View source for Manatee County, Florida

{{short description|County in Florida, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county             = Manatee County
| state              = Florida
| type               = [[U.S. county]]
| official_name      =
| ex image           = Manatee_County_Administration_Building.jpg
| ex image size      =
| ex image cap       = Manatee County Administration Building
| flag size          =
| flag border        =
| flag wl            =
| seal               = Manatee County Government Seal.png
| seal size          = 75
| seal wl            =
| logo               = File:Logo of Manatee County, Florida.svg
| nickname           =
| motto              =
| demonym            =
| ZIP codes          =
| area codes         = 941
| founded date       = January 9
| founded year       = 1855
| named for          = Florida manatee
| leader type        =
| leader name        =
| seat               =
| seat wl            = Bradenton
| city type          =
| largest city       =
| largest city wl    = Bradenton
| area_total_sq_mi   = 893
| area_land_sq_mi    = 743
| area_water_sq_mi   = 150
| area percentage    = 16.8
| pop                = 399710
| census yr          = 2020
| pop_est_as_of = 2023<ref name="Est2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 11, 2025}}</ref>
| population_est     = 441095
| density_sq_mi      = auto
| district           = 16th
| district2          =
| district3          =
| time zone          = Eastern
| tz note            =
| web                = www.mymanatee.org
| footnotes          =
| coordinates        = {{coord|27.48|-82.36|region:US-FL_type:county|display=title}} <!-- {{coord|lat|N|lon|W|display=title}} --> }}
'''Manatee County''' is located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Florida]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 U.S. census]], the population was 399,710.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/manateecountyflorida/PST045221|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=February 20, 2020}}</ref> Manatee County is part of the [[Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area|North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. Its [[county seat]] and largest city is [[Bradenton, Florida|Bradenton]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was created in 1855 and named for the [[Florida manatee]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Publications of the Florida Historical Society|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WZQ-AAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA33|year=1908|publisher=Florida Historical Society|page=33}}</ref> Florida's official [[marine mammal]]. Features of Manatee County include access to the southern part of the [[Tampa Bay]] estuary, the [[Sunshine Skyway Bridge]], and the [[Manatee River]].

==History==

=== Prehistoric history ===
The area now known as Manatee County had been inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years. Shell middens and other archaeological digs have been conducted throughout the county including at [[Terra Ceia, Florida|Terra Ceia]] and at [[Perico, Florida|Perico Island]]. These digs revealed materials belonging to peoples from the [[Woodland period]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Willey |first1=Gordon |title=Culture Sequence in the Manatee Region of West Florida |journal=American Antiquity |date=January 1948 |volume=13 |issue=3 |page=210 |doi=10.2307/275425 |jstor=275425 |s2cid=161791092 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/275425 |access-date=March 28, 2022|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bullen |first1=Ripley |title=Terra Ceia Site, Manatee County, Florida |journal=Florida Anthropological Society |date=1951 |pages=7–9 |url=https://ufdc.ufl.edu/AA00066144/00001 |access-date=March 28, 2022}}</ref>

=== European exploration and early settlement ===
[[File:Manatee Map from 1856.jpg|310px|thumb|Map of Manatee County in 1856, shortly after its creation]]

Some historians have suggested that the southern mouth of the Manatee River was the landing site of the [[Hernando de Soto (explorer)#1539 to early 1540 in Florida|De Soto Expedition]].<ref>Bullen. p. 7</ref>

Due to conflict during the [[Patriot War (Florida)|Patriot War]] and [[Seminole Wars|First Seminole War]], many Native American and African American refugees fled to the Tampa Bay region of Florida and some settled in modern-day Manatee County.<ref>Oldham, Vickie, ''[https://www.lookingforangola.org/ Looking for Angola]''</ref> The settlement they founded on the Manatee River was called [[Angola, Florida|Angola]].<ref>Eger, Issac, ''[https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/news-and-profiles/angola-enslaved-people-florida Angola Highlights Florida’s History as a Haven for Escaped Enslaved People: The settlement has been called one of the most significant historical sites in Florida and perhaps the United States]'', Sarasota Magazine, October 19, 2023</ref> By 1819, the population of Angola may have reached as high as 600-700 people.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Rivers |first1=Larry E. |title=Slavery in Florida : territorial days to emancipation |date=2000 |publisher=University Press of Florida |location=Gainesville |isbn=9780813018133 |pages=7–8}}</ref><ref>Time Sifters, ''[https://www.timesifters.org/rememberingthemanateemaroons/ Remembering The Manatee River Maroons Of 1821: Heritage, Archaeology, and Digital Reconstructions]'', Time Sifters Archaeology Society, Sarasota, Florida</ref>

The Manatee area was opened to settlement in 1842 with the passing of the federal [[Armed Occupation Act]].<ref name=statutes>{{cite web|url=http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=llsl&fileName=005/llsl005.db&recNum=539|title=An Act to provide for the armed occupation and settlement of the unsettled part of the Peninsula of East Florida|access-date=April 13, 2022}}</ref> Early settlements included the Manatee Colony led by Colonel Samuel Reid that numbered thirty-one individuals both black and white.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Knetsch |first1=Joe |title=The Army Vs. The Indians Vs. The Settlers: The South Florida Frontier Between the Seminole Wars |journal=Sunland Tribune |date=2000 |volume=26 |issue=10 |page=2 |url=https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1337&context=sunlandtribune |access-date=April 13, 2022}}</ref> Other prominent early settlers were Joseph and Hector Braden who moved into an area near the Manatee River in 1842.<ref name="bradenton">{{Cite news|url=http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article34739931.html#0|title=Manatee History Matters: Braidentown, Bradentown, Bradenton - What's in a name?|work=bradenton|access-date=April 5, 2017|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170522164614/http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article34739931.html|archive-date=May 22, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The two had lost their land for their plantations in Northern Florida during the [[Panic of 1837]]. They were said to have heard that there was abundant land in the area. The brothers moved into a log cabin five miles north of the mouth of the Manatee River. Four years later Hector drowned while trying to cross the Manatee River on his horse during a hurricane. Despite this tragic event, Joseph decided he would still build the Braden sugar mill{{efn|Sugar production became a major industry in the area during the 1840s and several major sugar works were established.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Camp |first1=Paul |title=The Attack on Braden Castle: Robert Braden Castle: Robert Gamble t Gamble's Account |journal=Tampa Bay History |date=1979 |volume=1 |issue=8 |pages=1–8 |url=https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1007&context=tampabayhistory |access-date=June 26, 2023}}</ref>}} at the mouth of the Manatee River and the Braden River. He later built a dock where Main Street was and fortified the area near his house by building a stockade. A few years later in 1851, he built the Braden Castle, which was made out of tabby and served as his residence. In spring of 1856, the fortified home was attacked by Seminole Indians during the [[Seminole Wars|Third Seminole War]].{{sfn|Camp|1979|page=1}} It later became a popular tourist attraction in the early 1900s with [[Tin Can Tourists]]. He would only stay there for the next six years before moving to [[Tallahassee, Florida|Tallahassee]].<ref name="bradenton"/>

=== County formation and development === 
Manatee County was carved out from a vast [[Hillsborough County, Florida|Hillsborough County]] in January 1855 and led by [[Florida Senate]] President [[Hamlin Valentine Snell|Hamlin V. Snell]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Smith, Jr. |first=Gilbert A. |title=Lawyers & Legends of Manatee County: The History of Lawyers in Manatee County from 1855-2012 |publisher=Johnson Printing, Bradenton, FL |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-615-74080-5 |pages=}}</ref>  The new county covered 5,000 square miles and included all of what are now [[Charlotte County, Florida|Charlotte County]], [[DeSoto County, Florida|DeSoto County]], [[Glades County, Florida|Glades County]], [[Hardee County, Florida|Hardee County]], [[Highlands County, Florida|Highlands County]], [[Sarasota County, Florida|Sarasota County]], and part of [[Lee County, Florida|Lee County]].<ref>{{cite web|title = Pioneer Life in Manatee County|url = https://www.mymanatee.org/home/government/departments/community-services/kids-pages/our-history/pioneer-life.html|website = www.mymanatee.org|access-date = January 25, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160201151358/https://www.mymanatee.org/home/government/departments/community-services/kids-pages/our-history/pioneer-life.html|archive-date = February 1, 2016|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Manatee County Sheriffs Office: 1855-2005 150th Anniversary History and Pictorial |date=2005 |publisher=Turner Publishing Company |location=United States |page=7}}</ref> The original county seat was Manatee, a village on the southern shore of the Manatee River in what now is eastern Bradenton. In 1866, the county seat was moved from the village of Manatee to [[Pine Level, DeSoto County, Florida|Pine Level]], as a result of a referendum mandated by the Florida Legislature.<ref name=":1" />  In 1887, the county seat was moved again due to the creation of [[DeSoto County, Florida|DeSoto County]] within the existing boundaries.<ref name=":2" />  Braiden Town ([[Bradenton, Florida|Bradenton]]) was selected as the new county seat by referendum of the county residents who mostly resided near the Manatee River.<ref name=":1" /> In 1921, Sarasota County was created by the [[Florida Legislature]] and further reducing Manatee County to its current boundaries.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Morris |first=Allen |title=The Florida Handbook 1997-1998 |publisher=The Peninsular Publishing Company, Tallahassee, FL |year=1997 |edition=26th Biennial |pages=}}</ref>

=== American Civil War ===  
Following the Seminole Wars, Manatee County continued to grow both in population and in economic output. Hogs and some sheep were raised, but the land was primarily used for cattle raising.{{efn|The cattle to person ratio in Manatee County in 1860 was 37 to one.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Otto |first1=John Solomon |title=Open-Range Cattle Herding in Antebellum South Florida |journal=Southeastern Geographer |date=May 1986 |volume=26 |issue=1 |page=56 |doi=10.1353/sgo.1986.0001 |jstor=44370789 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44370789 |access-date=8 May 2025}}</ref>}} Processed sugar and molasses was produced and exported. This agricultural economy, like much of the south, was increasingly becoming reliant on slave labor.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Matthews |first1=Janet |title=Edge of Wilderness |date=1983 |publisher=Caprine Press |location=Tulsa, OK |isbn=0914381008 |page=249}}</ref> A federal census in 1860 showed that the county had a population of 601 white people and 214 enslaved black people.<ref>{{cite web |title=1860 8th Federal Census |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1860/population/1860a-09.pdf |access-date=April 11, 2022}}</ref> After the outbreak of the [[American Civil War]], Manatee County provided supplies to the Confederate army. Aside from the [[Union blockade]], the Federal army dispatched raiding parties throughout Florida to further limit the Confederate supply chain. For example, in August 1864, the Union schooner [[USS Stonewall (1863)|USS Stonewall]] came up the Manatee river on a raid. According to the Florida State Archives, Dr. Braden's sugar works was destroyed during the raid.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dr. Joseph Addison Braden's sugar mill - Bradenton, Florida |url=https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/25724 |publisher=State Archives of Florida |access-date=June 26, 2023}}</ref> However, another source states that Braden's property was left untouched.{{sfn|Camp|1979|page=3}}

According to a partial list of soldiers of the Confederate States of America, the county also sent at least 100 of its citizens to fight.{{sfn|Matthews|1983|page=254}} Some of the men from Manatee would be recruited to the [[7th Florida Infantry Regiment]], which fought as part of the [[Army of Tennessee]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Battle Unit Details: 7th Regiment, Florida Infantry |url=https://www.nps.gov/civilwar/search-battle-units-detail.htm?battleUnitCode=CFL0007RI |website=nps.gov |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=August 23, 2022}}</ref>

Within Manatee County is the [[Gamble Plantation Historic State Park|Gamble Plantation]], a sugar plantation and home of Major Robert Gamble.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Manatee Genealogical Society - Manatee County|url=https://mgsfl.org/cpage.php?pt=12|access-date=May 18, 2021|website=mgsfl.org}}</ref> According to some, following the Civil War, the Confederate Secretary of State, [[Judah P. Benjamin]], took refuge at the mansion before escaping to England.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=Bob |title=Judah P. Benjamin Confederate Memorial at Gamble Plantation - Ellenton, Florida |url=https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/35760 |website=Florida Memory |publisher=Florida Department of State |access-date=April 4, 2022}}</ref>

{{Further|Sarasota Assassination Society}}

== Geography ==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|893|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|743|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|150|sqmi}} (17%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

=== Adjacent counties ===
* [[Hillsborough County, Florida|Hillsborough County]] – north
* [[Polk County, Florida|Polk County]] – northeast
* [[Hardee County, Florida|Hardee County]] – east
* [[DeSoto County, Florida|DeSoto County]] – southeast
* [[Sarasota County, Florida|Sarasota County]] – south

=== State & Nationally protected areas ===
[[Image:Great Egret - Myakka River State Park.jpg|thumb|right|A [[great egret]] in [[Myakka River State Park]]]]
* [[De Soto National Memorial]]
* [[Passage Key National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Lake Manatee State Park]]
* [[Terra Ceia Preserve|Terra Ceia Preserve State Park]]
* [[Myakka River State Park]]
* [[Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site]]
* [[Beker-Wingate Creek State Park]]

=== Rivers ===
* [[Manatee River]]
** [[Wares Creek]]
** [[Braden River]]
*** [[Gamble Creek]]
* [[Bowlees Creek]]

=== Lakes ===
* [[Ward Lake (Florida)|Ward Lake]]
* [[Lake Parrish]]
* [[Lake Manatee]]

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1860=854
|1870=1931
|1880=3544
|1890=2895
|1900=4663
|1910=9550
|1920=18712
|1930=22502
|1940=26098
|1950=34704
|1960=69168
|1970=97115
|1980=148442
|1990=211707
|2000=264002
|2010=322833
|2020=399710
|estyear=2023
|estimate=441095
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 31, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="Census">{{cite web |url=http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0762158.html |website=Infoplease |title=Preference for Racial or Ethnic Terminology |access-date=February 8, 2006}}</ref><ref name="2022PopulationEstimate">{{cite web |title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2022 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |website=County Population Totals: 2020-2022 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=March 30, 2023 |date=March 30, 2023 }}</ref>
}}

{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Manatee County racial composition as of 2020'''<br /> (NH = Non-Hispanic){{efn|Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.<ref>https://www.census.gov/ {{nonspecific|date=August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=About the Hispanic Population and its Origin |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html |website=www.census.gov |access-date=May 18, 2022}}</ref>}}
!Race
!Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US12081&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2 |access-date=May 27, 2022 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US12081&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=May 27, 2022 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|236,950
|273,101
|73.4%
|68.32%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|27,228
|31,147
|8.43%
|7.79%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|608
|779
|0.19%
|0.19%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|5,203
|8,433
|1.61%
|2.11%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] (NH)
|168
|246
|0.05%
|0.06%
|-
|Some Other Race (NH)
|521
|1,583
|0.16%
|0.4%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|4,200
|13,442
|1.3%
|3.36%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]]
|47,955
|70,979
|14.85%
|17.76%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''322,833'''
|'''399,710'''
|
|
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 399,710 people, 150,345 households, and 99,157 families residing in the county. By age, the population was spread out as such: 4.6% under 5 years old, 18.0% under 18 years old, and 28.1% 65 years and over. 51.7% of the population was female.

The median income for a household in the county was $59,963 in 2020 dollars and a per capita income in the past 12 months of $35,146. There was a reported 10.9% of the population living in poverty.

== Economy ==
[[Bealls (Florida)|Bealls]] of Florida has its headquarters and was founded 1915 in [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] Manatee County.<ref>"[http://www.beallsinc.com/contactus.shtml Contact Us] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091224194231/http://www.beallsinc.com/contactus.shtml |date=December 24, 2009 }}." Bealls (Florida). Retrieved on December 14, 2009.</ref><ref>"[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US1263225&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on Samoset CDP, Florida]{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on December 14, 2009.</ref>

[[Tropicana Products|Tropicana]] was founded in Manatee County in the 1950s.<ref>Hawkins, R. Rossi, Anthony Talamo (1900-1993), businessman. American National Biography. Retrieved March 28, 2022, from https://www-anb-org.wikipedialibrary.idm.oclc.org/view/10.1093/anb/9780198606697.001.0001/anb-9780198606697-e-1002203.</ref> Tropicana was bought by [[PepsiCo]] in 2001. PepsiCo sold Tropicana to a French private equity firm in 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lucas |first1=Amelia |title=PepsiCo to sell Tropicana and other juice brands for $3.3 billion |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/03/pepsico-to-sell-tropicana-and-other-juice-brands-for-3point3-billion.html#:~:text=PepsiCo%20has%20agreed%20to%20sell,a%20French%20private%20equity%20firm. |access-date=March 28, 2022 |agency=CNBC |date=August 3, 2021}}</ref>

== Libraries ==
{{Infobox library
| library_name = Manatee County Public Library System
| library_logo = 
| logo_size = 
| logo_alt = 
| image = 
| image_size = 
| alt = 
| caption = 
| type = Public
| scope = 
| established = 1964
| ref_legal_mandate = 
| location = 1301 Barcarrota Blvd West<br />[[Bradenton, Florida]] 34203
| coordinates = {{coord|27|29|55.2|N|82|34|29|W|display=inline}}
| num_branches = 7
| items_collected = books, movies, newspapers
| collection_size = 30,000
| criteria = 
| legal_deposit = 
| req_to_access = 
| annual_circulation = 
| pop_served = 322,000
| members = 20,000
| budget = $25,000
| director = 
| num_employees = 120
| website = {{URL|http://www.mymanatee.org/home/government/departments/neighborhood-services/library.html|mymanatee.org/library}}
}}

The [[Manatee County Public Library]] System offers a collection of adult, young adult, and children's materials, as well as a genealogy section and a local history collection in the form of the Eaton Florida History Reading Room.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://manatee.hosted.civiclive.com/departments/manatee_county_public_library_system/borrow___explore_collections/history_genealogy |title=History & Genealogy - Manatee County |website=mymanatee.org |access-date=August 25, 2022}}</ref> Public computers are available at all library locations. The library also has a digital collection that includes e-books through [[OverDrive, Inc.]] and Libby; television shows, movies and more e-books through [[Hoopla (digital media service)|Hoopla]]; and magazines through Flipster;<ref>{{cite web |title=E-Source Home > Entertainment: Movies, Music, & More |url=https://manatee.polarislibrary.com/polaris/Search/misc/esources.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.3&Category=172 |website=mymanatee.org |access-date=August 25, 2022}}</ref> and local images and documents from the late nineteenth century to the early 1980s.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160814224338/http://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/]

The libraries also offer author luncheons, children's story times, summer reading programs, job fairs, and book discussion groups.

The library system serves the county in seven locations:
* Central - [[Bradenton]]
* Palmetto - [[Palmetto, Florida|Palmetto]]
* Braden River - [[Bradenton]]
* Island - [[Holmes Beach]]
* South Manatee - [[Bradenton]]
* Rocky Bluff - [[Ellenton, Florida|Ellenton]]
* Lakewood Ranch - [[Bradenton]]
* Talking Book Library is administered through the Bureau of Braille and Talking Books Library, Daytona [https://web.archive.org/web/20160628025649/http://dbs.myflorida.com/Talking%20Books%20Library/]

In September 2021, a seventh branch was approved by county commissioners, to be built in Lakewood Ranch.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mendoza |first1=Jesse |title=New library coming to Lakewood Ranch |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/manatee/2021/10/27/lakewood-ranch-getting-new-library-after-6-1-vote-manatee-county/8551720002/ |access-date=April 6, 2022 |agency=Sarasota Herald Tribune |date=October 27, 2021}}</ref> The library's grand opening was on January 12, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lakewood Ranch Library Grand Opening January 12 |url=https://www.mymanatee.org/news___events/what_s_new/lakewood_ranch_library_grand_opening_january_12 |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=www.mymanatee.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

Library cards are free to those who reside, own property, attend school, or work in Manatee County. Non-residents may obtain a temporary card upon payment of a $25.00 annual fee.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Library Cards |url=https://www.mymanatee.org/departments/manatee_county_public_library_system/library_services/library_cards |access-date=March 23, 2022 |website=www.mymanatee.org |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mymanatee.org/home/government/departments/neighborhood-services/library/library-cards.html |title="Library Card Policies" Retrieved March 15, 2015 |access-date=March 15, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326221552/http://www.mymanatee.org/home/government/departments/neighborhood-services/library/library-cards.html |archive-date=March 26, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>http://www.mymanatee.org/home/government/departments/neighborhood-services/library/locations-hours.html| {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304101122/http://www.mymanatee.org/home/government/departments/neighborhood-services/library/locations-hours.html%7C |date=March 4, 2016 }} "Locations and Hours: Manatee County Public Library System" Retrieved April 19, 2013</ref>

Manatee County participates in the [[Little Free Library]] program. There are several Little Free Libraries at parks and other public places around the county.<ref>{{cite web |title=Little Free Library Map and Search Tool |url=https://littlefreelibrary.org/map/ |website=littlefreelibrary.org |access-date=August 25, 2022}}</ref>

=== History of libraries ===
[[File:Bradentown Library.jpg|thumb|alt=Original Bradentown Library |Original Bradenton Library]]
[[File:Palmetto Carnegie Library.jpg|thumb|alt=Palmetto's Carnegie Library |Palmetto's Carnegie Library, built in 1914]]
[[File:Bradenton Carnegie Library.jpg|thumb|alt=Bradenton's Carnegie Library |Bradenton's Carnegie Library, built in 1918]]
Manatee County's first public library was a privately owned rental library created by Julia Fuller at the Mrs. Bass Dry Goods store in 1898. The county's first independent library opened in Bradenton in 1907, followed a [[Carnegie Library]] in Palmetto in 1914 and another in Bradenton in 1918. For much of the twentieth century, both cities' libraries were free to city residents while county residents had to pay a non-resident fee. In 1964, the Bradenton and Palmetto library associations merged with the Manatee County government to create the Manatee County Public Library System. This was followed by the establishment of a bookmobile for rural areas in 1964 and a Talking Books program for the blind in 1966.<ref>Jasper, C. & McCook, K. (1998). The Florida Library History Project. University of South Florida, Tampa. Retrieved from https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED422005.pdf on February 19, 2022. pp. 180-181.</ref>

As demands on the bookmobile grew and the library collection outstripped the existing buildings in Bradenton and Palmetto, the first branch of the Manatee County Public Library system was built in Bayshore in 1967, followed by a new branch on East Ninth Street in 1969 and an Island branch in 1971, the last of which was moved into a new building in 1983. A new building for the Palmetto Library was built in 1969, followed by the modern Central Public Library in downtown Bradenton in 1978.<ref>Jasper & McCook. p. 182</ref>

The 1990s saw a period of rapid growth in Manatee County and the library system grew accordingly, with the Braden River, Rocky Bluff, and South Manatee branches opening in 1991, 1994, and 1998, respectively. The Braden River branch moved to a new building in 1997. The Rocky Bluff location would be moved to a larger location, featuring a built in café, in 2011. The new location is still physically within Ellenton. The additions as well as investment into various technologies such as modern computers, a 3-D Printing Lab, as well as new loanable items, brings Manatee County Libraries to its modern services.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Library History|url=https://www.mymanatee.org/departments/manatee_county_public_library_system/about_manatee_libraries/library_history_|access-date=November 29, 2021|website=www.mymanatee.org|language=en-US|archive-date=November 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129164548/https://www.mymanatee.org/departments/manatee_county_public_library_system/about_manatee_libraries/library_history_|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Reciprocal borrowing began in 2000 between Manatee and Sarasota County Libraries, which would be followed by statewide reciprocal borrowing programs. Starting in 2017, the Manatee County library system began offering items including musical instruments, tools, telescopes, binoculars, cake pans, hotspots, and museum passes. During the [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19 pandemic]], the library system began offering [[Hotspot (Wi-Fi)|WiFi hotspots]] to patrons in order to provide internet service remotely to work safely and at home. This began in Spring of 2020.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}

On December 15, 2021, the county broke ground for a new East County library, which was to serve the community of Lakewood Ranch. The new library was scheduled to open mid-2023.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lockwood |first1=Scott |title=Construction of the new East County library in Lakewood Ranch officially breaks ground |url=https://www.yourobserver.com/article/construction-of-the-new-east-county-library-in-lakewood-ranch-officially-breaks-ground |access-date=June 14, 2022 |agency=Your Observer |date=December 17, 2021}}</ref> The new library, dubbed the Lakewood Ranch Library, had its grand opening on January 12, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lakewood Ranch Library Grand Opening January 12 |url=https://www.mymanatee.org/news___events/what_s_new/lakewood_ranch_library_grand_opening_january_12 |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=www.mymanatee.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Education ==
=== Primary and secondary education ===
* [[Manatee County School District]] – Public K-12 School district serving all of Manatee County

=== Higher education ===
* [[Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine]] (LECOM) Bradenton – Private, nonprofit graduate school of medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy
* [[State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota]] (SCF) – Public, four-year state college, branch campus of State College of Florida
* [[University of South Florida Sarasota–Manatee|University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee]] campus (USF)-Preeminent, Public Research University and member of the American Association of Universities (AAU)

== Communities ==
[[Image:Cities of Manatee County.svg|thumb|400px|Map of Manatee County indicating incorporated municipalities: {{Ordered list|list_style_type=decimal|[[Anna Maria, Florida|Anna Maria]]|[[Bradenton, Florida|Bradenton]]|[[Bradenton Beach, Florida|Bradenton Beach]]|[[Holmes Beach, Florida|Holmes Beach]]|[[Longboat Key, Florida|Longboat Key]]|[[Palmetto, Florida|Palmetto]]}}
]]

=== Cities ===
* [[Anna Maria, Florida|Anna Maria]]
* [[Bradenton, Florida|Bradenton]]
* [[Bradenton Beach, Florida|Bradenton Beach]]
* [[Holmes Beach, Florida|Holmes Beach]]
* [[Palmetto, Florida|Palmetto]]

===Town===
* [[Longboat Key, Florida|Longboat Key (part)]]

===Census-designated places===
{{div col}}
* [[Bayshore Gardens, Florida|Bayshore Gardens]]
* [[Cortez, Florida|Cortez]]
* [[Ellenton, Florida|Ellenton]]
* [[Lakewood Ranch, Florida|Lakewood Ranch (part)]]
* [[Memphis, Florida|Memphis]]
* [[Samoset, Florida|Samoset]]
* [[South Bradenton, Florida|South Bradenton]]
* [[West Bradenton, Florida|West Bradenton]]
* [[West Samoset, Florida|West Samoset]]
* [[Whitfield, Manatee County, Florida|Whitfield]]
{{div col end}}

=== Unincorporated places ===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Cedar Hammock, Florida|Cedar Hammock]]
* [[Duette, Florida|Duette]]
* [[Elwood Park, Florida|Elwood Park]]
* [[Fort Hamer, Florida|Fort Hamer]]
* [[Foxleigh, Florida|Foxleigh]]
* [[Gillette, Florida|Gillette]]
* [[Lake Manatee, Florida|Lake Manatee]]
* [[Manavista, Florida|Manavista]]
* [[Manhattan, Florida|Manhattan]]
* [[Marsh Island (Manatee River)|Marsh Island]]
* [[Memphis Heights, Florida|Memphis Heights]]
* [[Myakka City, Florida|Myakka City]]
* [[Oak Knoll, Florida|Oak Knoll]]
* [[Oneco, Florida|Oneco]]
* [[Palm View, Florida|Palm View]]
* [[Palma Sola, Florida|Palma Sola]]
* [[Parrish, Florida|Parrish]]
* [[Rattlesnake Key (Tampa Bay)|Rattlesnake Key]]
* [[Rubonia, Florida|Rubonia]]
* [[Rye, Florida|Rye]]
* [[Snead Island, Florida|Snead Island]]
* [[Tara, Florida|Tara]]
* [[Terra Ceia, Florida|Terra Ceia]]
* [[Verna, Florida|Verna]]
* [[Village of the Arts]]
* [[Ward Lake (Florida)|Ward Lake]]
* [[Waterbury, Florida|Waterbury]]
* [[Willow, Florida|Willow]]
{{div col end}}

== Transportation ==
Manatee County has a county transportation service, [[Manatee County Area Transit|MCAT]]. It serves this county, [[Pinellas County, Florida|Pinellas County]], and [[Sarasota County, Florida|Sarasota County]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ridemcat.org/|title=MCAT|website=www.ridemcat.org|language=en-US|access-date=April 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402081256/http://www.ridemcat.org/|archive-date=April 2, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Airports ===
* [[Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport]]
* Airport Manatee 48X, a small local airport located near US Highway 41 and SeaPort Manatee.

=== Major Roads ===
=== Interstates ===
* [[File:I-75.svg|25px]] [[Interstate 75 in Florida|Interstate 75]] – the county's major north-south [[limited-access]] [[freeway]]
* [[File:I-275.svg|30px]] [[Interstate 275 in Florida|Interstate 275]] – the Interstate begins westward from I-75 near [[Palmetto, Florida|Palmetto]] and has an interchange with [[US Highway 41]] (Tamiami Trail) and begins a concurrency with [[US Route 19]] for {{convert|13|miles}} including the [[Sunshine Skyway Bridge]]

=== U.S. Highways ===

* [[File:US 19.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 19]]
* [[File:US 41.svg|25px]] [[Tamiami Trail|U.S. Route 41, Tamiami Trail]]
* [[File:US 301.svg|30px]] [[U.S. Route 301 in Florida|U.S. Route 301]]

=== State and County Roads ===

* [[File:Florida 64.svg|25px]] [[Florida State Road 64|State Road 64]]
* [[File:Florida 70.svg|25px]] [[Florida State Road 70|State Road 70]]
* [[File:Florida 684.svg|30px]] [[Florida State Road 684|State Road 684 (Cortez Road)]]
* [[File:Florida 789.svg|30px]] [[Florida State Road 789|State Road 789]]
* [[File:Florida 62.svg|30px]] [[Florida State Road 62|State Road 62]]
* [[File:Florida 37.svg|30px]] [[Florida State Road 37|State Road 37]]
* [[File:CR 675 jct.svg|25px]] [[List of county roads in Manatee County, Florida|Rutland Road]]
* [[File:CR 610 jct.svg|25px]] [[List of county roads in Manatee County, Florida|University Parkway]]

=== Waterways ===
* [[Intracoastal Waterway]]
* [[Manatee River]]

=== Ports ===
* [[SeaPort Manatee]]

== Government ==

=== Political history ===
Manatee County is part of the strongly [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Sun Belt]]. The area became a Republican stronghold following [[World War II]] and has remained so since: the last Democrat to win Manatee County was [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in [[1944 United States presidential election|1944]].<ref name="americamag">{{cite web |url=http://www.americamagazine.org/content/unconventional-wisdom/how-red-and-blue-map-evolved-over-past-century |last1=Sullivan |first1=Robert David |title=How the red and blue map evolved over the past century |website=[[America (magazine)|America: The Jesuit Review of Faith & Culture]] |date=June 29, 2016 |access-date=July 26, 2018}}</ref>

During the peak of the [[Socialist Party of America|Socialist Party]]'s prominence in the early 20th century, Manatee County would elect the only socialist to the [[Florida Legislature|state legislature]], [[Andrew Jackson Pettigrew]] to the [[Florida House of Representatives]] in 1906 for one term defeating John A. Graham (who was a Democrat) in the general election.<ref name=":0">Griffin, R. Steven; [https://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/E0/01/33/96/00001/griffin_r.pdf WORKERS OF THE SUNSHINE STATE UNITE!: THE FLORIDA SOCIALIST PARTY DURING THE PROGRESSIVE ERA, 1900-1920]</ref> As a state legislator he would make several proposals that were inline with what the Party reflected at the national level such as making US Senators popularly elected and creating a national income tax. Overall as a state legislator he would make little progress in getting legislation proposed by him passed.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Paul|first=Brad|date=1999|title=Rebels of the New South: the Socialist Party in Dixie, 1892-1920.|url=https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2270&context=dissertations_1|journal=ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst|pages=129–132|via=University of Massachusetts Amherst}}</ref> Prior to the 1906 race he would run in 1904 for the same position unsuccessfully losing to A.T. Cornwell (also a Democrat) who had served as Bradenton's first mayor and in a variety of positions at the county level. Pettigrew would later go on to run for governor in [[1908 Florida gubernatorial election|1908]] and [[Florida Commissioner of Agriculture|Secretary of Agriculture]] in 1912 being unsuccessful in both races.<ref name=":0" />

In 1970, Governor [[Claude R. Kirk Jr.]] fired Manatee County's superintendent along with the entire school board and appointed himself in their place in an attempt to end [[desegregation busing]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Governor Claude Kirk presides Over School Board Meeting |date=June 19, 1970 |url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll1/id/8153 |publisher=Manatee County Public Library System |format=Photograph, JPEG |access-date=August 4, 2022}}</ref> This situation would last from April 6 to 13 before Kirk left his position as the superintendent.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sanders |first=Randy |date=Winter 2001 |title=Rassling a Governor: Defiance, Desegregation, Claude Kirk, and the Politics of Richard Nixon's Southern Strategy |url=https://stars.library.ucf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4310&context=fhq |journal=The Florida Historical Quarterly |publisher=Florida Historical Society |volume=80 |issue=3 |via=STARS from the University of Central Florida}}</ref>

=== Law enforcement and justice ===

==== Sheriff's Office ====
Unincorporated Manatee County is served by the [[Manatee County Sheriff's Office]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.manateesheriff.com/|title=Manatee County Sheriff's office|website=Manatee County Sheriff|access-date=April 2, 2017}}</ref>

==== Justice ====

===== Circuit Court =====
Manatee County is a part of the [[Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida|Twelfth Circuit Court of Florida]].

===== Court of Appeals =====
Manatee County is part of the [[Florida Second District Court of Appeal|Second District of Appeals]].

=== Recent presidential election results ===
{{PresHead|place=Manatee County, Florida|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{cite web|author=David Leip |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |publisher=Uselectionatlas.org |access-date=April 23, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|0|348|70|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|135|480|20|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|60|535|93|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|91|592|172|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|93|644|172|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|55|712|269|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|289|1,033|226|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|884|1,790|193|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|629|1,064|240|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,705|1,472|58|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,280|2,894|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,455|3,487|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,983|5,131|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|2,218|4,544|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|3,371|2,766|1,473|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|9,055|4,583|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|11,904|5,394|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|16,462|8,814|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|17,147|13,074|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|18,247|8,286|8,214|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|32,664|8,058|218|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|29,300|24,342|718|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|40,535|21,679|3,362|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|55,793|20,889|6|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|51,187|26,624|302|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|42,725|33,841|23,654|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|44,136|41,891|10,851|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|58,023|49,226|3,095|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|81,318|61,262|1,041|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|80,721|70,034|1,712|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|85,627|66,503|1,736|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|101,944|71,224|7,589|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|124,987|90,166|2,319|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|140,486|86,674|2,652|Florida}}
{{PresFoot}}

===Government officials===

====United States Senate====

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Office !! Senator !! Party
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| Class 3 Senator || [[Marco Rubio]] || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| Class 1 Senator || [[Rick Scott]] || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|}

==== United States House of Representatives ====

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! District !! Representative !! Party
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| Florida's 16th Congressional District || [[Vern Buchanan]] || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|}

==== Florida State Senate ====

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! District !! Senator  !! Party
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 21 || [[Jim Boyd (politician)|Jim Boyd]] || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 22 || [[Joe Gruters]] || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|}

==== Florida House of Representatives ====

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! District !! Representative !! Party
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 70 || [[Michael Owen]] || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 71 || [[Will Robinson (Florida politician)|Will Robinson]]
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|- {{Party shading/Republican}}
| 72 || [[Bill Conerly]] ||[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|}

==== Manatee County Board of County Commissioners ====
The Board of Commissioners includes the following:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mymanatee.org/cms/one.aspx?portalid=7588390&pageid=11582828 |title=Board of County Commissioners |website=Manatee County Government |access-date=February 25, 2021}}</ref>
{| class=wikitable
|-
!Position
!Incumbent
|-
||District 1
| align="center"|Carol Ann Felts
|-
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |District 2
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="center"|Amanda Ballard
|-
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |District 3
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="center"|Tal Siddique
|-
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |District 4
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="center"|Mike Rahn
|-
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |District 5
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="center"|Bob McCann
|-
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |District 6{{refn|group=note|name=noteA|[[At-large]], representing the entire county.}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="center"|Jason Bearden
|-
|{{Party shading/Republican}} |District 7{{refn|group=note|name=noteA}}
|{{Party shading/Republican}} align="center"|George Kruse (Chair)
|}

{{reflist|group=note}}

==== Public education ====
{| class=wikitable
|-
! colspan = 3 | Manatee County School Board<ref>{{cite web |title=School Board Members |url=https://www.manateeschools.net/domain/1115|access-date=July 3, 2024 |website=School District of Manatee County}}</ref>
|-
!Position
!Incumbent
!Term ends
|-
|{{Party shading/None}} |District 1
|{{Party shading/None}} align="center"|Heather Felton
|{{Party shading/None}} align="center"|November 2028
|-
|{{Party shading/None}} |District 2
|{{Party shading/None}} align="center"|Cindy Spray
|{{Party shading/None}} align="center"|November 2026
|-
|{{Party shading/None}} |District 3
|{{Party shading/None}} align="center"|Charlie Kennedy
|{{Party shading/None}} align="center"|November 2028
|-
|{{Party shading/None}} |District 4
|{{Party shading/None}} align="center"|Chad Choate III
|{{Party shading/None}} align="center"|November 2026
|-
|{{Party shading/None}} |District 5
|{{Party shading/None}} align="center"|Richard Tatem
|{{Party shading/None}} align="center"|November 2026
|}

{{reflist|group=note}}

==== Other offices ====

{| class="wikitable" style= margin:10px"
|+Constitutional officers
|-
! colspan="2"  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| Office
! style="text-align:center;" | Name
! valign=bottom | Party
! style="vertical-align:bottom; text-align:center;"| First elected
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Clerk of the Circuit Court
| Angelina M. Colonneso
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party of Florida|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 2015†
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Property Appraiser
| Charles E. Hackney
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party of Florida|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1992
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Sheriff
| Rick Wells
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party of Florida|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 2016†
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Supervisor of Elections<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.votemanatee.gov/|title=Manatee County Supervisor of Elections > Home |work=VoteManatee.gov | access-date= April 30, 2025 
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250430172729/https://www.votemanatee.gov/|archive-date= April 30, 2025 
|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| Scott Farrington
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party of Florida|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 2024
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color | Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Tax Collector<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.taxcollector.com/docs/gen/kenbio.pdf|title=Biography of Manatee County Tax Collector, Ken Burton, Jr.
|date=April 2019 | work=TaxCollector.com|access-date=June 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206214334/http://taxcollector.com/docs/gen/kenbio.pdf|archive-date=December 6, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| Ken Burton, Jr
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party of Florida|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 1992
|}

=== Voter registration ===
Information as of November 4, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 4, 2025 |title=Manatee County, FL : Supervisor of Elections |url=https://www.votemanatee.gov |access-date=November 4, 2025 |website=Manatee County, FL : Supervisor of Elections}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable float"
|-
! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Number of voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 135,990
| style="text-align:center;"| {{percentage|135,990|273,873|2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 65,699
| style="text-align:center;"| {{percentage|65,699|273,873|2}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent (United States)}}
| Others
| style="text-align:center;" | 72,184
| style="text-align:center;" | {{percentage|72,184|273,873|2}}
|-
! colspan="2" | Total
! style="text-align:center;" | 273,873
! style="text-align:center;" | 100%
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Florida}}
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Manatee County, Florida]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
{{AmCyc Poster|Manatee (county)|Manatee County, Florida}}
*{{Official website|http://www.mymanatee.org}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190724040014/http://www.manateechamber.com/ Manatee Chamber of Commerce]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Manatee County, Florida
|North     = [[Hillsborough County, Florida|Hillsborough County]]
|Northeast = [[Polk County, Florida|Polk County]]
|East      = [[Hardee County, Florida|Hardee County]]
|Southeast = [[DeSoto County, Florida|DeSoto County]]
|South     = [[Sarasota County, Florida|Sarasota County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Gulf of Mexico]]
|Northwest =
}}
{{Manatee County, Florida}}
{{Geography of Florida}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Manatee County, Florida| ]]
[[Category:Florida counties]]
[[Category:1855 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Florida placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:Sarasota metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Counties in the Tampa Bay area]]