History of the city of Bradenton, Florida

A city located on the Manatee River, Bradenton is a place with a significant history. Ancient artifacts that were recovered indicated that local Indian tribes had a presence on Anna Maria as long as 2000 years before the island was 'discovered' by Spanish explorers. These Indians were said to have more likely they ventured to the island to fish and swim in the surf. Timucan Indians are also thought to have resided in the area 1,000 years ago. In the present, the South Florida Museum features Native American and natural history exhibits, as well as historical dioramas. For a glimpse of life in 19th century Bradenton, visitors can tour the renovated historic buildings of Manatee Village Historical Park. 

The area is believed to have been discovered by the Spanish conquistador Hernando De Soto who discovered the place in 1530. Soto was known for his search for the legendary El Dorado. To remember De Soto’s discovery of the city, a memorial in 3000 Seventh Street was made in honor of the conquistador which marks the spot where he first arrived in Bradenton. However, despite of De Soto’s initial discovery, the city was named from Joseph Braden. Dr. Braden was a sugarcane magnate who settled in the area in 1853. Also in the early 1800s, sugar plantations took up much of the land along the river. Folklores tell that Braden’s fort-like home and sugar mill served as a refuge for early settlers against recurrent attacks from (Seminole Indian) Native Americans. Manatee County’s first permanent white settler was Josiah Gates who arrived in 1842. However the first settler on the island was George Emerson Bean, who built his 1893 homestead on the northern tip of the island in the area that now bears his name. Long before the community was known as Cortez Beach but during the late 20's the editor of the Bradenton Herald began calling the city Bradenton Beach and so the name Bradenton was created. In 1943, when the Florida the Florida legislature merged the cities of Manatee (incorporated in 1888) and Bradentown (incorporated in 1903), Bradenton was formed. Soon, developments were made in the city. One of the first projects was the construction of a bridge from the Village of Cortez to Bridge Street on the Island in 1921-1922. It was an important bridge because it made the transportation of the city better leading to its rapid progress. Consequently, Bridge Street became the center of the community. And in 1926 a bridge was added from the island to Longboat Key Bradenton. Also during the 1920s the first Bradenton Beach City was built. However, the current city hall was built in the late 1970s. And in 1952,  the city of Bradenton was incorporated and in 1967 the new draw bridge was built and then opened to  5th Street North. Today, Bradenton continues to preserve its heritage and value its history by making museums and celebrating historical events.