Bradenton, Florida

Bradenton /ˈbreɪdəntən/ BRAY-den-ton is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's 2012 population to be 50,672. Bradenton is a principal city of the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2007 estimated population of 682,833. It is the county seat.

History

The area that would become Bradenton (originally spelled "Bradentown") was first 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:

Bradenton Beach, Florida

Bradenton Beach is a city on Anna Maria Island in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,482 at the 2000 census, and 1,561 in the 2005 U.S Census estimates. It is part of the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city occupies the southern part of Anna Maria Island and is one of three municipalities on the island. The others are Holmes Beach in the center and Anna Maria in the north.

History

A post office called Bradenton Beach has been in operation since 1941. Bradenton Beach was incorporated in 1953. The city took its name from nearby Bradenton.

Geography

Bradenton Beach is located at 27°28′16″N 82°41′59″W / 27.471006°N 82.699682°W / 27.471006; -82.699682.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²). 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) (50.00%) is water. However, according to the Bradenton Beach government website, it is an area of dive square miles.

Manatee River

The Manatee River is a 36-mile-long (58 km)river in Manatee County, Florida. The river forms in the northeastern corner of Manatee County and flows into the Gulf of Mexico at the southern edge of Tampa Bay.

Wildlife in and around the river includes alligators, herons, manatees, dolphins, and fish such as bass, bluegill, catfish, and gar. Bull sharks are occasionally found in the brackish water near its low-lying outlet. The river includes the Upper Manatee River Canoe Trail for paddlers.

Overview

The Manatee River has a watershed that is approximately 360 square miles (930 km²).Lake Manatee, an artificial reservoir, is located about midway in the river's course. The lower part of the river below the dam is an estuary, with Bradenton and smaller settlements located along its banks. The river's main tributary is the Braden River, which runs through the communities of River Club and Lakewood Ranch.

Watershed

The Manatee River watershed lies in the Tampa Bay sector of Manatee County. The watershed covers approximately 360 sq mi (932.4 km²). The Manatee River headwaters flow 45 mi (72.4 km) in a westerly direction towards the Gulf of Mexico and southern Tampa Bay. Two major river systems make up the Manatee River Watershed — Braden River and Manatee River. These two rivers have been impounded to create two reservoirs for potable supply — Ward Lake (also known as Bill Evers Reservoir) and Lake Manatee Reservoir. Ward Lake is located upstream on the narrow, winding Braden River. This reservoir, built in the 1930s, covers 2,400 acres and is responsible for the majority of the water for the city of Bradenton. The Lake Manatee Reservoir is located upstream on the Manatee River. This reservoir, built in 1967, is a 2,000 acre artificial reservoir used as Manatee County’s primary water supply.