Bradenton & Manatee County

The northern half of the metro, anchored by the city of Bradenton -- the Manatee County seat -- and its surrounding communities along the Manatee River and Sarasota Bay. Bradenton (pop. ~58,000) is a revitalizing downtown with the Riverwalk, Village of the Arts, and a growing food scene. South Bradenton and Bayshore Gardens are large residential CDPs along US-41, while Palmetto sits across the Manatee River as a working-class counterpart. Anna Maria Island's three municipalities (Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach) offer Old Florida beach-town character. Ellenton and Parrish to the east are among the metro's fastest-growing areas thanks to new construction and proximity to I-75.