Manhattan, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Manhattan
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 Manhattan
Location in Manatee County
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| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Manatee |
| Elevation | 72 ft (22 m) |
| Area code(s) | 941 |
| GNIS feature ID | 295427 |
Manhattan was a city that was planned but never fully built. It was located in northern Manatee County, Florida, close to the town of Parrish. This happened during a time called the Florida land boom in the 1920s. The idea was for Manhattan to be the main part of a farming area called Manatee River Park Estates.
Contents
History of Manhattan, Florida
Planning a New City
In November 1925, two developers from Tampa, E.F. Hall and Lee B. James, bought a huge piece of land. It was about 14,000 acres in northeastern Manatee County. They wanted to build a new community there.
To get people interested, they held a big picnic and barbecue. About 2,000 people came to see the land. The developers hoped many people would want to buy property.
Building the Community
The first plan for Manhattan was drawn up on March 23, 1926. It had 65 blocks, and each block had 24 to 38 spots for homes. The land was sold in five- or ten-acre plots. These were meant to be "ranchettes," which are like small farms.
Advertisements at the time said the land was ready for farming. People could raise chickens or grow vegetables and citrus fruits. Later, a second plan made the area even bigger, with 158 blocks.
A large area was set aside for a school. Another part became Howe Park. The streets were named after U.S. presidents. Huyler Boulevard was planned as the main road in the new town. A two-story hotel was also built for people who came to look at the land. It was on the east side of what is now County Road 675. Manhattan even had its own post office from October 1926 to September 1934.
Challenges and Changes
The plans for Manhattan faced big problems because of two strong hurricanes. These storms hit south Florida in 1926 and 1928. Many investors stopped putting money into Florida. Manhattan and other projects like it suffered a lot.
The land for Manhattan eventually went back to the state of Florida because of unpaid taxes. Later, a law called the Murphy Act was passed. This law allowed people to pay old taxes on a property and then get the deed for that land. Even though the development failed, Manhattan was still shown on a map of Manatee County in 1943. It was located north of the Manatee River and Gilley Creek. Parrish-Manhattan Road, now County Road 675, runs near the area. Today, it's close to the Edward Chance Preserve.
From Ranch to New Homes
In 1944, a businessman named Hubert Rutland started buying up land in the area. He bought properties with unpaid taxes, including the former Manhattan subdivision. This land became part of his huge 30,000-acre ranch. The old Manhattan hotel, which became the ranch's headquarters, seems to have burned down over the years. Other original buildings also disappeared.
As of 2019, the area where Manhattan was once planned is being developed again. It is now becoming a new housing community called Aviary.
