandwich terns, oystercatchers, and royal terns.
However, a hurricane in 1920 severely damaged the island, destroying most of it. Today, the Passage Key National Wildlife Refuge covers 36.37 acres and serves as a sanctuary and breeding ground for native birds like royal and sandwich terns.
In recent years it has experienced significant shoaling and is now reduced to a small sandbar about 100 yards long at high tide.