Facts about Bradenton, Florida. The Bradenton area of Florida includes Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, and Bradenton Beach, and is served by the Bradenton Herald newspaper. Bradenton is known as Florida's...
Bradenton is known as Florida's Gulf Island. It's on the West Coast of Florida about 45 minutes south of Tampa. We have a great visitor's guide that can be ordered on our website at www.slagulfislands.com. It's one of the best visitor's guides that I have ever seen because it's so in depth with everything from accommodations to meals to activities. We also have several publications to find out about local events. We have the Bradenton Herald, Island Magazine, Applause Magazine, Gulf Coast Family, the Longboat Key newspaper, Sarasota Herald Tribune, and the St. Petersburg Times. The Bradenton Herald and the Sarasota Herald Tribune are especially helpful with restaurant reviews and such.
Bradenton has 3 main areas associated with it, Bradenton Beach, Anna Maria Island, and Longboat Key. We're known as one of Florida's last undiscovered beach areas. There are no fast food restaurants or big hotel chains. Everything is cozy cottages and mom and pop shops. People know your name when you walk in and take a lot of time to make it a really personal visit. Even people from Tampa have no idea how amazing this place is the first time they visit.
Bradenton was originally settled by the Timucuan Indians, I believe. We're in Manatee County and have the Manatee River, obviously named for the manatees in the area. After being settled by the Indians, the land was later unsuccessfully claimed by Spanish explorers who tried to colonize the area in 1530s. In the 1800s, the development of industry made us what we are today.
