Nearly 500 years ago a Spanish Explorer by the name of Hernando DeSoto came ashore off the Manatee River in Florida in search of riches. What DeSoto found instead was the Tocobagan Indians that had inhabited the area for hundreds of years! Any contact that DeSoto had with the Native American Indians always ended in violence. DeSoto explored the area for four years and in 1542 he died of a fever and was buried along the banks of the Mississippi River. Once the Tocobagan Indians died out, the Seminole Indians stood in their steed awaiting the next explorer to come to the area. Hundreds of years passed, and in 1842 Josiah Gates came to the area from South Carolina with two brothers, Hector and Joseph Braden, the travelers were awestruck by the beauty that resided in Manatee County, and laid their claim to the area. The Braden brothers became the primary landowners of the settlement. Braden River and the City of Bradenton were both named in honor of the Braden brothers. It took no time at all for the citrus growers, farmers, cattle ranchers and fisherman to begin clearing the land and taking up residence in Manatee County. The beginning of the development of Manatee County was aided by the multiple waterways that provided the county with many sources of transportation. The development of the Railway System led to the bridges and roads that eventually tied all the land in the area together. By 1855 Manatee County was named in honor of the abundant sea cows or manatees that swim in our warm Florida waters.

Today Manatee County has become the home to cities such as Anna Maria, Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach, Longboat Key, Palmetto, Ellenton, Myakka City, Oneco, Parrish and Terra Ceia. With all that this county has to offer, it is no wonder why so many people are drawn to this area. With 150 miles of white sandy beaches, a sub tropical climate and many of the most charming Old Florida towns, there is always something to do, see or learn about! Approximately 20 championship golf courses dot the many square miles of Manatee County, from The Golf Club at Cypress Creek in Ruskin to the Heather Hills Golf Club in Bradenton, 18 holes of challenging golf is right around the corner! Long Boat Key, Florida is a barrier island on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico, providing many opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, shelling or just a day of relaxation and gazing at some of the most incredible Florida sunsets! Lake Manatee State Park extends three miles along the shore of Lake Manatee in Bradenton, Florida. It provides a boat ramp, fishing dock, picnic area and a swimming area.

While remembering its history, Manatee County continually strives to maintain the steady growth that has made this county ranked as the 21st Best Place to Live by Money Magazine! Being one of the slowest growing counties in the Central Florida area has made it possible for Manatee County to provide incredible real estate bargains. For those that are looking for prime country living at a reasonable price, Manatee County, Florida offers opportunities for many land lots with plenty of acreage. Single family homes, waterfront property, condominiums, mobile homes, land lot options and apartments are some of the options for relocating that are provided by this beautiful county.