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MANATEE COUNTY CITIES |
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Anna Maria The City of Anna Maria is a residential community, situated
at the northern end of Anna Maria Island. This city is known for
its world class beaches, friendly people and laid-back
lifestyle. Our Island sister cities are Holmes Beach, just to
our south, and Bradenton Beach, which stretches to the southern
tip of the island. Holmes Beach is the largest city and the
commercial center of the Island. In Bradenton Beach, more
emphasis is on tourists and their activities. Bayshore Gardens Probably the most up and coming neighborhood in the greater Bradenton area. Bayshore gardens is comprised of older, smaller homes in a very convenient location. Along Bay Drive lies some of the widest bay front views of Sarasota Bay with boat access to most of the homes. Bradenton Bradenton is the largest city in the Greater Bradenton Area
with a 2002 population of approximately 50,300. It is also the
seat of government for Manatee County. A center for finance,
business, health care, and culture, Bradenton has a business
friendly environment. It is a city, yet it has small town charm
and appeal. Bradenton Beach Bradenton Beach is a small beach community at the southern tip of Anna Maria
Island, with 1,500 year-round residents. A vacation destination, Bradenton Beach
boasts a variety of accommodations from no-frill to luxury inns. Thirty-five
percent of the towns property is set aside for public recreation. At the
southern tip of the town are two large public beaches. The historic and
renovated Bridge Street is dotted with restaurants and nightlife. On Leffis Key,
a restored salt-water marsh, visitors can use nature trails, boardwalks, and
view Sarasota Bay from scenic overlooks.
Holmes Beach Holmes Beach is the largest of three municipalities on the barrier island of
Anna Maria and is bordered by Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Primarily a
residential community with a year-round population of almost 5,000, Holmes Beach
is also a popular vacation destination with numerous motels and cottages. Many
other wide, accessible beaches complement the Manatee County Public Beach.
Year-round events and festivals bring a strong sense of pride to the community. Lakewood Ranch Award-winning Lakewood Ranch is a 7,000 acre master-planned community encompassing all aspects of residential and commercial development. Seven villages, offering a variety of lifestyles from townhomes to estate living, share dramatic landscapes with forest and wetland preserves and hundreds of species of native wildlife. Recreational facilities include Lakewood Ranch Country Club and Athletic Center, 54 holes of Championship golf, the Sarasota Cricket Club, nine world-class polo fields and a variety of community parks, lakes and nature preserves. The community, also features shopping, dining and excellent schools and healthcare facilities, and was recently voted "Best Neighborhood" by the readers of Sarasota Magazine. Longboat Key Located south of Anna Maria Island, across the Longboat Pass, Longboat Key is
primarily a luxury resort and retirement community. The Key is shared by two
counties: Manatee in the north and Sarasota in the south. Longboat Keys 7,000
year-round residents enjoy 12 miles of Gulf-front beaches. A barrier island
lying between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Longboat Key features a
nationally known tennis resort, luxury resorts, fine dining, exclusive shops,
and two private golf courses. Manasota Key Five minutes from Venice yet a world away, secluded Manasota Key is as far from the hustle and bustle as it gets. A quiet winding road leads past one- and two-story homes that make palm trees seem like skyscrapers in comparison. Blind Pass Beach is one of the Sarasota Area's most secluded and adds a tranquil setting for the Hermitage Artist Retreat. A little further south, Manasota Key angles away from the mainland as the Intracoastal Waterway opens into North Lemon Bay. Here, manatees munch on unspoiled beds of sea grass, and dolphins play among mangrove islands home to rookeries for pelicans, cranes, and snowy egrets.
Palma Sola Manatee County's earliest, and still most prestigious, planned community offers one-of-a-kind Spanish-style, stucco and barrel-tiled roofed homes built in the 1920s and 1930s. Mixed in are several moderately priced ranch-style homes from the 1960s through 1980s, all sited along winding, shaded roads. Palmetto Palmetto is the second largest city in the Greater Bradenton
Area with a population slightly over 13,000. Located north of
Bradenton across the Manatee River, it is the home of the areas
agricultural industry, primarily the growing and shipping of
tomatoes. An Enterprise Zone in Palmetto offers tax benefits to
new and expanding businesses. Sarasota Sarasota, the center of the Theater and Arts District, offers a world of
experiences, including Main Street, long the setting for art festivals,
restaurants, and the ever-popular Saturday morning Farmers Market.
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