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Bradenton, Florida
Bradenton City Hall
Bradenton City Hall
Official seal of Bradenton, Florida
Seal
Motto(s): 
The Friendly City
Location in Manatee County and the U.S. state of Florida
Location in Manatee County and the U.S. state of Florida
Country United States
State Florida
County Manatee
Settled 1842
Incorporated (city) 1903
Former names
  • Braidentown (1842–1905)
  • Bradentown (1905–1924)
Government
 • Type Mayor–council
Area
 • Total 17.50 sq mi (45.32 km2)
 • Land 14.34 sq mi (37.13 km2)
 • Water 3.16 sq mi (8.19 km2)  16.14%
Elevation
6 ft (1.83 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 55,698
 • Density 3,884.64/sq mi (1,499.90/km2)
Time zone UTC−5:00 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4:00 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
34201–34212, 34280–34282
Area code(s) 941
FIPS code 12-07950
GNIS feature ID 0279311

Bradenton ( bray-DƏN-tən) is a city and the county seat of Manatee County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census,the city's population is 55,698.

History

Main Street, Bradentown, FL
Old Main Street circa 1910

The area that would become Bradenton (originally spelled "Bradentown") was explored in 1539 by the Spanish during the famous expedition led by Hernando De Soto. Bradenton was established in 1842. The original town of Bradentown was incorporated in 1903. The city took the name of Dr. Joseph Braden, whose nearby fort-like house was a refuge for early settlers during Seminole Indian attacks. The current city of Bradenton was formed in 1943, when the Florida legislature merged the cities of Manatee (incorporated in 1888) and Bradentown.

Historic properties

Historic properties in Bradenton include:

  • Braden Castle Park Historic District, off Manatee Avenue and 27th St East
  • Bradenton Bank and Trust Company Building, 1925, now the Professional Building, 1023 Manatee Avenue, West,
  • Iron Block Building, 1896, 530 12th Street West (Old Main Street)
  • Manatee County Courthouse, 1913, 1115 Manatee Avenue, West
  • Old Manatee County Courthouse, 1860, 1404 Manatee Avenue, East
  • Peninsular Telephone Company Building, 1925, 1009 4th Avenue, West

Geography and climate

According to the United States Census Bureau, Bradenton has a total area of 14.44 square miles (37.4 km2)*, of which 12.11 square miles (31.4 km2) is land and 2.33 square miles (6.0 km2) (16.14%) is water.

Bradenton is located on US 41 between Tampa and Sarasota. The area is surrounded by waterways, both fresh and saltwater. Along the Gulf of Mexico and into Tampa Bay are over 20 miles (32 km) of Florida beaches, many of which are shaded by Australian pines. Bordered on the north by the Manatee River, Bradenton is located on the mainland and is separated from the outer barrier islands of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key by the Intracoastal Waterway.

Downtown Bradenton is located in the northwest area of the city. Home to many of Bradenton's offices and government buildings, the tallest is the Bradenton Financial Center, 12 stories high, with its blue-green windows. The next tallest is the brand new Manatee County Judicial Center with nine floors, located next to the historic courthouse. Other major downtown buildings include the Manatee County Government building and the headquarters of the School Board of Manatee County.

The eastern side of Bradenton is growing at a rapid rate. Starting as the popular subdivision Lakewood Ranch, it is now becoming a heavily populated part of town. Most of the communities are newer than in West Bradenton. However the majority of foreclosures in Manatee County have taken place in that area due to the fact that a much higher loss in value happened compared to the areas of West Bradenton which is located nearer to the beaches.

Climate data for Bradenton, Florida (1981–2010 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 71.2
(21.8)
73.8
(23.2)
76.9
(24.9)
81.4
(27.4)
87.1
(30.6)
90.0
(32.2)
90.9
(32.7)
90.9
(32.7)
89.0
(31.7)
84.5
(29.2)
78.2
(25.7)
73.0
(22.8)
82.2
(27.9)
Average low °F (°C) 51.8
(11.0)
54.5
(12.5)
58.3
(14.6)
61.6
(16.4)
67.8
(19.9)
73.3
(22.9)
74.8
(23.8)
75.2
(24.0)
73.7
(23.2)
67.3
(19.6)
60.2
(15.7)
54.1
(12.3)
64.4
(18.0)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.83
(72)
2.55
(65)
3.99
(101)
2.15
(55)
2.50
(64)
8.24
(209)
9.21
(234)
9.81
(249)
7.35
(187)
2.83
(72)
2.22
(56)
2.50
(64)
56.18
(1,428)
Average precipitation days 7.2 6.0 6.5 5.0 5.6 12.9 15.8 16.9 13.2 6.8 5.5 6.1 107.4
Source: NOAA

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1910 1,886
1920 3,868 105.1%
1930 5,986 54.8%
1940 7,444 24.4%
1950 13,604 82.8%
1960 19,380 42.5%
1970 21,040 8.6%
1980 30,228 43.7%
1990 43,779 44.8%
2000 49,504 13.1%
2010 49,546 0.1%
2020 55,698 12.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

Bradenton is a principal city of the North Port–Sarasota–Bradenton metropolitan statistical area, which had a 2018 estimated population of 821,573.

As of the census of 2000, there were 49,504 people, 21,379 households, and 12,720 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,088.5 inhabitants per square mile (1,578.3/km2). There were 24,887 housing units at an average density of 2,055.4 per square mile (793.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 78.14% White, 15.11% African American, 0.79% Asian, 0.29% Native American, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.91% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.26% of the population. There were 21,379 households, out of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.5% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.6% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 25.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,902, and the median income for a family was $42,366. Males had a median income of $28,262 versus $23,292 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,133. About 9.7% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.3% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

WaterTowerBradentonFL
Bradenton water tower

Bradenton is served by Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport and is connected to St. Petersburg by the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The Sunshine Skyway is a 5.5-mile (8.9 km) cross-bay bridge that rises 250 feet (76 m) above the bay at its highest point. Remnants of the old Skyway bridge have been converted into a fishing pier extending into Tampa Bay from both sides of the bay.

Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) buses serve Bradenton along with the cities/communities of Palmetto, Ellenton, Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach, Longboat Key, Tallevast and Samoset, with transfers to Sarasota and St. Petersburg. Free trolleys run north–south on Anna Maria Island, as well as to/from various points on the mainland. Amtrak charter buses run through downtown Bradenton outside the courthouse to Tampa Union Station and Venice.

Culture

Charming gallery one
Some of the restored homes
Artist at work
Hard at work in the studio

Bradenton is home to the Village of the Arts, a renovated neighborhood immediately south of downtown where special zoning laws allow residents to live and work in their homes. Many of these once dilapidated houses have been converted into studios, galleries, small restaurants and other small businesses. The Village of the Arts promotes its 'First Fridays' activities celebrating the seasons and different holidays. The Village of the Arts remains the largest arts district on the Gulf Coast.

The Manatee Players, who reside at the Manatee Performing Arts Center, have a three-year record of first-place wins within the Florida Theatre Conference and the Southeastern Theatre Conference competitions. In addition, the theatre currently holds the first place title from the American Association of Community Theatre competition.

Located on the Manatee River in downtown Bradenton is the South Florida Museum, Bishop Planetarium and Parker Manatee Aquarium. This one-stop museum-planetarium-aquarium offers a glimpse of Florida history, a star and multimedia show, and ongoing lecture and film series. The Parker Manatee Aquarium is the permanent home to Manatee County's most famous resident and official mascot, Snooty, the manatee. Born at the Miami Aquarium and Tackle Company on July 21, 1948, Snooty was one of the first recorded captive manatee births. He is the oldest manatee in captivity, and likely the oldest manatee in the world.

ArtCenter Manatee is the center for art and art education in Manatee County. The nearly 10,000 sq ft (930 m2). building in downtown Bradenton features three galleries, five classrooms, an Artists' Market gift shop and an art library featuring over 3,000 art volumes.

The nonprofit organization Realize Bradenton works with the above-listed cultural partners to promote Downtown Bradenton as a destination for the arts. It also produces events in the downtown area with a focus on arts & culture like the annual Bradenton Blues Festival, ArtSlam public art festival as well as several smaller public art and music events throughout the year.

Additionally, the town is the subject of the We The Kings song "This Is Our Town"; they, as well as the band Have Gun, Will Travel originate from Bradenton.

Points of interest

Bradenton FL South Florida Museum05
South Florida Museum


Economy

Tropicana Products was founded in Bradenton in 1947 by Anthony T. Rossi, an Italian immigrant. By 2004 it had over 8,000 employees and marketed its products throughout the United States. PepsiCo, Inc., acquired it in 1998. Tropicana's juice trains have been running to northern markets via CSX and predecessor railroads since 1971. In 2003, Pepsi relocated Tropicana's corporate headquarters to Chicago after it acquired Gatorade and consolidated its non-carbonated beverage businesses. However, their juice production facilities remain in Bradenton.

Champs Sports, a nationwide sports apparel chain, is headquartered in Bradenton. The department store chain Bealls is also headquartered in Bradenton.

Bradenton was significantly affected by the United States housing market correction, as reported by CNN, projecting a 24.8% loss in median home values by the third quarter of 2008. Real estate has shown a recovery since 2012, as home prices stabilize and inventory subsides.

Sports

Bradenton is the spring training home of Major League Baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates who play their home games at downtown's LECOM Park. During the regular baseball season, the stadium is home to the minor league Bradenton Marauders who play in the Florida State League in Class A-Advanced.

The city is home to the State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota Manatees sports teams.

Manatee County high schools produce several teams including Manatee High School whose football team was nationally ranked in the 1950s, 1980s, and 1990s and regained their national status in 2009. Manatee High School has won five football state championships. Bradenton is also home to the IMG Academy, the home of the U.S U-17 residential soccer program.

The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton was home of the 2015 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship.

Education

Manatee County Public Schools operates area public schools. Schools in the city limits include:

  • Manatee High School

The State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota's (SCF) main campus is located in Bayshore Gardens, and State College of Florida Collegiate School has a campus on the SCF Bradenton campus.

Notable people

See also

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