Bethany, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bethany, Florida
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 Bethany, Florida
Location in Florida
Bethany, Florida
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Manatee |
| Elevation | 66 ft (20 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 941 |
| FIPS code | 12-05850 |
| GNIS feature ID | 300018 |
Bethany is a small, unincorporated community in Manatee County, Florida, United States. This means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Before it was known as Bethany, this area was called Riley.
Contents
The Story of Bethany
How Bethany Got Its Name
In the late 1800s, this area was known as Riley. It was advertised as a great place for growing oranges. On October 12, 1894, a post office was opened there. The community was named Riley after William O’Riley, who was one of the first people to own land there and also the first postmaster.
Early Buildings and Growth
In the same year, 1894, a church was built by William O'Riley. It was named Bethany Missionary Baptist Church. A school also opened in the area, and it was called Bethany School. By 1897, about 14 families lived in the Riley community.
Changes Over Time
The citrus industry, which means growing oranges and other fruits, became very important in the area. Because of this, new communities started to grow nearby. Some of these new places were Waterbury and Oak Knoll.
The Riley Post Office closed on April 7, 1914. Mail delivery for the area then moved to the new post office in Oak Knoll.
From Riley to Bethany
After the post office closed, there was no longer an official reason to call the area Riley. People quickly started calling it Bethany instead. This new name came from the community's school and church, which were both named Bethany.
