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Cortez, Florida

Cortez, a census-designated place (CDP) in Manatee County, Florida, United States, is a small Gulf Coast commercial fishing village that was founded by settlers from North Carolina in the 1880s. The population was 4,121 at the 2020 census, down from 4,241 at the 2010 census. It is part of the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Early history
Present-day Cortez was a part of the Safety Harbor culture region from about 900 CE until the 1700s. The Safety Culture people formed chiefdoms and villages along the shoreline of Tampa Bay and the adjacent Gulf of Mexico coast. Safety Harbor culture is defined by the presence of Safety Harbor ceramics in burial mounds, which have been excavated from nearby archaeological sites in present-day Manatee County. The Safety Harbor culture virtually disappeared due to disease and incursions by other Native Americans.

The Calusa people, often referred to as the "Shell Indians", also inhabited the southwest coast of Florida. The Calusa were first recorded by Spanish explorers in 1513, but were likely living on the coast long before they were recorded doing so. The Calusa became the dominant power in the Tampa Bay area with the waning of the Safety Harbor Culture in the 1600s. The Calusa are believed to have stayed in the area until 1763 when the remaining Calusa, their numbers having already dwindled due to disease and warfare, left Florida to settle in Cuba. The Calusa are believed to have lived along inner waterways in homes built on stilts. Unlike many other tribes, the Calusa did not hunt but rather fished for subsistence. The Calusa people were prolific fishermen. The Calusa people made nets from palm tree webbing in order to catch mullet, pin-fish, pig-fish, and catfish. They used spears topped with arrowheads crafted from fish teeth and spines in order to hunt eels and turtles. Women and children of the tribe caught shellfish, including crabs, lobsters, oysters, clams, and conch. They used the shells they collected to make a variety of things such as tools, utensils, ornaments, weapons, and jewelry. The eventual demise of the Calusa people is attributed to invasions from other tribes and disease brought by Spanish and French explorers.

Cuban fishermen began journeying northward in order to fish the waters of the Gulf Coast of Florida around the mid-1700s. Once the journey to Florida had been made, the fishermen would set up temporary camps called ranchos where they would reside for around half a year while they fished the plentiful waters of the area. Catches were dried and salted so that they could be transported back to Cuba to be sold. This proved effective as the fishermen would return home before Lent to sell their catch when fish was in high demand. The waters surrounding Cuba are viable fishing waters, but they were fished heavily. The waters near the Gulf Coast of Florida were particularly appealing to the ranchos because there were not yet any permanent settlements in the area. This means that the water in the area was an untapped resource of fish, all theirs for the taking. This area was made all the more appealing because its environment was conducive to inshore net fishing (the preferred method of the Spanish Cuban fishermen).

Founding and 19th century
Originally called "Hunter's Point", Cortez was settled in the 1880s by families from Carteret County, North Carolina. When a post office was established in 1888, the village needed a new name to avoid confusion with another Hunter's Point in Florida. Although the origins of the name "Cortez" cannot be officially proven, the community may have been named after the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés. In its early days, Cortez was a fishing village so rural that it was more often reached by water than by land. The mainstay of Cortez was and still is its success in the commercial fishing industry.

The 1890 Bratton/Burton Store
The first commercial building in Cortez was built by William C. Bratton in the 1890s. This building helped to connect Cortez with the outside world. The Bratton/Burton Store housed the post office, general store, and steamboat wharf. About a decade after its original construction, construction on rooms began in order to expand it into the Albion Inn. The Albion Inn along with the 1912 school house were some of the only buildings on the waterfront to survive the hurricane of 1921. The Inn eventually closed and was sold to the U.S. Coast Guard. The Bratton/Burton Store served as U.S. Coast Guard Station Cortez from 1974 until 1991 - when it was slated for demolition. Cortez residents came together to save the Bratton/Burton Store portion of the building from demolition. In 2006, it was moved to the grounds of the Florida Maritime Museum.

1912 Rural Graded Schoolhouse
Prior to 1912, the young children of Cortez were educated in a one-room, wood schoolhouse. In 1912, the one-room schoolhouse was replaced with a larger, brick one referred to as the Cortez Rural Graded Schoolhouse. The Cortez Mother's Club played a large part in the construction and success of the new schoolhouse. The building became a community hub for Cortez and provided shelter for many during the hurricane of 1921. The schoolhouse was first build with three classrooms, but in 1933 one of the classrooms was extended to serve as an auditorium. This building was used as a school for the children of Cortez until 1961. An art school then leased the building before being sold to weaver Robert Sailors in 1974. Sailors used the schoolhouse as his home and studio. After his death, Manatee County purchased the schoolhouse and began the process of restoring it in 1999. In 2006, the schoolhouse was reopened as a museum. Today, the Cortez Rural Graded Schoolhouse houses the Florida Maritime Museum.

World War One
When the United States entered World War I in 1917, residents served in a variety of capacities. Ten residents are known to have served, with eight going into the US Army and two into the US Navy.

Building of the Cortez Bridge
Construction on the Cortez Bridge connecting Anna Maria Island to Cortez began in 1921. Anna Maria Island was not connected to the mainland prior to this and so could only be accessed by boat. Construction on the bridge came to a halt after the hurricane of 1921 hit, destroying any progress that had been made on the bridge. In 1922, construction began again and the wooden bridge was completed. The wooden bridge connected Cortez Road to Bradenton Beach's Bridge Street. In the 1950s, the wooden Cortez Bridge was replaced with the current concrete bridge. To prove how stable the new bridge was, elephants from Ringling Circus were brought over and paraded across the bridge for all to see.

The hurricane of 1921
In October 1921, Cortez was unexpectedly and brutally hit by a hurricane estimated to have been either a category three or four. The hurricane of 1921 was reportedly the most damaging to hit the Tampa Bay area since the mid-1800s. The people of Cortez had little to no warning that the storm was coming before it hit, so they took refuge in the 1912 Rural Graded Schoolhouse. The hurricane of 1921 almost completely destroyed the waterfront. Leaving few structures standing, the waterfront had to be rebuilt and is now barely recognizable from what it once was.

Roaring Twenties and Great Depression
During the 1920s many new changes would come to the village of Cortez. For the first time ever shipments of seafood were delivered by road as residents got cars. Electricity would also become common in the village reducing much of the work load.

Cortez during the Great Depression was notably one of the only communities in the United States not to receive federal aid.

World War Two
As with all other areas of the country, Cortez was greatly impacted by World War II. Most men in Cortez went to war whether they enlisted or were drafted, and those that enlisted largely did so in the U.S. Navy or Coast Guard, as sailing was their way of life. Many women also went off to war, to serve as nurses and medical personnel. Those left behind during the war effort worked to ensure the survival of Cortez and its fishing industry. Although fishing prior to WWII was seen as a family business, with most of the young men and many of the women of Cortez gone workers were hired from outside of the family. Women and young girls began working and fishing for seventy five cents an hour to support their families and fill in for the men.

Geography
Cortez is located in western Manatee County at 27.46361°N, -82.6725°W (27.463550, -82.672610). The village of Cortez stands at the west end of a peninsula bordered by Anna Maria Sound to the west, Palma Sola Bay to the north, and Sarasota Bay to the south. The Cortez census-designated place includes the village, plus the remainder of the peninsula to the east, as far as 86th Street.

Florida State Road 684 is the main road through the community, leading east 7 mi to South Bradenton and west across Anna Maria Sound to Bradenton Beach.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Cortez CDP has a total area of 5.1 sqmi, of which 2.2 sqmi are land and 2.9 sqmi, or 56.37%, are water.

Cortez is located in a safe harbor, sheltered from harsh winds by Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key (two of Florida's barrier islands).

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,491 people, 2,373 households, and 1,468 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,047.7 PD/sqmi. There were 3,308 housing units at an average density of 1,508.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.33% White, 0.16% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.16% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% of the population.

There were 2,373 households, out of which 9.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 3.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.89 and the average family size was 2.29.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 8.6% under the age of 18, 2.4% from 18 to 24, 13.8% from 25 to 44, 30.7% from 45 to 64, and 44.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 62 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $36,577, and the median income for a family was $48,750. Males had a median income of $32,188 versus $26,735 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $26,476. About 7.3% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

Cortez Historic District
The Cortez Historic District is a U.S. historic district (designated as such on March 16, 1995) bounded by Cortez Road, 119th Street W, Sarasota Bay and 124th Street Court W.

Cortez Cultural Center
The Cortez Cultural Center focuses on preserving "old Florida" history and stories of founding families in Cortez. The center's exhibits start with Cortez's founding and continues onto the 1980s. Eventually, the center will document the village's history to present day.

Florida Institute of Saltwater Heritage
The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (F.I.S.H.) is a non-profit, grassroots organization established in 1991. F.I.S.H. is in the process of restoring over 100 acres of environmentally sensitive land on Sarasota Bay. Each year F.I.S.H. and Cortez hosts a Commercial Fishing Festival during the 3rd weekend of February that is attended by thousands of people.

Florida Maritime Museum
The Florida Maritime Museum (FMM) is a museum, sponsored by Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Courts, located on 4 acres (1.6 ha) of land within the historic fishing village of Cortez, Florida. The museum tells a number of stories pertaining to all aspects of Florida's maritime history. Exhibits include historic photographs, boat models, tools, instruments, sea shells, and other historic artifacts. The museum is also home to a folk school that teaches traditional Florida skills and a research library with a variety of books, plans, logs, diaries, periodicals, letters, records and related archival material whose content is relevant to research concerning maritime subjects, with special emphases on Florida's Gulf Coast. The museum is housed in a 1912 schoolhouse building at the 95-acre (38 ha) Cortez Nature Preserve at 4415 119th Street West. Other historic structures located on the site include the 1890 Burton Store, a wood cistern, and the Pillsbury Boat Shop.

title: Cortez, Florida


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Ellenton, Florida

Ellenton is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,129 at the 2020 census, down from 4,275 at the 2010 census. It is part of the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
The oldest structure in Ellenton is the Gamble Plantation, which was built between 1845 and 1850 by Major Robert Gamble. Originally a sugar plantation worked by slaves, the antebellum mansion fell into disrepair after the Civil War. Major George Patten and his wife, Mary, purchased the property in 1870 and named the area "Ellenton" after his daughter Ellen. In 1881, the United States government designated Ellenton as an official post office site.

A refining plant for fuller's earth located in Ellenton along the Manatee River opened in 1903. It was owned by the Atlantic Refining Company and had 150+ employees being the biggest refinery the company owned. It burned down once in 1908 and again in 1912. In 1922, it burned down for the final time after which it was permanently closed.

Geography
Ellenton is located in central Manatee County at 27.52278°N, -82.52583°W (27.522666, -82.525867). It is on the north side of the tidal Manatee River and is bordered to the west by the city of Palmetto. Unincorporated Memphis is to the northwest.

U.S. Route 301 passes through the center of the community, and Interstate 75 forms the eastern border, with the highways intersecting at Exit 224 on I-75. US 301 leads west into Palmetto and then south across the Manatee River into Bradenton, the county seat, while to the northeast it leads 8 mi to Parrish. I-75 leads north 32 mi to the east side of Tampa and south 85 mi to Fort Myers.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Ellenton CDP has a total area of 4.5 sqmi, of which 3.3 sqmi are land and 1.2 sqmi, or 25.95%, are water.

Demographics
As of the 2020 census, Ellenton had a population of 4,129 people with 1,847 households. There were 2,055 housing units. There was an employment rate of 46.1%. The median household income was $59,723. 11.2% of the population lived below the poverty threshold.

46.9% of the population 25 years or older had a High School or equivalent degree. 10.5% of the population 25 years and older had a bachelor's degree or higher.

20.7% of the population spoke Spanish at home, 0.4% spoke other Indo-European languages, and 0.3% spoke Asian and Pacific Islander languages at home. 9.0% of the population were foreign born persons. 28.2% were 65 years or older.

Industry
January 2012 - Feld Entertainment purchased the Palmetto Corporate Center, a former Siemens Corp. complex here and plans to move most of its various operations and its world headquarters there over a five-year period starting with its worldwide production center.

1900 - Fuller's Earth Plant mined clay to be used as bleaching agent and as an absorbent for oil and fat.

1850s to present - Agriculture was an important industry, starting with sugarcane from Gamble Plantation. This was harvested through slave labor up until the Civil War. Vegetable farms and citrus groves are also important industries in Ellenton.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Ellenton, Florida


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Holmes Beach, Florida

Holmes Beach is a city on Anna Maria Island in Manatee County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 3,010, down from 3,836 at the 2010 census. It is part of the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city occupies the central part of Anna Maria Island and is one of three municipalities on the island. The others are Bradenton Beach in the south and Anna Maria in the north.

History
Holmes Beach was named for John E. Holmes Sr., the property developer who started this planned community after World War II. During World War II, Holmes was stationed in Tampa. Holmes obtained the interest of three others, Frank B. Giles of Georgia, Pedar Mickelsen of Minnesota and Francis Karel of Chicago, to help develop it. In 1947 or 1948 a small airport was built. One person had a plane at the airport and used it as an air taxi during the tourist season and was used by residents and visitors taking them to wherever they wanted to go. Holmes Beach was incorporated on March 13, 1950, during a meeting about incorporating with 46 voting in favor, 13 against and 1 in abstention. Opponents of incorporation argued that tax money from cigarettes and liquor sales would be lost along with county assistance for road maintenance. Those in favor of incorporation argued that it would be easier for lenders to finance new construction on the island and give local residents an equal weight for their voice in their own government. Despite a request not to use anyone's name, Holmes Beach was decided on, although names such as Palm City, Mid-Island Beach, Coquina Beach and Tarpon Beach were considered as well. At the end of the meeting the city's first officials were elected.

Manatee Public Beach located at the intersection of Manatee Avenue and Gulf Drive opened in 1952, originally as Manatee County Public Beach. It was managed by a local Kiwanis Club chapter, with all proceeds going to local charity-related initiatives. During the 1950s and 1960s, the beach was racially segregated like many others in the Southeastern United States. It is not clear, however, when the beach was officially desegregated. The beach was renamed "Manatee Beach" before being changed to Manatee Public Beach.

In 1954, Holmes Beach annexed the neighboring subdivision communities of Ilexhurst, Jones, and Casanas, bringing the entirety of Anna Maria Island under municipal governments.

An airport that had existed closed in 1973 because of the cost to maintain it and that it needed improvements. Between 1975 and 1980, the airport land was redeveloped by the municipal government.

Geography
The exact coordinates for the City of Holmes Beach is located at 27.50972°N, -82.71583°W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.91 sqmi, of which 1.68 sqmi are land and 0.23 sqmi, or 12.19%, are water.

Key Royale
Included in the city limits is the adjacent bayside island of Key Royale, formerly known as School Key. It was uninhabited until 1960, when a bridge was built joining it to the Holmes Beach section of Anna Maria Island; development then began.

Climate
The City of Holmes Beach is part of the humid subtropical climate zone with a Köppen Climate Classification of "Cfa" (C = mild temperate, f = fully humid, and a = hot summer).

2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,010 people, 2,380 households, and 1,329 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 3,836 people, 2,172 households, and 1,084 families residing in the city.

2000 census
As of the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 4,966 people in 2,538 households, including 1,482 families, in the city. The population density was 3,063.5 PD/sqmi. There were 4,202 housing units at an average density of 2,592.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 98.59% White, 0.12% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.65% of the population.

Of the 2,538 households in 2000, 13.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.6% were non-families. 34.0% of households were one person and 17.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 1.96 and the average family size was 2.44.

In 2000, the age distribution was 12.9% under the age of 18, 2.8% from 18 to 24, 20.1% from 25 to 44, 31.0% from 45 to 64, and 33.2% 65 or older. The median age was 54 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

In 2000, the median household income was $45,074 and the median family income was $55,669. Males had a median income of $30,778 versus $25,825 for females. The per capita income for the city was $31,345. About 1.2% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Kathleen Flinn, author
 * Kit Klein, speed skater
 * Don Maloney, author
 * John B. Roe (1942–2020), member of the Illinois Senate

title: Holmes Beach, Florida


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User talk:Marvinfreeman

Welcome to Wikipedia! Thanks for starting that Direct Action article -- I was waiting for someone else to do that! Hope you settle in and enjoy contributing. -- Sam

Denver neighborhood map
Hi - The image you uploaded a while ago for the Denver, Colorado showing the neighborhoods was deleted a few days ago because of lack of source information. Do remember where it came from? Thanks. -- Rick Block (talk) 16:20, 10 December 2005 (UTC)

Talk:Boston Tea Party
Howdy, I noticed that you and I seem to post in one or two articles dealing with progressive issues in political science/sociology. There's currently a debate beginning in Boston Tea Party as to whether the article should include the category. It meets definitions set in the articles Terrorism and Definition of terrorism, however, there are several self-proclaimed patriots who watch BTP who refuse to recognise the fact. The simple criteria for terrorism generally seem to be intimidation or destruction of property in order to change public policy or public opinion while a state of war has not yet been declared. Some users would rather use recent acts of terrorism as a yardstick, rather than using a firm definition, and hence lose their ability to discuss matters calmly. Would you be able to pop in to the Talk page and join in the discussion? Thanks much, samwaltz 05:10, 22 August 2006 (UTC)

title: User talk:Marvinfreeman


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Longboat Key, Florida

Longboat Key is a town in Manatee and Sarasota counties along the central west coast of the U.S. state of Florida, located on and coterminous with the barrier island of the same name. Longboat Key is south of Anna Maria Island, between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. It is almost equally divided between the Manatee and Sarasota counties. The town of Longboat Key was incorporated in 1955 and is part of the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town's population was 7,505 at the 2020 census, up from 6,888 at the 2010 census.

Early history
Longboat Key was originally inhabited by Native Americans. The area of what is now Longboat Key was scouted by Juan de Añasco who was the first known European to explore the key and Hernando De Soto's as his scout. He spent about two months attempting to find a landing site, and he was also most likely the first European man to see and explore Sarasota Bay, Boca Ciega Bay and the Manatee River. According to local legend, he believed the Indians were hostile. When the party reached land on the island, the Indians fled leaving their Longboat in a bayou. Pirate Jean Lafitte was said to have been shipwrecked near or on Longboat Key.

Prior to 1842, Cuban and Spanish fishermen along with some squatters resided on the island. A fishing camp and a trading post for Native Americans existed in the northern part of the key located in what is presently the Longboat Village. At the time, the area was referred to on maps as "Saraxola" and "Zarazote". An 1839 map compiled by order of General Zachary Taylor during the Second Seminole War called the island Palm Island.

There is little known about the island after 1848 and until the 1880s, because a hurricane hit the area and destroyed most of Longboat Key. The only thing known is that Charles Abbe had a plantation at an unknown location on the island where citrus and pineapples were grown.

Late 1800s and early 1900s
The first people of European descent to claim land on the island were Colin and Rowlin W. Witt, claiming 7.15 acres on the north end of the island in 1882. Several others would claim land on the island during the late 1800s, but none of them are known to have lived on the island permanently.

In 1884, Thomas Mann claimed 144.5 acres on the key. He and his family moved there in 1888, becoming the first known permanent residents on the key. His home was located somewhere on the north end of the key.

Mann was a carpenter by trade who was originally from Indiana and later moved to Minnesota. During the American Civil War he served the Union under the 7th Minnesota Infantry Regiment. Mann and his family moved to what is known today as Bradenton in 1872. He left because of either a local yellow fever epidemic or prejudice against him from being from the Northern United States. Mann died in 1908 in nearby Cortez. His son, James, claimed 143.5 acres south of his father's land in 1891.

With a passage being dug in 1895 from Sarasota Bay to Tampa Bay, steamships and paddle boats could access the island. Soon, a mail service was established that brought residents mail from Cortez. Thomas Mann sold his land in 1898 to May and June Pointevesant of Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

Longboat Key's first post office was established in 1907 at Byron Corey's pier at the southern end of the island, where he owned 153.5 acres of land beginning in 1903. Corey also served as Longboat Key's first postmaster. The post office on the sound end lasted until 1921, when it was destroyed by a hurricane.

During the 1910s, the key saw a surge in development and changes to it. The Pointevesants sold their land to Rufus Perry Jordan and Annie Jordan in May 1911. Rufus laid out a community named Longbeach, filling the plat in November 1911. During 1913, another subdivision named Shore Acres that covered 170 acres of land was developed at the "narrowest" part of the island, and was finished by the next year. Another community was also started at about the same time, named Island Beach, located south of it. Longbeach gained its own post office in 1914. During the early 1900s and prior to the 1921 hurricane, Longboat Key had a significant farming presence, with local residents growing a variety of products. A 1912 Sarasota Times headline read: "From a lonely Key, it is now a center of trucking and fruit growing."

1920s
In 1921, the key lost most of its agricultural land and buildings during a hurricane. That same year, the island was split between two counties, Sarasota and Manatee.

Starting in 1923, John Ringling purchased a large amount of land on Longboat Key. In February 1926, Ringling entered a contract to develop a luxury hotel named the Ritz-Carlton on the south side of the island. The hotel was to have 200+ rooms, docking facilities and a railroad leading to it to bring guests there. The hotel began construction in March 1926, with a completion date before December 15, 1926 as specified in the contract. An 18-hole golf course would be built next to the hotel as well. Ringling found himself preoccupied with other financial interests, and during that year the Florida land boom began to slow down as well. In November he ordered construction to be stopped on the hotel, and later claimed he would resume construction, but never did.

There were no roads that led to the key until 1929, when a bridge was built to St. Armands. A bridge across Longboat Pass was built in April 1929 and would exist until March 1932.

1930s and 1940s
Starting in 1935, a former Chicago insurance agent named Gordon Whitney started buying up property to construct a series of cottages on the northern end of the island. The area was given the name of Whitney Beach. Whitney intended to have the cottages serve as part of a resort.

In 1936, for the first time, telephone service was brought to the southern part of the island.

In 1937, John Ringling North, the head of the estate of John Ringling, who had died in 1936, announced that Martin Sweeney had an interest in finishing the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Sweeney said the hotel would have two 18 hole golf courses, an airport, a club and facilities for fishing, along with 235 rooms when completed. However, these plans would never transpire and the hotel remained in its then-current state.

By 1939 or 1940, telephone service was brought to the North End. Longboat Key got its first newspaper, Gulf Gale, in 1941; it would run until 1944.

In World War II, Longboat Key had a bombing range. In 1942, it was used by B-26 planes, and from 1943 to 1945 by P-40 and P-51 planes. The range was used between 8am and 5pm, which meant that residents on the northern side of the island could not go south of it until after its training sessions.

1950s to the present
On November 13, 1955, the town was incorporated by a 186–13 vote at a meeting in a fire station. The meeting itself lasted for 3 hours and 10 minutes in total. Reasons for supporting incorporation included that Longboat Key could have more say in its governmental affairs. It is also believed that the placement of a segregated beach for African-Americans on the island was a motivator behind incorporating it. By incorporating the entire key, they could somehow avoid the placement of the beach altogether. Residents also held meetings protesting the beach's placement. Significant arguments against incorporation were that property taxes would go up. After doing the incorporation vote, Will LePage was elected as the first mayor, along with the first eight members of the Board of Aldermen. At the time, only about a third of Longboat Key was developed, and roughly 215 people lived on the key. When the town was incorporated, it changed its name from Longbeach to Longboat Key.

In 1959, the Arvida Corporation created by Arthur Vining Davis purchased 2,000 acres, which included the southern half of Longboat Key, a majority of Lido Key, along with Bird Key, Otter Key, and Coon Key, at a price of $13.5 million. It was expected that the population would be increased by 12,000 extra residents. Some of the land purchased would come from John Ringling North, and on his Longboat Key land included the unfinished Ritz-Carlton Hotel. There was a proposal in 1962 by a Sarasota realtor to finish its construction and make it into a convention site for Sarasota. However, Arvida had no interest in either selling or attempting to finish the hotel. The hotel was torn down between December 1963 and January 1964. Debris from the demolished hotel would be used as fill for the city's civic center and City Island.

President George W. Bush arrived on Longboat Key on September 10, 2001, the day before the September 11 attacks, to read to second graders in a campaign at the Emma E. Booker School in Sarasota.

In early 2024, it was announced that a new public library would be built on Longboat Key. The library is to be a part of the Sarasota County Library System.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 41.4 km2, of which 10.7 km2 is land and 30.7 km2, or 74.19%, of which is water.

The exact coordinates for the town is located at 27.39694°N, -82.64472°W.

Longboat Key is located north of St. Armands Key, with its circle of shopping and dining, and Lido Key, and south of Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach, and Anna Maria, which are located on the adjacent Anna Maria Island. The nearby cities of Sarasota and Bradenton and the Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport rounds out Longboat Key's varied list of geographic amenities. State Road 789 (Gulf of Mexico Drive) runs the length of the island, with ancillary boulevards branching off to residential neighborhoods. From some locations one can see both Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.

At other points the island widens and accommodates various homes owned by both singly and in condominiums, hotels, and sports clubs. Some Longboat Key residents are "snowbirds", who vacation at or own second homes on Longboat Key, and are present only during the winter months. Others are homesteaders, utilizing the various homestead exemptions provided to Florida citizens who own and occupy their principal residences within the state, as set forth under the Florida Constitution.

Most of the Gulf side of Longboat Key consists of beaches. The southernmost area of the key is mostly part of the Longboat Key Club.

Jewfish Key
Jewfish Key is an island that covers 38 acre located within city limits. The island is only accessible via boat and the eastern part of the key is a nature reserve. Electricity is provided via underwater cables and there are no landline phone lines to the key. Residents of the island get water from wells and use septic tanks.

Until the 1930s, Jewfish Key was two islands: Pickett Key to the north and Fisherman's Key located to the south. When the US Army Corps of Engineers dredged the Intracoastal Waterway they needed a place to deposit the spoil; and the two owners (whose last names were Jordan and Zeisse) allowed for the spoil to be placed in order to make a single island in exchange for a deed to this now one island and "a case of whisky". The island's name comes from when local fishermen started calling the island Jewfish Key because they caught large amounts of Goliath groupers or Jewfish there.

Water
A perennial problem for Longboaters was water quantity and quality. Salinity and sedimentary factors threatened the availability of potable water to island residents, visitors, and businesses. This problem was alleviated sufficiently when the Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District approved a connection to Sarasota County's water supply, augmenting the existing connection to that of Manatee County.

2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,505 people, 3,939 households, and 2,696 families residing in the town.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 6,888 people, 3,780 households, and 2,595 families residing in the town.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,603 people, 4,280 households, and 2,846 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,546.4 PD/sqmi. There were 8,834 housing units at an average density of 1,796.8 /sqmi.

In 2000, the racial makeup of the town was 99.24% White, 0.07% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.01% from other races, and 0.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.67% of the population.

In 2000, there were 4,280 households, out of which 3.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.3% were married couples living together, 1.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.78 and the average family size was 2.11. In the town, the population was spread out, with 2.6% under the age of 18, 0.9% from 18 to 24, 5.7% from 25 to 44, 32.4% from 45 to 64, and 58.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 68 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $290,251, and the median income for a family was $307,983. Males had a median income of $261,157 versus $230,104 for females. The per capita income for the town was $280,963. About 0.4% of families and 0.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.9% of those under age 18 and 1.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government
The town of Longboat Key has a commission-manager form of government.

The United States Postal Service operates a post office on Longboat Key, with the entire island having the ZIP code of 34228. The post office was established on October 10, 1907, as "Longbeach", and was located in the community of that name on the north end of the key. On February 1, 1958, the name of the Longbeach post office was changed to Longboat Key. There was also another post office named "Longboat" established on March 27, 1914, in the Sarasota County portion of the key, but it was discontinued on January 14, 1922, and its functions were assumed by the Sarasota post office.

The quasi-governmental form of the condominium association exists in one of its most complex forms in and on Longboat Key, consisting of the Federation of Longboat Key Condominiums.

Longboat Key is served by two newspapers published year-round, the Longboat Observer and the Longboat Key News.

Currently, Longboat Key is located within two Florida counties, Manatee County in the north and Sarasota County in the south. There have been calls for the Florida Legislature to pursue an initiative to create a 68th county, "Longboat Key County," to simplify governance of the island. Neither of these initiatives is likely to be passed, however. As of February 2019, Longboat Key officials had not started any comprehensive effort to put Longboat in one county or the other. Officials did, however, ask state legislators to request the Florida Legislature's OPPAGA perform an analysis of the potential benefits and drawbacks of moving into only one county.

In recent years, it has been suggested to declare Longboat Key a national seashore, a public land operated by the National Park Service.

Real estate
Much of the land area of Longboat Key is occupied by either single-family homes or condominium apartments. Most of the condominium associations co-own common elements, which consist of pools, tennis courts, sites with water views and access to beaches. Almost the entire land area of Longboat Key is now occupied. The remaining older, singly owned houses are as much as 45 years old, annexed to comparatively small parcels, again an outgrowth of the ½ acre limitation on homestead property area within municipalities as set forth in the Florida Constitution. In the last few years, these properties have been purchased by new owners who sought to and did demolish them in order build small, ornate homes worth much more, many being valued to amounts on the order of as much as a few million dollars. A peculiar outgrowth of the unlimited-in-value homestead exemption for principal residences from forced sales was provided to homesteaders under the Florida Constitution. This diverse mix of homes owned both singly and in condominiums line the many cul-de-sacs and boulevards branching off main roads towards both the bay and the gulf, with the length of the island served by Gulf of Mexico Drive.

Notable people

 * Al Arbour, four-time Stanley Cup-winning former coach of the New York Islanders
 * Marilyn Bendell, impressionist painter
 * Lou Bender, basketball player with Columbia Lions and trial attorney
 * Nick Bollettieri, founded Bradenton's Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy
 * Vern Buchanan, automobile dealer and member of the United States House of Representatives for Florida's 16th congressional district, which includes Longboat Key
 * Frank Swift Chase, post-impressionist painter
 * Harber H. Hall (1920–2020), member of the Illinois Senate, 1973–1979; resided in Longboat Key during his retirement
 * Marcella Hazan, Italian cooking instructor and cookbook author
 * Tom Helmore, actor
 * Audrey Hepburn, actress
 * Al Hirshberg, Boston-based sportswriter
 * Nathan J. Kaplan, Illinois jurist and politician
 * Jesse W. Markham, economist
 * Charlie Maxwell, baseball player for Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox
 * Peter Mellor (born 1947), English-born American footballer and coach
 * Ed Miracle, artist
 * Frank Mockler, 47th Governor of American Samoa
 * Ronna Romney, former Michigan Republican politician and sister-in-law to Governor Mitt Romney
 * Reb Wickersham, racing driver

title: Longboat Key, Florida


text:
Memphis, Florida

Memphis is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The population was 9,024 as of the 2020 census, up from 7,848 in 2010. It is part of the North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
The community can trace its roots back to the 1880s, when it was planned as an 80-acre subdivision, adjacent to the city of Palmetto. Tennessee-born Robert Willis (1855-1933) originally owned the land, but eventually it was sold to I.E. Barwick (1854-1924) who subdivided it. The community's traditional borders roughly lie on the west side of 16th Avenue East and just on the west side of U.S. 41, and between 17th and 25th Streets East. An 1897 Manatee County directory mentions a handful of establishments, from a clothing store to a crate mill and a bakery then under construction.

Over time, the area eventually became a predominantly African American community in the segregation era. The Old Memphis cemetery is the resting place of over 600 individuals. Many of the graves are of these early African American settlers, some of whom were freed slaves. The cemetery lies north of the community and was closed by the 1970s. Early residents included the Reverend Daniel and Isabel Baity. Reverend Baity became the first minister of the first African American church in Sarasota. The identity of the close-knit community was interrupted with the construction of U.S. 41 in the 1960s. In more recent years, the old cemetery fell into disrepair and was cleaned up on several occasions. An historical marker was erected in 2013 at the entrance of the Old Memphis cemetery.

Geography
Memphis is located in northern Manatee County at 27.53972°N, -82.56306°W (27.539798, -82.562966). It is bordered to the south and west by the city of Palmetto and to the northwest by Terra Ceia Bay, an arm of Tampa Bay.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.7 sqmi, of which 3.3 sqmi are land and 0.4 sqmi, or 11.29%, are water. The main road through the community is US Route 41, also known as the Tamiami Trail, which leads south 4 mi to Bradenton, the county seat, and north 38 mi to Tampa. US Route 19 has its southern terminus at US 41 in Memphis. US 19 leads northwest via the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay to St. Petersburg, 21 mi away.

Demographics
At the 2010 census there were 7,848 people, 2,501 households, and 1,835 families in the CDP. The population density was 2,297.1 PD/sqmi. There were 3,204 housing units at an average density of 895.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 44.74% White, 36.34% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 7.81% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 28.5%.

Of the 2,501 households 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples living together, 19.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 21.3% of households were one person and 9.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.26.

The age distribution was 29.3% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.

The median household income was $32,576 and the median family income was $35,600. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $21,979 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $14,778. About 16.5% of families and 20.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.5% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.

title: Memphis, Florida


text:
Palmetto, Florida

Palmetto is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was listed as 13,323, up from 12,606 at the 2010 census. It is part of the North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
A post office called Palmetto has been in operation since 1868. Samuel Sparks Lamb is considered the "Father of Palmetto," having surveyed and plotted the city at its outset and donated several plots of land. He owned a general merchandise store in town. Samuel Sparks Lamb was from Clarke County, Mississippi, and arrived in the area near the Manatee River in 1868 establishing Palmetto. The city received its name from the palmetto trees near the original town site. Palmetto was first incorporated in May 1893 as a village, with its first mayor being P.S. Harlee. Palmetto was reincorporated as a city in 1897 and in the following years grew. In 1902 with the arrival of the railroad, the center of town moved from the waterfront to the Seaboard Air Line train station, served by the Sarasota Branch from Turkey Creek near Plant City through Palmetto to "Bradentown" and Sarasota. By 1921, the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was operating a Tampa Southern Railroad Branch from Tampa to Palmetto and "Bradentown".

Compiled during the late 1930s and first published in 1939, the Federal Writers' Project's Florida guide listed Palmetto's population as 3,043 and described it as:"on the north bank of the Manatee River, has low frame-and-brick business buildings and numerous clapboard houses. The riverfront is alive with fishing and pleasure craft. Much of the town's income is derived from the packing and shipping of fruits and vegetables."

A dolomite mine existed in Palmetto on the Manatee River from the 1950s to 1974. Several failed attempts were made to redevelop the property. In 1974, the property was almost sold for residential development, but the company backed out due to the economic recession that was occurring. In 1978, a proposal was made to create a residential community on the site. The site's master plan contained a nationwide motel chain with a restaurant, high-rise apartments along the Manatee River, single-family houses, and a shopping center built around a lake created from mining activities. The former 214 acre dolomite mine site was bought by WC Riveria Partners. It was then redeveloped in 1998 as Riveria Dunes, a residential community with a marina, townhouses, and homes.

Geography
Palmetto is in central Manatee County, on the north side of the tidal Manatee River, across from the city of Bradenton, the county seat. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.8 sqmi, of which 5.3 sqmi are land and 0.5 sqmi 8.26%, are water.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,323 people, 4,715 households, and 3,043 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 12,606 people, 5,537 households, and 3,085 families residing in the city.

In 2010, 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.4% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present. Within all households, 28.1% were made up of householders living alone and 14.8% had the individual living alone and was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07.

In 2010, the age distribution among the population includes 24.8% being 19 years old and under, 5.6% from 20 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 22.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.012 males. For every 100 males age 18 and over, there were 98.86 females.

Government
The mayor of Palmetto is the city's head executive and is elected every four years. The city commission serves as the city's legislative body and has five members. Three of the commissioners are elected from their respective wards while the other two are elected at-large citywide. The city commission has the power to elect a vice-mayor who serves for a one-year term.

Education
Palmetto is home to Blackburn, Palmetto, James Tillman, Virgil Mills and Palmview Elementary Schools, Lincoln and Buffalo Creek Middle Schools and Palmetto High School. Charter schools include Manatee School for the Arts (grades 6–12), Imagine School of North Manatee (grades K–8), and Palmetto Charter School (grades K–8).

Media
The metro area has TV broadcasting stations that serve the Tampa-Saint Petersburg-Sarasota (DMA) as defined by Nielsen Media Research.

Transportation
US Route 41 and US Route 301 converge in Palmetto.

The Atlantic Coast Line's West Coast Champion passenger train into Palmetto, from New York bound for Sarasota, ceased making stops in Palmetto after the Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Coast Line merged in 1967 into the Seaboard Coast Line and Palmetto was dropped as a stop.

Notable people

 * George Dickie, philosopher
 * Eric Engberg, former CBS News correspondent
 * Winfield R. Gaylord, Wisconsin state senator, socialist politician, minister
 * Ralph Haben, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
 * Tom Hume, former pitcher and coach for Cincinnati Reds
 * Curtis Johnson, sprinter in the 2000 Summer Olympics
 * Nick Neri, race car driver
 * Mistral Raymond, former NFL defensive back for the Minnesota Vikings and former captain at the University of South Florida
 * Willie Taggart, head coach for Florida Atlantic Owls football, former head coach of Florida State Seminoles football, Oregon Ducks football and South Florida Bulls football

Points of interest

 * Palmetto Estuary Preserve
 * Palmetto Historic District
 * Palmetto Historical Park

title: Palmetto, Florida


text:
Samoset, Florida

Samoset is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,146 at the 2020 census, up from 3,854 in 2010. It is part of the North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Samoset was incorporated as a city in September 1926, and had a reported population of 1,034. The name may have come from Samoset, an Algonquin Indian, but a newspaper article at the time reported that the township was named for a flag station of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. The new city's seal consisted of an Indian head, a palm tree, and the year 1926, all surrounded by the name "Samoset" and Florida at the bottom. There were a few subdivisions that were developed before the incorporation, consisting of Listville, Hill Park, and Pinecrest, all of which were consolidated into the new city of Samoset.

William A. Thomas built the new community's first general store, a two-story brick building, in 1925. The original boundaries of the township ran south from the Bradenton city limits to present-day Cortez Road along 1st Street and a mile east of old Bradenton-Sarasota Road. The city of Manatee bordered it on the north, but it merged with Bradenton in 1944 and is now known as East Bradenton. Manatee's original borders ran from 1st Street to Braden River.

Early pioneers Thomas, George, and Luke Wyatt, and Eva Felts secured the installation of power lines from Southern Power Company. Upon incorporation, R.R. Rodeman, a developer, was elected the town's first mayor. G.L. Bryant was made city clerk, W.W. Fry town marshal, and Claud Schafer, George Wyatt, W.D. Thomas, C.A. Bingham, and E.F. Staples made up the city council. New mayor Rodeman was the developer of the above-mentioned subdivisions as well as that of Sunshine Ridge. Within days of the town's incorporation, a group of 20 residents organized in a bid to dissolve the new incorporation, but the move failed.

Meanwhile, a new school opened in October 1926, and had an enrollment of 30 children and was housed in the community hall. A teacher, Mrs. Charles Bingham, taught second and third grades. Another teacher, Mrs. Gladys La Croix, instructed 55 more children in the primary room (probably kindergarten and first grades). In March 1927, a post office opened and city clerk Joseph E. Bryant was made postmaster, and a stand-alone building was subsequently constructed. A new church, Missionary Baptist, was founded in May of that year and consisted of 20 parishioners.

In August 1927, Samoset residents' election was held, and S. Ed Curry succeeded outgoing mayor R.R. Rodeman, while J.M.Haynes and W.D. Thomas were elected to city council. In addition, E.B. Johnson was elected city clerk and F.A. Schmacher was marshal. In June 1928, another move to abolish the new town failed and the town continued on, until December when the move to abolish the town finally went through by a vote of 115 to 31. After the dissolution, the area returned to unincorporated, rural status.

Geography
Samoset is located at 27.47444°N, -82.54278°W (27.474567, -82.542817). It is bordered to the north by the city of Bradenton and to the west by unincorporated West Samoset.

U.S. Route 301 passes through the center of the community, leading northwest into Bradenton and south 10 mi to Sarasota.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Samoset CDP has a total area of 1.5 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,440 people, 1,114 households, and 817 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,785.1 PD/sqmi. There were 1,179 housing units at an average density of 611.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 63.02% White, 26.51% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 7.33% from other races, and 2.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.67% of the population.

There were 1,114 households, out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 18.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.6% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06 and the average family size was 3.50.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 32.1% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $29,962, and the median income for a family was $32,700. Males had a median income of $27,044 versus $22,147 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $10,915. About 18.1% of families and 22.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.1% of those under age 18 and 24.5% of those age 65 or over.

Climate
Climate is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Cfa" (Humid Subtropical Climate).

title: Samoset, Florida


text:
South Bradenton, Florida

South Bradenton is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,858 at the 2020 census, up from 22,178 in 2010. It is part of the North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
South Bradenton is bordered to the north and west by the city of Bradenton, to the south by Bayshore Gardens, and to the east by West Samoset. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 11.9 km2, of which 11.7 km2 are land, and 0.2 km2, or 1.96%, are water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 21,587 people, 10,681 households, and 5,522 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,840.4 PD/sqmi. There were 13,283 housing units at an average density of 2,978.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.92% White, 4.62% African American, 0.32% Native American, 1.31% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 2.17% from other races, and 1.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.66% of the population.

There were 10,681 households, out of which 18.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.9% were married couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.3% were non-families. 40.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.64.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 17.5% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 28.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $27,410, and the median income for a family was $32,444. Males had a median income of $25,011 versus $21,559 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,549. About 9.5% of families and 13.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.2% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

title: South Bradenton, Florida


text:
West Bradenton, Florida

West Bradenton is an unincorporated area and census-designated place (CDP) in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,247 at the 2020 census, up from 4,192 at the 2010 census. It is part of the North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
West Bradenton is located at 27.50083°N, -82.61389°W (27.500916, -82.613806). It is bordered to the east by the city of Bradenton, to the north by the Manatee River, an arm of Tampa Bay, and to the south by Florida State Road 64. The CDP extends west as far as Warner West Bayou and 67th Street NW. The unincorporated community of Palma Sola is to the west.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the West Bradenton CDP has a total area of 1.4 sqmi, of which 0.1 sqmi, or 4.27%, are water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,444 people, 1,698 households, and 1,292 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,256.0 PD/sqmi. There were 1,772 housing units at an average density of 1,298.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.05% White, 0.52% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.92% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.68% of the population.

There were 1,698 households, out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.7% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were non-families. 19.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $52,989, and the median income for a family was $57,400. Males had a median income of $38,168 versus $24,471 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $27,262. About 3.3% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.9% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

title: West Bradenton, Florida


text:
West Samoset, Florida

West Samoset is an unincorporated area and census-designated place (CDP) in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,482 at the 2020 census, up from 5,583 in 2010. It is part of the North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
West Samoset is bordered to the north and northwest by the city of Bradenton, to the east by unincorporated Samoset, and to the west by unincorporated South Bradenton. U.S. Route 301 runs through the northern part of the community, while U.S. Route 41 forms the southwest border. Florida State Road 45 (1st Street) forms the western edge of the CDP.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.3 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,507 people, 1,814 households, and 1,246 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,013.7 PD/sqmi. There were 2,065 housing units at an average density of 1,505.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 60.40% White, 27.09% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 8.70% from other races, and 2.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.23% of the population.

There were 1,814 households, out of which 41.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were married couples living together, 22.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 33.6% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 13.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $30,047, and the median income for a family was $31,379. Males had a median income of $22,348 versus $20,761 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $13,027. About 17.6% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.3% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.

title: West Samoset, Florida


text:
Whitfield, Manatee County, Florida

Whitfield, also known as Whitfield Estates, is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Manatee County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census it had a population of 2,989, up from 2,882 at the 2010 census. It is part of the North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. It receives its mail from the Sarasota post office located in Sarasota County.

History
Whitfield Estates was formerly a 682 acre wooded area that had been homesteaded by General John Riggin, aide-de-camp to Ulysses S. Grant. The property included the 218 acre bayfront estate of Alfred Ringling. In 1924, the property was purchased from Richard T. Ringling, son of Alfred, by a corporation called Whitfield Estates, Inc., held by Louis Broughton Whitfield, D. G. Haley, E. H. Price, and E. S. Delaplane, Jr., all residents of Alabama.

Louis Whitfield, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, and president and primary investor of the development, was founder and president of the Alaga Syrup Company and the W. W. Pickle Company. Many streets in the subdivision were named for the Whitfield family, including Broughton and Pearl. The original plan for Whitfield Estates called for a housing development, an 18-hole golf course, hotel, yacht basin and man-made islands in the bay. Donald Ross was retained as the golf course architect. Sometime during late 1925 or very early into 1926, L. B. Whitfield would leave the development and his interest was taken over by Adair realty. In 1926, the developing neighborhood was incorporated as a city with E.S. Bond acting as mayor.

Like many other Florida Land Boom developments, it would never end up reaching the goals set by its developers. One of the first signs of financial trouble came when a decision was made to open membership of the Whitfield Estates County Club for residents of Sarasota and Bradenton if they agreed to take over the operating expenses associated with it. After the collapse of the boom, the residents of Whitfield would have difficulties staying there. Some homes would go through a series of different rentals while those that were under construction would end up being left unfinished for several years.

With the 1929 stock market crash and the arrival of the Great Depression, the conditions further worsened for residents there. During the years of the Great Depression there would be very little construction in Whitfield. In 1937 a group of club members ended up buying the golf course and club house, renaming it "Sarasota Bay Country Club". It was renamed once again in 1938 to "North Shore Country Club". During World War II, the club would close because of gasoline rationing and not being able to get golf balls. It ended up becoming overgrown, and after the war the US Army would help restore the golf course.

Whitfield Estates experienced a resurgence after World War II. Located near the Sarasota Army Airfield, the area became a popular location for families to settle during the post-war housing boom. This played a major role in the recovery of the community, with the Whitfield Community Improvement Association being established in the mid-1940s. The club was given its current name, "Sara Bay Country Club", in 1964.

National Register of Historic Places
The following districts and properties in the subdivision are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

Most of the above were listed as part of the 1996 Whitfield Estates Subdivision Multiple Property Submission (MPS).

Geography
Whitfield is in southern Manatee County, on the northeast shore of Sarasota Bay. It is bordered to the north by Bowlees Creek and the unincorporated community of Bayshore Gardens, and to the southeast by Sarasota–Bradenton International Airport. It is 6 mi north of the center of Sarasota and the same distance south of Bradenton, the Manatee county seat.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Whitfield CDP has a total area of 1.4 sqmi, of which 0.02 sqmi, or 1.43%, are water.

Demographics
As of the 2000 U.S. Census, there were 2,984 people, 1,244 households, and 878 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,125.0 PD/sqmi. There were 1,364 housing units at an average density of 971.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.27% White, 2.98% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.80% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.73% of the population.

There were 1,244 households, out of which 21.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 17.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $51,536, and the median income for a family was $54,009. Males had a median income of $35,444 versus $24,375 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $25,408. About 3.3% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.3% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

title: Whitfield, Manatee County, Florida


text:
Belleview, Florida

Belleview is a city in Marion County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,413 at the 2020 census, up from 4,492 in 2010. It is part of the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's name comes from the French words belle and vue, meaning "beautiful view". "City with Small Town Charm" is the city's motto.

History
A post office has been in operation at Belleview since 1883. The city officially incorporated on May 8, 1885.

Geography
Belleview is located in southern Marion County at 29.06149°N, -82.05494°W. U.S. Routes 27, 301 and 441 pass through the center of town. All three lead northwest 10 mi to Ocala, the county seat. Routes 27 and 441 lead southeast 22 mi to Leesburg, while Route 301 leads south 13 mi to Wildwood.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Belleview has a total area of 4.0 sqmi, of which 0.004 sqmi, or 0.10%, are water.

2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,413 people, 2,052 households, and 1,342 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 4,492 people, 1,897 households, and 1,337 families residing in the city.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,478 people, 1,600 households, and 956 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,905.5 PD/sqmi. There were 1,806 dwelling units at an average density of 989.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 91.14% White, 4.23% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.58% Asian, 2.10% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.68% of the population.

In 2000, there were 1,600 households, out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were married couples living together, 14.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.72.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 20.2% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 27.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $26,250, and the median income for a family was $33,701. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $18,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,241. About 8.8% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.8% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

Educational facilities
The city's school district is Marion County Public Schools. The schools in Belleview are:

 * Belleview High School
 * Belleview Middle School
 * Belleview Elementary School
 * Belleview-Santos Elementary School

title: Belleview, Florida


text:
Dunnellon, Florida

Dunnellon is a city in Marion County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,928 at the 2020 census, up from 1,733 in 2010. It is part of the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Dunnellon was founded in 1887, two years before the 1889 discovery of phosphate in the area. It was officially incorporated as a city in 1891. The subsequent mining boom, the first of its kind in Florida, lasted until the early 1910s. The original mining took place in and around the Rainbow River (then called Blue Run,) using the river's natural flow to transport phosphates. One of the original mining pits is now called the 'Blue Cove' subdivision. Phosphate industry operations began to shift south to the Polk County area, and by the 1960s, Dunnellon's last mine closed. Dunnellon survived the bust period, unlike other nearby phosphate towns including Romeo, LeRoy, Brewster, and Parkersburg.

Areas in and around Dunnellon served as filming locations for the 2001 horror film Jeepers Creepers, with a great deal of location work on Tiger Trail (a.k.a. High School Road), the road to Dunnellon High School, officially known as SW 180th Avenue Rd., just outside Rainbow Springs State Park.

Geography
Dunnellon is located in southwestern Marion County at 29.05°N, -82.45°W (29.0500, –82.4555), 76 mi due north of Tampa. It is bordered to the southwest by the Withlacoochee River, which forms the border with Citrus County. Dunnellon is bordered to the north by unincorporated Rainbow Springs.

U.S. Route 41 passes through the city, leading north 24 mi to Williston and south 18 mi to Inverness. Ocala, the Marion county seat, is 24 mi to the northeast.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Dunnellon has a total area of 9.1 sqmi, of which 8.8 sqmi are land and 0.3 sqmi, or 3.27%, are water. The Rainbow River joins the Withlacoochee River in Dunnellon, with the combined flow leading west toward the Gulf of Mexico.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, the City of Dunnellon has a humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).

2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,928 people, 1,272 households, and 546 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 1,733 people, 824 households, and 377 families residing in the city.

2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,898 people, 950 households, and 555 families residing in the city. The population density was 269.3 PD/sqmi. There were 1,128 dwelling units at an average density of 160.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 85.72% White, 11.85% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.79% of the population.

In 2000, there were 950 households, out of which 18.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.5% were non-families. 37.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.59.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 17.2% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 17.7% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 35.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.8 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $27,386, and the median income for a family was $35,313. Males had a median income of $29,605 versus $22,045 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,905. About 10.4% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.7% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.

Major roads
County roads include County Roads 40, 336, and 484, all three of which run along Pennsylvania Avenue.
 * [[Image:US 41.svg|23px]] The main road through Dunnellon is US 41 a major south-to-north highway that runs from Miami to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
 * Marion County Road 40 FL.svg County Road 40 is a bi-county road that begins along the Gulf of Mexico in Yankeetown in Levy County, and merges with CR 336 before entering the city limits and turning north onto US 41 as hidden State Road 40 where it branches off on its own in Rainbow Lakes Estates north of the city.
 * Marion County Road 336 FL.svg County Road 336 is another bi-county road, but this one spans southeast from western Levy County, and merges with CR 40 west of the city limits before terminating at US 41, where CR 40 turns north and Pennsylvania Avenue becomes CR 484.
 * Marion County Road 484 FL.svg County Road 484, is a major county road in southern Marion County which begins at the terminus of CR 336 and its multiplex with CR 40. It leads to Marion Oaks, and spans as far east as US 27-441 in Summerfield.

Other transportation
Dunnellon had four railroad lines in the past: two owned by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, one owned by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad and one owned by the Florida Northern Railroad. A boat launching area exists along the Withlacoochee River. Just outside the city, the Dunnellon/Marion County Airport can be found along CR 484.

Notable people

 * Terrence Brooks, American football NFL safety for the New York Jets
 * Max Lanier, former MLB baseball player
 * Lerentee McCray, former NFL outside linebacker/defensive end for the Denver Broncos
 * Kelly Meggs, leader of the Florida Chapter of the Oath Keepers militia, convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol
 * Ernie Mills, former NFL football player, Pittsburgh Steelers
 * Terry Plumeri, classical composer, orchestra conductor, double bassist, lecturer, teacher, producer, and film score composer
 * Michael Roof, actor from the XXX films, The Dukes of Hazzard movie, Black Hawk Down and Raising the Roofs

title: Dunnellon, Florida


text:
McIntosh, Florida

McIntosh is a town in Marion County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, the town population was 463, up from 452 at the 2010 census.

History
The earliest documented colonizer to inhabit the area near McIntosh was in the early 1820s by Colonel John Houstoun McIntosh, who lived in a plantation until it was destroyed by Seminoles, along with them burning his sugar mill, during the Second Seminole War.

On February 2, 1849, a merchant from Baltimore named Nehemiah Brush, bought a large portion of land at a government auction in Micanopy, which included 4,000 acres of the Arrendondo Spanish land grant that today encompasses McIntosh. His son, Colonel Charles Brush, along with his brother-in-law Eugene Van Ness and sister Julia Brush (née Van Ness) developed present-day McIntosh, into building lots and ten-acre plots for citrus crops.

The current town was platted in 1885, and named after the founding settler, Col. John McIntosh. His brother-in-law, Eugene Van Ness, filed the second plat in 1888 when Col. McIntosh became seriously ill. A post office has been in operation at McIntosh since 1887.

The "Town of McIntosh" was officially incorporated as a municipality on May 22, 1913.

Geography
McIntosh is located in northern Marion County at 29.44932°N, -82.22067°W. It is bordered to the east by Orange Lake in Alachua County.

U.S. Route 441 passes through the town, leading south 19 mi to Ocala, the county seat, and northwest 17 mi to Gainesville.

According to the United States Census Bureau, McIntosh has a total area of 0.7 sqmi, all land.

Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, the Town of McIntosh has a humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).

2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 463 people, 148 households, and 86 families residing in the town.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 452 people, 142 households, and 101 families residing in the town.

2000 census
At the 2000 census, there were 453 people, 227 households, and 133 families in the town. The population density was 650.8 PD/sqmi. There were 271 dwelling units at an average density of 389.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.91% White, 2.43% African American, 0.22% Native American, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.55%.

Of the 227 households in 2000, 11.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were non-families. 34.8% of households were one person and 16.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.53.

The age distribution in 2000 was 13.2% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 19.2% from 25 to 44, 38.4% from 45 to 64, and 25.6% 65 or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.1 males.

In 2000, the median household income was $36,250, and the median family income was $58,500. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $20,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,617. About 2.7% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.

title: McIntosh, Florida