Manatee

In search of a bounty of gold, Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto and his conquistadors stepped ashore the banks of the Manatee River, landing at Shaw's Point in 1539. They were so taken with the beauty of the water, they named it La Bahia de Espiritu Santo, or Bay of the Holy Spirit.

In 1821, Florida became an American possession, and the area to the south of the mouth of Tampa Bay would eventually become Manatee County. In 1842, Josiah Gates settled the area, and two brothers named Hector and Joseph Braden became the major landowners. The County was named after the manatee “sea cow” that glides through area waters, and the Bradens gave their name to a river and the town of Bradenton.

Farmers, cattle ranchers and citrus growers cleared the area and settled in. The Citrus Belt was created, and along with locally caught fish supplied markets as far away as New Orleans and Key West. Roads connected Manatee County to Tampa, Sarasota and the rest of the state, and a ferry ran to St. Petersburg. All commerce came through Tampa, until Port Manatee was built; now making it the closest U.S. port to the Panama Canal.

In 1970, the population of the county was 97,115. It has grown to 322,833 as of 2010, gaining some of the winter visitor population and also year round residents from Pinellas County looking for bargain real estate. In fact, it has been ranked the 21st Best Place to Live in America by Money Magazine and the Second Best Mid-Size City to Work from Home by PC Magazine.

More than half of Manatee County's workforce is employed in local service industries or retail trade. Their skill helps support the region's tourism and retirement industries. Agricultural continues to employ a large workforce, as well as beef and dairy production. The local economy is supported by Port Manatee and the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge connects Manatee to St. Petersburg, and Interstate 75 connects through Tampa to the rest of Florida.

Manatee County has developed a reputation for being "business-friendly". Members of local government work with area business leaders to devise financial incentives, developers' agreements and other programs to make Manatee County hospitable to new businesses.

• DeSoto National Memorial
• Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum
• Gamble Plantation
• Manatee Village Historical Park
• Ringling Art Museum and Ringling Mansion
• South Florida Museum

• Anna Maria Island Winterfest and Springfest Festivals of Fine Arts
• Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival
• SW Florida Heritage Festival
• Manatee County Fair
• Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Events