Ellenton, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ellenton, Florida
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Gamble Plantation Mansion
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Location in Manatee County and the state of Florida
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Manatee |
| Government | |
| • Type | None |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.47 sq mi (11.57 km2) |
| • Land | 3.31 sq mi (8.56 km2) |
| • Water | 1.16 sq mi (3.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,129 |
| • Density | 1,248.56/sq mi (482.09/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
34222 (Ellenton)
34221 (Palmetto) |
| Area code(s) | 941 |
| FIPS code | 12-20375 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0282171 |
Ellenton is a small community in Manatee County, Florida, United States. It's called a "census-designated place" (CDP) because it's a specific area the government tracks for population, but it doesn't have its own city government. In 2020, about 4,129 people lived there. Ellenton is part of a larger area that includes the cities of North Port, Bradenton, and Sarasota.
Contents
History of Ellenton
Early Days and the Gamble Plantation
The oldest building in Ellenton is the Gamble Plantation. It was built between 1845 and 1850 by a person named Major Robert Gamble. This large house was part of a sugar farm where many people were forced to work. After the Civil War, the mansion became old and worn out.
In 1870, Major George Patten and his wife, Mary, bought the property. They decided to name the whole area "Ellenton" after their daughter, Ellen. A few years later, in 1881, the United States government officially recognized Ellenton as a place with its own post office.
The Fuller's Earth Plant
In 1903, a special factory opened in Ellenton along the Manatee River. This factory processed something called "fuller's earth." Fuller's earth is a type of clay used to clean and absorb oil and grease. The factory was owned by the Atlantic Refining Company and was quite large, employing over 150 people.
However, this factory had some bad luck with fires. It burned down in 1908, then again in 1912. Finally, in 1922, it caught fire one last time and was closed for good.
Geography and Location
Ellenton is located in the middle of Manatee County, Florida. You can find it at these coordinates: 27°31′22″N 82°31′33″W / 27.52278°N 82.52583°W. It sits on the north side of the Manatee River, which is a tidal river (meaning its water level changes with the ocean tides). To the west of Ellenton is the city of Palmetto.
Roads and Travel
Major roads run through Ellenton, making it easy to get around. U.S. Route 301 goes right through the center of the community. Interstate 75 forms the eastern edge of Ellenton. These two big highways meet at Exit 224 on I-75.
If you take US 301 west, you'll go into Palmetto and then cross the Manatee River into Bradenton. Bradenton is the main city for the county. If you go northeast on US 301, you'll reach Parrish, which is about 8 miles away. I-75 can take you north about 32 miles to the east side of Tampa, or south about 85 miles to Fort Myers.
Size of Ellenton
The Ellenton area, as defined for the census, covers about 4.5 square miles (11.57 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 3.3 square miles (8.56 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 1.2 square miles (3.00 square kilometers), is water.
Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 1,421 | — | |
| 1980 | 1,561 | 9.9% | |
| 1990 | 2,573 | 64.8% | |
| 2000 | 3,142 | 22.1% | |
| 2010 | 4,275 | 36.1% | |
| 2020 | 4,129 | −3.4% | |
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In 2020, Ellenton had a population of 4,129 people. There were 1,847 households, which means about that many homes or families. The employment rate was 46.1%, showing how many people had jobs. The average income for a household was about $59,723. About 11.2% of the people in Ellenton lived below the poverty line.
When it comes to education, about 46.9% of adults (25 years or older) had finished high school. About 10.5% of adults had a college degree or higher.
Some people in Ellenton speak different languages at home. About 20.7% of the population spoke Spanish. A small number spoke other European or Asian languages. Also, about 9.0% of the people living in Ellenton were born in another country. About 28.2% of the population was 65 years or older.
Local Industries
Ellenton has been home to different types of businesses over the years.
Modern Business
In January 2012, a company called Feld Entertainment bought a large business center in Ellenton. This company is famous for producing live shows like Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and Monster Jam. They planned to move most of their operations and their main headquarters to Ellenton over five years.
Historical Industries
As mentioned before, a "fuller's earth" plant operated in the early 1900s. This plant mined clay that was used for cleaning and absorbing oil.
Agriculture has always been a key industry in Ellenton, starting around the 1850s. The Gamble Plantation grew sugarcane. Today, vegetable farms and citrus groves (where oranges, grapefruits, and other citrus fruits are grown) are still very important businesses in Ellenton.
Images for kids
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The historic Gamble Plantation Mansion in Ellenton.
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A map showing Ellenton's location in Manatee County, Florida.
See also
In Spanish: Ellenton (Florida) para niños
