Editing Bradenton, Florida

{{Short description|City in Florida, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ----------- -->
| name                     = Bradenton, Florida
| settlement_type          = City
<!-- images and maps  ------ -->
| image_skyline            = Bradenton City Hall.jpg
| image_caption            = Bradenton City Hall
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = Seal of Bradenton, Florida.png
| image_shield             = 
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = "The Friendly City"<ref>{{cite web |access-date=April 26, 2021 |title=Welcome to the Friendly City! |url=https://cityofbradenton.com/ |website=City of Bradenton}}</ref>
<!-- images and maps  ------ -->
| image_map                = Manatee_County_Florida_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Bradenton_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 250x200px
| map_caption              = Location in [[Manatee County, Florida|Manatee County]] and the U.S. state of Florida
<!-- Location -------------- -->
| coordinates              = {{coord|27|29|N|82|35|W|region:US-FL_type:city|display=it}}
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Florida]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Florida|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Manatee County, Florida|Manatee]]
| established_title        = [[Settler colonialism|Settled]]
| established_date         = January 1842<ref name=est>{{cite book|last1=Favorite|first1=Merab-Michal|title=Bradenton|date=2013|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-9078-3|page=129|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=maxoG1h0xzkC&q=Bradenton%2C+Florida+1842&pg=PA129|access-date=June 9, 2014}}</ref>
| established_title3       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated (city)]]
| established_date3        = May 19, 1903<ref name=BradInco/>
| established_title4       = Former names
| established_date4        = {{ubl|{{nowrap|Braidentown (1842–1905)}}|{{nowrap|Bradentown (1905–1924)}}}}
<!-- Politics ----------------->
| government_type          = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–Council]]
| government_footnotes     = 
| leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name              = Gene Brown<ref>{{cite web |access-date=April 26, 2021 |title=Mayor & Council |url=https://cityofbradenton.com/council |website=City of Bradenton}}</ref>
| leader_title1            = [[Vice Mayor]]
| leader_name1             = Marianne Barnebey
| leader_title2            = [[City Council|Councilors]]
| leader_name2             = Jayne Kocher,<br>Josh Cramer,<br>Lisa Gonzalez Moore, and<br>Pam Coachman
| leader_title3            = [[City Manager|City Administrator]]
| leader_name3             = Rob Perry
| leader_title4            = [[City Clerk]]
| leader_name4             = Tamara Melton
<!-- Area    --------------- -->
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_12.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 31, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2           = 45.32
<!-- ALL fields with a measurement are subject to automatic unit conversion -->
| area_total_sq_mi         = 17.50
| area_land_km2            = 37.13
<!-- See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion -->
| area_land_sq_mi          = 14.34
| area_water_km2           = 8.19
| area_water_sq_mi         = 3.16
| area_water_percent       = 16.14
| elevation_footnotes      = 
| elevation_m              = 1.83
| elevation_ft             = 6
<!-- Population   ---------- -->
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 55698
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_density_km2   = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| population_density_metro_km2 = auto
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = auto
| population_urban         = 779,075 ([[List of United States urban areas|US: 57th]])
| population_density_urban_km2   = 744.0 
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 1,927.1
| population_metro         = 859,760 ([[Metropolitan statistical area|US: 70th]])
<!-- General information  -- -->
| timezone                 = EST
| utc_offset               = -5:00
| timezone_DST             = EDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -4:00
<!-- Area/postal codes ----- -->
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code              = 34201–34212, 34280–34282
| area_code                = [[Area code 941|941]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 12-07950<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 0279311<ref name="GNIS">{{cite GNIS |279311 |Bradenton |entrydate=October 19, 1979 |access-date=April 26, 2021}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|cityofbradenton.com}}
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = 
}}

'''Bradenton''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|r|eɪ|d|ən|t|ən|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Bradenton, Florida.wav}} {{respell|BRAY|dən|tən}}) is a city in and the [[county seat]]<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 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> of [[Manatee County, Florida|Manatee County]], Florida, United States. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the city's population is 55,698, up from 49,546 at the 2010 census. It is a principal city in the [[Sarasota metropolitan area]]. Downtown Bradenton is along the [[Manatee River]] and includes the [[Bradenton Riverwalk]]. Downtown Bradenton is also home to the [[Bishop Museum of Science and Nature]].

To the south of Bradenton is [[Sarasota, Florida|Sarasota]]; beach communities on [[Anna Maria Island]] are to its west.  The Manatee River and [[Palmetto, Florida|Palmetto]] on the other side of it are to its north.

== History ==

=== Late 18th and early 19th centuries ===
A settlement established by [[Maroons]] or escaped slaves named [[Angola, Florida|Angola]] existed in Bradenton's present area starting in the late 1700s and ending in 1821. It is believed to been spread out between the Manatee River (then known as Oyster River) all the way to [[Sarasota Bay]]. The community is estimated to have had 600–750 residents. Angola was a rather large maroon settlement as the Manatee River at that time was too shallow for US Navy vessels to navigate. The settlement was abandoned after the [[Muscogee|Creeks]] who were aligned with [[Andrew Jackson]] attacked Angola.<ref>{{Cite news|last=White|first=Dale|date=September 8, 2016|title=When Bradenton was a home for escaped slaves|work=[[The Florida Times-Union]]|url=https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20160908/when-bradenton-was-home-for-escaped-slaves|access-date=May 1, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Eger|first=Issac|date=June 27, 2018|title=A Newly Excavated Settlement Highlights Florida's History as a Haven for Escaped Slaves|url=https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/news-and-profiles/2018/06/a-newly-excavated-settlement-highlights-florida-s-history-as-a-haven-for-escaped-slaves|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-01|website=Sarasota Magazine|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725062045/https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/news-and-profiles/2018/06/a-newly-excavated-settlement-highlights-florida-s-history-as-a-haven-for-escaped-slaves |archive-date=July 25, 2020 }}</ref>

When the United States annexed Florida in 1821, there were two known claimants of land in the vicinity of Bradenton but neither of them was confirmed by the US federal government.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Congress|first=United States|title=American State Papers: Documents, Legislative and Executive, of the Congress of the United States ...|date=1860|publisher=Gales and Seaton|language=en|chapter=Land Claims in East Florida|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KG8zAQAAMAAJ}}</ref>

=== Mid and late 19th century ===
Josiah Gates along with his family and eight slaves moved to the area where present-day Bradenton exists in January 1842 after being attracted to the area for its natural beauty. Gates thought the area would be a popular place for new settlers to arrive at because it was near [[Fort Brooke]], and he also figured that while they were building their homes they would need a place to stay at temporarily. He built his home near present-day 15th Street East and his inn at another location naming it Gates House.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Favorite|first=Merab|date=November 12, 2017|title=Sunday Favorites: The First Settler|url=https://thebradentontimes.com/sunday-favorites-the-first-settler-p19239-133.htm|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-16|website=[[The Bradenton Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516171311/https://thebradentontimes.com/sunday-favorites-the-first-settler-p19239-133.htm |archive-date=May 16, 2021 }}</ref> Gates is also credited as being the first known American settler in present-day Manatee County.<ref>{{Cite web|last=King|first=Carl|date=April 19, 1972|title=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/5083|url-status=live|access-date=May 16, 2021|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|pages=6–7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516171311/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/5083 |archive-date=May 16, 2021 }}</ref>

Bradenton is named after Dr. Joseph Braden, whose nearby fort-like house was a refuge for early settlers during the [[Seminole Wars]]. Braden owned a sugar plantation in the area, covering {{convert|1100|acres}} and being worked by slave labor. Dr. Joseph Braden was originally from Virginia and relocated to [[Leon County, Florida|Leon County]] in Florida shortly after its [[Adams–Onís Treaty|annexation by the United States]] in 1821 where he established a cotton plantation bringing his preexisting Virginia slaves along with him. After having financial difficulties from the [[Panic of 1837]], he tried to reestablish himself financially in Manatee County in 1843 moving to the area along with his slaves.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|last=King|first=Carl|date=1979–1982|title=Speech by Carl King "The Plantation Builders"|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/5428|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-25|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425164823/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/5428 |archive-date=April 25, 2021 }}</ref> To help with the shipment of sugar grown at the plantation, he constructed a pier in present-day Downtown Bradenton where ships could dock at and pick up sugar. Where the pier met the land he constructed a stockade getting the name of Fort Braden.<ref>{{Cite web|last=King|first=Carl|date=March 26, 1983|title=Speech by Carl King "Boat Tour on Anna Maria Sound and Manatee River"|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/6697|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-21|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521133336/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/6697 |archive-date=May 21, 2021 }}</ref> During the [[Third Seminole War]], on April 6, 1856, Braden's fortified home was attacked by several [[Seminoles|Seminole Indians]], one of the few, albeit small, direct engagements of the war.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Knetsch |first1=Joe |title=Florida's Seminole wars, 1817-1858 |date=2003 |publisher=Arcadia Pub |location=Charleston, SC |isbn=9781589730786 |page=153}}</ref> Braden was financially successful with his plantation but ended up moving back to Leon County in 1857 because of [[Panic of 1857|a financial panic that occurred that year]].<ref name=":3" />

Major Alden Joseph Adams purchased 400 acres of land in 1876 between present-day Manatee Memorial Hospital and 9th Street East and build his home there in 1882. He named his three-story concrete home Villa Zanza. Alden was known for having many animals and a large amount of foliage at his home. At one point he owned over 300,000 acres of land in Manatee County. Major Alden Joseph Adams served in the Union Army during the [[American Civil War]] and eventually reached the rank of major. After the war he served in the [[United States Secret Service|US Secret Service]] and later as a newspaper correspondent for the ''[[New York Herald]]''. He reported from Paris during the time when the [[Paris Commune]] existed. At one point he was asked to look for [[David Livingstone|Dr. David Livingstone]] but declined and suggested that [[Henry Morton Stanley]] should look for him instead. Adams died in 1915, and his home was bought in 1924 with the intent of remodeling it. However it was not completed, and his home was demolished at some point in the late 1920s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Major Adams' Castle, Bradentown|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/821|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-21|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521015138/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/821 |archive-date=May 21, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Favorite|first=Merab-Michal|date=January 8, 2012|title=Community Sunday Favorites: Villa Zanza and the Eccentric Major Adams|url=https://thebradentontimes.com/community-sunday-favorites-villa-zanza-and-the-eccentric-major-adams-p9938-158.htm|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-21|website=The Bradenton Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521015138/https://thebradentontimes.com/community-sunday-favorites-villa-zanza-and-the-eccentric-major-adams-p9938-158.htm |archive-date=May 21, 2021 }}</ref>

William I. Turner bought 7 acres from John Crews Pelot in 1877 and create a subdivision from that land creating what is now Bradenton. The land itself was plotted by Axel Emil Broberg and it contained 19 plots on both sides of what is 12th Street West along with a cross street that is currently 3rd Avenue. Turner sold the lots building a store and a warehouse along with<ref>{{Cite web|year=1983|title=Gladys Turner Pittman with Bradenton's First Post Office Marker|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll1/id/10685/rec/3|url-status=live|access-date=December 30, 2021|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|type=Photograph|format=JPEG|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230153606/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll1/id/10685/rec/3 |archive-date=December 30, 2021 }}</ref> his own home where he lived at.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Turner|first=Mrs. William Jr.|date=October 15, 1975|title=Speech by Mrs. William S. Turner, Jr. "Major William I. Turner"|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/6493/rec/2|url-status=live|access-date=December 30, 2021|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|page=7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230153604/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/6493/rec/2 |archive-date=December 30, 2021 }}</ref>

The town was originally spelled "Braidentown," as a spelling error was made when it applied for a post office on May 9, 1878.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|last=King|first=Carl|date=May 17, 1978|title=Speech by Carl King "The Story of Bradenton|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/5895/rec/1|access-date=2020-08-03|website=Manatee County Public Library Digital Collection|language=en}}</ref> The first bridge across [[Wares Creek]] was built in 1886.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Residences on Wares Creek, Bradentown|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/2340|access-date=2020-09-02|website=Manatee County Public Library System Digital Collection|language=en}}</ref> The following year, Bradenton was designated the county seat after [[DeSoto County, Florida|DeSoto County]] was formed from eastern Manatee County, as the then county seat, [[Pine Level, DeSoto County, Florida|Pine Level]], was in the new county.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Manatee County Courthouse from the 1890s|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll1/id/4737|access-date=2020-08-14|website=Manatee County Public Library Digital Collection}}</ref> A county courthouse was built in 1890 at Courthouse Square.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=1896–1907|title=Manatee County Court House, Bradentown|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/887|access-date=2020-10-18|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|language=en}}</ref>

=== 20th century ===

==== First half of the 20th century ====
[[File:Main Street, Bradentown, FL.jpg|thumb|left|Old Main Street c. 1910]]
Railroad service was extended from Palmetto across the Manatee River to Bradenton in 1902.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gibson|first=Pamela|date=February 1985|title=Speech by Pamela Gibson "Railroads of Manatee County"|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/7055|access-date=2020-09-26|website=Manatee County Public Library Digital Collection|language=en}}</ref> Bradenton was incorporated on May 19, 1903,<ref name=BradInco>{{Cite book|last=Hall|first=A. Sterling|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/6829|title=Speech by A. Sterling Hall "Bradenton Municipal Government"|year=1970|pages=2}}</ref> with 59 voting in favor of incorporating and 34 voting against it.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Parvin|first=Elizabeth|date=May 15, 1970|title=Early Cultural and Social Life of Manatee County|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/73|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-17|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517003348/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/73 |archive-date=May 17, 2021 }}</ref> Shortly after incorporation, a local election was held to choose the city's first elected municipal officials. A.T Cornwell was elected as mayor, Robert H. Roesch as clerk and tax assessor, A.B. Murphy as treasurer and F. Dryman as tax collector along with seven city council members.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Thompson|first=Sharyn|date=October 24, 1983|title=1903 Banner Year for Bradentown|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/5484|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-25|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|page=2|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425171351/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/5484 |archive-date=April 25, 2021 }}</ref> One of the earliest moves made by the municipal government was amending the name to "Bradentown".<ref>Porter, M. (2014). Manatee history matters. Bradenton Herald. Retrieved from https://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article34739931.html</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4zogAAAAIBAJ&pg=5933%2C4186421 | title=The Legends Behind Manatee Names | work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune | date=November 23, 1979 | access-date=June 6, 2015 | author=Grimes, David | pages=1B | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904105630/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4zogAAAAIBAJ&sjid=s2cEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5933%2C4186421 | archive-date=September 4, 2015 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Poston|first=Wayne|date=January 15, 2003|title=Speech by Wayne Poston "Past and Future of Bradenton"|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/7628|access-date=2020-08-03|website=Manatee County Public Library System Digital Collection|language=en}}</ref> However the name change would not be reflected with the [[United States Postal Service|US Postal Service]] until 1905.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Thompson|first=Sharyn|date=October 24, 1983|title=1903 Banner Year for Bradentown|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/5483|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-25|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425171351/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/5483 |archive-date=April 25, 2021 }}</ref> On December 29, a streetcar line began operation going from Bradenton to the neighboring city of Manatee and went west crossing [[Wares Creek]] to the nearby community of Fogartyville.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Slusser|first=Cathy|date=March 21, 2001|title=Speech by Cathy Slusser "Manatee County History"|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/5955|access-date=2020-08-03|website=Manatee County Public Library System Digital Collection|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Lambert|first=Joe|date=January 21, 1987|title=Speech by Joe Lambert "The Graham-Davis House"|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/5012|access-date=2020-08-16|website=Manatee County Public Library System Digital Collection|language=en}}</ref> The company operating the line had financial difficulties, likely due to a lack of ridership, and cancelled the line in 1906.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Poston|first=Wayne|date=January 15, 2003|title=Speech by Wayne Poston "Past and Future of Bradenton"|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/7628|access-date=2020-08-03|website=Manatee County Public Library System – Digital Collection|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=1900s|title=Manatee County Courthouse|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll1/id/6816|access-date=2020-08-03|website=Manatee County Public Library System – Digital Collection|language=en}}</ref> The Manavista Hotel was opened in January 1907 bordering the Manatee River on Main Street.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Russell|first=Cindy|date=November 18, 2014|title=Manatee History Matters: The Manavista Hotel was Bradenton's first 'sky scraper'|work=[[The Bradenton Herald]]|url=https://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article34750326.html|access-date=May 31, 2021}}</ref>

The Davis Bridge, the first general traffic bridge across the Manatee River was opened in June 1910. It was a wooden toll bridge built by C.H. Davis that had one lane and passing spots. The bridge went from present-day 9th Street East (located within then nearby Manatee) to near where the Atwood Grapefruit Groves were located at west of Ellenton.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|year=1910|title=Davis Bridge over Manatee River|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/770|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-27|website=Manatee County Digital Library System: Digital Collection|language=en|type=Postcard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527020432/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/770 |archive-date=May 27, 2021 }}</ref> In 1912, the first road, Range Road leading from present-day Bradenton (then, Manatee) to Sarasota was built.<ref name=":0" /> Also during that year, the original county courthouse was bought and moved to a new location becoming a grade school for black students in the area, Lincoln Academy Grammar School. A [[Manatee County Courthouse|new courthouse]] was built on the site of the old one which still stands today in the following year, 1913.<ref name=":1" /> The Victory Bridge was opened in August 1919 running from current 10th Street West in Bradenton to 8th Avenue in Palmetto. Funding for the bridge came from bond issues by both Bradenton and Palmetto. The bridge itself had two lanes and was made of wood. Its name came from the United States' recent victory in World War I against the Central Powers.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Gibson|first=Pamela|year=1985|title=Speech by Pamela Gibson "Some Early Bridges of Manatee County, North to South, East to West"|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/5514|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-27|website=Manatee County Public Library Collection: Digital Collection|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527020432/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/5514 |archive-date=May 27, 2021 }}</ref> With the Victory Bridge's construction, the municipal government of Manatee attempted to buy Davis Bridge and make it public as a way to compete with Bradenton's Victory Bridge but the deal however never went through.<ref name=":5" /> The rest of the bridge ended up being dismantled with the exception of its draw section which was sold to county government and put into use for the Snead Island's Cut off bridge in 1920.<ref name=":6" />

==== 1920s and 1930s ====
Baseball spring training began in Bradenton with the construction of [[Ninth Street Park (pre-1923)|Ninth Street Park]] in 1923. The first team to train in the city was the [[St. Louis Cardinals]], doing so for 1923 and 1924. The city council began the process of removing the "w" letter from its then name "Bradentown" in January 1925 and be completed on May 2, 1925, when the state Governor signed a bill relating to it making it official.<ref name=":8" /> All streets in the city were renamed in 1926 with a [[numbered street|numbering system]].<ref>{{Cite web|year=1914|title=Postcard of Prospect Avenue Looking North from Manatee Avenue, Bradentown|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/2864%20(for%20note)|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-12|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412211005/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/2864%20(for%20note) |archive-date=April 12, 2021 }}</ref>

After the collapse of the [[Florida land boom of the 1920s|Florida land boom]] and the [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]] starting, the city faced an economic downturn.<ref>{{Cite web|last=King|first=Carl|date=May 17, 1978|title=Speech by Carl King "Real Estate Trends in Manatee County"|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/5910|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-16|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection.|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516184951/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/5910 |archive-date=May 16, 2021 }}</ref> Along with an economic downturn, the city had financial issues as well with the city going into debt. During the Florida land boom, Bradenton borrowed money as a way to pay for infrastructure to areas that were considered outlying.  As a result, the city retracted its municipal boundaries so it could not provide services to those areas and defaulted their municipal bonds as a result. After the municipal boundaries were retracted, the bonds were refunded, and residents who lived in the new boundaries would be responsible for paying it. Bradenton ended up eventually getting its bonds paid off.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=A. Sterling|date=November 18, 1970|title=Speech by A. Sterling Hall "Bradenton Municipal Government"|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/6828|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-16|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517131638/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/6828 |archive-date=May 17, 2021 }}</ref> Despite the economic downtown, several new projects were done in the city. A municipal pier (interchangeably referred to as Memorial pier) was built in 1927 with a building at its end. The pier itself still stands and the building at its end has served a variety of functions ever since.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kropp Co|first=E.C.|year=1935|title=Municipal Pier, Bradenton|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/398|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-18|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|language=en|type=Postcard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518141610/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/398 |archive-date=May 18, 2021 }}</ref> As the Victory Bridge was deemed too unsafe to use after a hurricane hit it in 1926, the [[Green Bridge (Manatee River)|Green Bridge]] was built the following year in 1927 as a replacement to it. In the meantime, a ferry operated until the Green Bridge was built.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|last=Co.|first=Gulfstream Card|date=2002–2010|title=Bradenton, Florida|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/2663|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-22|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|language=en|type=Postcard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522151606/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/2663 |archive-date=May 22, 2021 }}</ref> On July 22, 1931, a joint committee was appointed by the municipal city councils of Bradenton, Manatee, and Palmetto to consider and possibly even merge the three cities but nothing would come out of the committee in the end. A new post office building in 1937 was built on Manatee Avenue and 9th Street West as a [[Works Progress Administration]] project. The post office is still in operation.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sales Co.|first=Hartman Litho|year=1947|title=U.S. Post Office, Bradenton|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/743|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-18|website=County Public Library System: Digital Collection|language=en|type=Postcard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518141610/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/743 |archive-date=May 18, 2021 }}</ref>

Compiled in the late 1930s and first published in 1939, the [[American Guide Series|Florida guide]] listed Bradenton's population as being 5,986 and described it as:{{Blockquote|text=lies opposite Palmetto on the south bank of the Manatee River. The two towns are connected by a mile-long bridge. Boom-time hotels dominate the skyline and do a thriving business in winter, when the population almost doubles. In the residential sections comfortable houses are surrounded with aged trees. The neighboring area of rich muck land normally produces two or three crops each season, making Bradenton the principal shipping center for winter vegetables on the west coast. Celery, citrus fruits, tomatoes, cabbages, eggplants, green peppers and square are the main products.
<ref name="auto">{{cite book |last=Federal Writers' Project |date=1947 |edition= 5th |title=Florida: A Guide to the Southernmost State |url=https://archive.org/details/floridaguidetoso00fede/page/394/mode/2up?q=Bradenton|location=New York |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=394|isbn= 9781595342089}}</ref>|author=Federal Writers' Project|title="Part III: The Florida Loop"|source=''Florida: A Guide to the Southernmost State'' (1947)}}

==== 1940s ====
[[File:Florida - Brandenton through Clearwater - NARA - 23936567.jpg|alt=An aerial photograph taken of Downtown Bradenton in August 1941 by the US Army Air Forces.|right|thumb|Downtown Bradenton in August 1941 in an aerial photograph taken by the [[United States Army Air Forces|US Army Air Forces.]]]]
Bradenton was affected by World War II like many other cities in Florida and the United States. During the war, Manatee County had its own Civil Defense battalion in it with two subunits existing in Bradenton and another for nearby Manatee. A recreational center was opened in March 1942 at a building on the intersection of 6th Avenue and 12th Street West in the downtown area to be used by soldiers. The recreation center closed in November 1945 and was popular with local soldiers and visited even by those who were stationed outside of Bradenton. Police Chief Clyde Benton expanded the police force by naming 45 officers to serve without pay during the war.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Warren|first=G.|title=Speech by Lt.Col. G. Warren Johnson Jr "World War II Comes to Manatee County"|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/4887|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-03|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603133927/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/4887 |archive-date=June 3, 2021 }}</ref> Camp Weatherford located at LECOM Field existed for eight months at some point during the war as a training center for the [[Signal Corps (United States Army)|US Army Signal Corps]]. About 350 soldiers were trained there during its existence. The camp itself often had an issue with being flooded because of the rainy climate, showers at the camp occurring often, clothes being washed, its low elevation and is located nearby to Wares Creek. A soldier named Joe Grossman at the camp ran a radio show broadcasting on [[WSPB (Florida radio station)|WSPB]] called Weatherford Shinings. Local residents accommodated the troops stationed at the base in a variety of ways.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Favorite|first=Merab|date=March 3, 2019|title=Sunday Favorites: Camp Weatherford|url=https://thebradentontimes.com/sunday-favorites-camp-weatherford-p20645-133.htm|url-status=live|access-date=June 3, 2021|website=The Bradenton Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603133929/https://thebradentontimes.com/sunday-favorites-camp-weatherford-p20645-133.htm |archive-date=June 3, 2021 }}</ref> Bradenton merged with nearby Manatee (incorporated in 1888) in 1943. Manatee faced similar financial problems as Bradenton did in regards to their bonds and faced high debt levels as a result but Manatee could not pay off the bonds.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="herald">{{cite news|author=Mannix, Vin|date=June 17, 2007|title=The founding of the Manatee settlement|newspaper=[[Bradenton Herald]]|url=http://www.bradenton.com/681/story/49041.html|url-status=dead|access-date=August 15, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009120719/http://www.bradenton.com/681/story/49041.html|archive-date=October 9, 2007}}</ref>

==== Second half of the 20th century ====
Mayor A. Sterling Hall took office in January 1948. During his tenure lasting the next 20 years before retiring, the city was radically transformed. While serving as mayor he was considered progressive in his time period when it came to racial issues. As mayor, he created a municipal housing authority and also do [[Slum clearance in the United States|slum clearance]]. He created quality housing for black residents along with paving streets, bringing sewage service, water, and expanded garbage collection services to black neighborhoods.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Roundtree|first=Craig|date=November 18, 1991|title=Speech by Craig Roundtree "Mayors of the City of Bradenton, Past and Present"|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/5272|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-22|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522151607/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/5272 |archive-date=May 22, 2021 }}</ref> Despite Mayor Hall's racial progressiveness, a [[Ku Klux Klan]] march occurred during his tenure in 1958 between Palmetto and Bradenton. The reason for the march was in response to a black group asking the county school board to either give them a new school building in Bradenton or integrate junior and senior high schools in the county.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Marth|first=Del|date=March 9, 1958|title=KKK rally in Bradenton, rides through quarters, police and sheriff disagree|work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13354948/kkk-rally-in-bradenton-rides-through/|access-date=August 5, 2021}}</ref> The Manavista Hotel was demolished in 1959 and replaced with a motel and later a retirement community.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|title=The Manavista Hotel, Bradenton|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/65|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-31|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Archives|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213406/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/65 |archive-date=June 2, 2021 }}</ref> During the 1960s the Manatee River was dredged, and an area nicknamed "the Sandpile" was formed getting developed over the course of the rest of the 20th century and the 21st century.<ref name=":4" /> During the Civil Rights Movement, Mayor Hall tried to make desegregation come about in his city in a nonviolent manner. Lunch counters were desegregated sometime during 1960<ref>{{Cite news|last=the Student Voice|date=August 1960|title=STATE REPORTS – FLORIDA|work=the Student Voice|url=https://www.crmvet.org/docs/sv/sv6008.pdf|access-date=July 5, 2021}}</ref> and a biracial commission was created during the summer of 1963.<ref>{{cite report |url=https://www.crmvet.org/docs/6312_src_crsummary.pdf |publisher=Southern Regional Council , Inc. |title=CIVIL RIGHTS: YEAR-END Summary |date=Dec 31, 1963}}</ref>

Bradenton built a new city hall located on 15th Street West bordering Wares Creek in January 1970 as a replacement to their location on 13th Street West, which the city had used since 1913.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Card Distributors|first=West Coast|date=1971–1978|title=Bradenton City Hall|url=https://mymanatee.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/1274|access-date=2021-05-28|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|language=en|type=Postcard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Pharmacy|first=Thomas'|date=1913–1917|title=City Hall and Fire Station, Bradentown|url=https://mymanatee.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/1232|access-date=2021-05-28|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|language=en|type=Postcard}}</ref> Governor [[Claude R. Kirk Jr.]] arrived in Bradenton on April 6, 1970, in an attempt to stop Manatee County School District's [[desegregation busing]]. When he arrived he suspended the district superintendent along with the school district, leading to the district stopping the busing of 2,500 students and 107 teachers. During February he threatened to impeach a federal judge and said he would not sign checks that would pay for busing students. He stayed in the Manatee County School District's Administration building then located at the corner of 9th Avenue and 14th Street<ref>{{Cite web|title=Manatee County High School|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/668|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-10|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610161943/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/668 |archive-date=June 10, 2021 }}</ref> for a week before being threatened with a $10,000 fine per day if he continued to stay in the building and was unsuccessful with preventing bussing.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Protest march during Governor Kirk's busing Crisis|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll1/id/20398|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-10|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210610161945/https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll1/id/20398 |archive-date=June 10, 2021 }}</ref> The 8-floor [[Hotel Dixie Grande]], which opened in April 1926, was demolished in August 1974.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Co.|first=Asheville postcard|date=1934–1941|title=Seasons Best Greeting, Hotel Dixie Grande|url=https://mymanatee.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll4/id/1166|access-date=2021-05-28|website=Manatee County Public Library System: Digital Collection|language=en|type=Postcard}}</ref>

The Green Bridge was replaced in 1986.<ref name=":4" /> The city hall moved to a new location on 12th Street West in November 1998 after the property was sold to a local resident with the intention of redeveloping it but plans never materialized.<ref name=":7" />

=== 21st century ===
The local resident who had owned the former city hall property along Wares Creek sold it to a development group sometime in 2004, and it was demolished in December 2004.<ref name=":7" /> The [[Bradenton Riverwalk]], a 1.5-mile long park along the Manatee River opened in October 2012.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hice|first=Sandra|date=October 16, 2012|title=New Bradenton Riverwalk Revives City's Sense Of Place|work=83 degrees|publisher=Issue Media Group|url=https://www.83degreesmedia.com/features/riverwalk101612.aspx|access-date=May 22, 2021}}</ref> McKechnie Field, the spring training stadium for the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], was renamed [[LECOM Park]] in February 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|date=February 10, 2017|title=Pirates' spring training home renamed LECOM Park|work=[[USA Today]]|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/02/10/pirates-spring-training-home-renamed-lecom-park/97743710/|access-date=June 3, 2021}}</ref>

=== Historic properties ===
Historic properties in Bradenton include:

* [[Bradenton Bank and Trust Company Building]], 1925, now the Professional Building, 1023 Manatee Avenue, West
* [[Bradenton Carnegie Library]], 1405 Fourth Avenue West
* [[Braden Castle Park Historic District]], off Manatee Avenue and 27th St East
* [[Iron Block Building (Bradenton, Florida)|Iron Block Building]], 1896, 530 12th Street West (Old Main Street)
* [[Manatee County Courthouse]], 1913, 1115 Manatee Avenue, West
* [[Old Manatee County Courthouse]], 1860, 1404 Manatee Avenue, East
* [[Peninsular Telephone Company Building]], 1925, 1009 4th Avenue, West

==Geography==
The approximate coordinates for the City of Bradenton is located at {{coord|27|29|N|82|35|W|}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Bradenton has a total area of {{convert|14.44|sqmi|km2|1}}, of which {{convert|12.11|sqmi|km2|1}} is land and {{convert|2.33|sqmi|km2|1}} (16.14%) is water.

Bradenton is located on [[U.S. Route 41 in Florida|US 41]] between [[Tampa]] and [[Sarasota]]. The area is surrounded by [[waterway]]s, both fresh and saltwater. Along the [[Gulf of Mexico]] and into [[Tampa Bay]] are over {{convert|20|mi|km}} of Florida beaches, many of which are shaded by [[Casuarina|Australian pines]]. Bordered on the north by the [[Manatee River]], Bradenton is located on the mainland and is separated from the outer [[barrier island]]s of [[Anna Maria Island]] and [[Longboat Key, Florida|Longboat Key]] by the [[Intracoastal Waterway]].

Downtown Bradenton is located in the northwest area of the city. Home to many of Bradenton's offices and government buildings, the tallest is the [[Bradenton Financial Center]], 12 stories high, with its blue-green windows. The next tallest is the brand new Manatee County Judicial Center with nine floors, located next to the [[Old Manatee County Courthouse|historic courthouse]]. Other major downtown buildings include the [[Manatee County, Florida|Manatee County]] Government building and the headquarters of the School Board of Manatee County.

===Climate===
Bradenton has a typical Central Florida [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cfa'') characterized by hot, humid summers and warm winters. Bradenton borders a [[tropical climate]], with only one month (January) having a mean temperature below {{convert|64|F}}, which is the threshold for a tropical climate.
{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Bradenton, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1911–present
|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 91
|Feb record high F = 88
|Mar record high F = 91
|Apr record high F = 94
|May record high F = 100
|Jun record high F = 100
|Jul record high F = 100
|Aug record high F = 101
|Sep record high F = 98
|Oct record high F = 96
|Nov record high F = 91
|Dec record high F = 89

|Jan avg record high F = 82.8
|Feb avg record high F = 84.1
|Mar avg record high F = 86.1
|Apr avg record high F = 89.9
|May avg record high F = 93.4
|Jun avg record high F = 95.7
|Jul avg record high F = 95.8
|Aug avg record high F = 95.3
|Sep avg record high F = 94.0
|Oct avg record high F = 91.0
|Nov avg record high F = 86.6
|Dec avg record high F = 83.4
|year avg record high F = 96.6

| Jan high F = 72.0
| Feb high F = 75.0
| Mar high F = 78.4
| Apr high F = 83.0
| May high F = 88.2
| Jun high F = 91.1
| Jul high F = 92.0
| Aug high F = 91.8
| Sep high F = 90.0
| Oct high F = 85.2
| Nov high F = 78.6
| Dec high F = 74.0
|year high F = 83.3
|Jan mean F = 62.1
|Feb mean F = 64.9
|Mar mean F = 68.4
|Apr mean F = 73.0
|May mean F = 78.4
|Jun mean F = 82.4
|Jul mean F = 83.6
|Aug mean F = 83.7
|Sep mean F = 82.1
|Oct mean F = 76.7
|Nov mean F = 69.3
|Dec mean F = 64.5
|year mean F = 74.1
| Jan low F = 52.2
| Feb low F = 54.8
| Mar low F = 58.4
| Apr low F = 63.0
| May low F = 68.5
| Jun low F = 73.7
| Jul low F = 75.2
| Aug low F = 75.5
| Sep low F = 74.2
| Oct low F = 68.3
| Nov low F = 60.1
| Dec low F = 55.0
|year low F = 64.9

|Jan avg record low F = 34.3
|Feb avg record low F = 38.0
|Mar avg record low F = 42.8
|Apr avg record low F = 49.5
|May avg record low F = 58.8
|Jun avg record low F = 68.4
|Jul avg record low F = 70.1
|Aug avg record low F = 71.4
|Sep avg record low F = 67.7
|Oct avg record low F = 54.9
|Nov avg record low F = 44.9
|Dec avg record low F = 38.5
|year avg record low F = 32.8

|Jan record low F = 23
|Feb record low F = 21
|Mar record low F = 30
|Apr record low F = 38
|May record low F = 46
|Jun record low F = 52
|Jul record low F = 62
|Aug record low F = 60
|Sep record low F = 58
|Oct record low F = 40
|Nov record low F = 27
|Dec record low F = 20

|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 2.76
| Feb precipitation inch = 1.99
| Mar precipitation inch = 3.11
| Apr precipitation inch = 2.53
| May precipitation inch = 3.49
| Jun precipitation inch = 9.03
| Jul precipitation inch = 8.91
| Aug precipitation inch = 10.07
| Sep precipitation inch = 7.43
| Oct precipitation inch = 2.88
| Nov precipitation inch = 1.82
| Dec precipitation inch = 2.26
|year precipitation inch = 56.28
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 7.5
| Feb precipitation days = 5.7
| Mar precipitation days = 5.7
| Apr precipitation days = 5.6
| May precipitation days = 6.9
| Jun precipitation days = 14.0
| Jul precipitation days = 17.2
| Aug precipitation days = 18.1
| Sep precipitation days = 14.1
| Oct precipitation days = 7.5
| Nov precipitation days = 5.1
| Dec precipitation days = 6.2
| year precipitation days = 113.6
|Jan snow inch =
|Feb snow inch =
|Mar snow inch =
|Apr snow inch =
|May snow inch =
|Jun snow inch =
|Jul snow inch =
|Aug snow inch =
|Sep snow inch =
|Oct snow inch =
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|Dec snow inch =
|year snow inch =
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days =
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|Jun snow days =
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|source 1 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=tbw
| title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = May 23, 2021
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00080945&format=pdf
| title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = May 23, 2021
}}</ref> }}

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1910= 1886
|1920= 3868
|1930= 5986
|1940= 7444
|1950= 13604
|1960= 19380
|1970= 21040
|1980= 30228
|1990= 43779
|2000= 49504
|2010= 49546
|2020= 55698
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}
Bradenton is a principal city of the [[Sarasota metropolitan area|North Port–Sarasota–Bradenton metropolitan statistical area]], which had a population of 833,716 as of 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2010-2020; Subcounty Resident Population Estimates: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019; April 1, 2020; and July 1, 2020 (SUB-EST2020) |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/technical-documentation/research/evaluation-estimates/2020-evaluation-estimates/2010s-cities-and-towns-total.html |agency=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=October 24, 2023}}</ref>

===2010 and 2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Bradenton racial composition'''<br> (Hispanics excluded from racial categories)<br> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')<br>
!Race
!Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Bradenton city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Bradenton+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Bradenton city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Bradenton+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|31,918
|33,568
|64.42%
|60.27%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|7,693
|7,840
|15.53%
|14.08%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|84
|110
|0.17%
|0.20%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|523
|773
|1.06%
|1.39%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]] (NH)
|30
|53
|0.06%
|0.10%
|-
|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]] (NH)
|85
|242
|0.17%
|0.43%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races/Multiracial]] (NH)
|789
|1,883
|1.59%
|3.38%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|8,424
|11,229
|17.00%
|20.16%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''49,546'''
|'''55,698'''
|
|
|-
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 55,698 people, 22,350 households, and 13,033 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Bradenton city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Bradenton+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 49,546 people, 21,120 households, and 12,341 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Bradenton city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Bradenton+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the census<ref name="GR2"/> of 2000, there were 49,504 people, 21,379 households, and 12,720 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|4,088.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 24,887 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2,055.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 78.14% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 15.11% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.79% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.29% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.05% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.91% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.71% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 11.26% of the population.

In 2000, there were 21,379 households, out of which 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.5% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.5% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.85.

In 2000, in the city 21.6% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 25.4% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $34,902, and the median income for a family was $42,366. Males had a median income of $28,262 versus $23,292 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,133. About 9.7% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.3% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

== Economy ==
[[Tropicana Products]] was founded in Bradenton in 1947 by [[Anthony T. Rossi]], an Italian immigrant. By 2004 it had over 8,000 employees and marketed its products throughout the United States. [[PepsiCo]], Inc., acquired it in 1998. Tropicana's [[Juice Train]]s have been running to northern markets via [[CSX]] and predecessor railroads since 1971.  In 2003, Pepsi relocated Tropicana's corporate headquarters to Chicago after it acquired [[Gatorade]] and consolidated its non-carbonated beverage businesses. However, their juice production facilities remain in Bradenton.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=May 14, 2020 |title=Look inside Tropicana plant in Bradenton reveals manufacturing operation with precise processes, staggering numbers |url=https://www.businessobserverfl.com/article/tropicana-plant-bradenton-cliff-mcderment |website=Business Observer |last1=Ferguson |first1=Grier |date=March 22, 2019}}</ref>

[[Champs Sports]], a nationwide sports apparel chain, is headquartered in Bradenton.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=April 13, 2021 |title=Business owner grew large coaching |url=https://www.businessobserverfl.com/article/business-owner-grew-large-coaching |date=June 17, 2010 |website=Business Observer |author=Staff}}</ref> 
The department store chain [[Bealls (Florida)|Bealls]] is also headquartered in Bradenton.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=April 13, 2021 |title=Our History |url=https://www.beallsinc.com/our-history |website=Beall's, Inc.}}</ref>

Bradenton was significantly affected by the [[United States housing market correction]], as reported by CNN, projecting a 24.8% loss in median home values by the third quarter of 2008.<ref name=cnn>{{cite web|last=Christie|first=Les|title=Double-digit home price drops coming|url=https://money.cnn.com/2007/09/19/real_estate/steep_home_price_drops_coming/index.htm?cnn=yes|publisher=CNN|access-date=May 6, 2011|date=May 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515010523/https://money.cnn.com/2007/09/19/real_estate/steep_home_price_drops_coming/index.htm?cnn=yes|archive-date=May 15, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Real estate has shown a recovery since 2012, as home prices stabilize and inventory subsides.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

== Transportation ==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:WaterTowerBradentonFL.jpg|thumb|Bradenton water tower]] -->
Bradenton is served by [[Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport]] and is connected to [[St. Petersburg, Florida|St. Petersburg]] by the [[Sunshine Skyway Bridge]]. The Sunshine Skyway is a {{convert|5.5|mi|km|1|adj=on}} cross-bay bridge that rises {{convert|250|ft|m|0}} above the bay at its highest point. Remnants of the old Skyway bridge have been converted into a fishing pier extending into Tampa Bay from both sides of the bay.

[[Manatee County Area Transit]] (MCAT) buses serve Bradenton along with the cities/communities of Palmetto, [[Ellenton, Florida|Ellenton]], Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, [[Bradenton Beach, Florida|Bradenton Beach]], Longboat Key, Tallevast and Samoset, with transfers to Sarasota and St. Petersburg. Free trolleys run north–south on [[Anna Maria Island, Florida|Anna Maria Island]], as well as to/from various points on the mainland. Amtrak charter buses run through downtown Bradenton outside the courthouse to [[Tampa Union Station]] and Venice.

== Government ==
The city is governed by a city council with five members. Each of the members are residents of one of the five wards. The city council selects the city's vice mayor. The mayor and the five city council members are elected at-large for a four-year term. In Bradenton, the mayor functions as the head of the council and presides at meetings making a tie-breaking vote. The city council has the ability to elect a vice mayor. A vice mayor has the ability to take over when the mayor either resigns, dies or takes a leave of absence.<ref>{{Cite web|title=City of Bradenton Charter|url=https://cityofbradenton.com/vertical/Sites/%7B98CFEB92-7265-45CB-AF6F-7115C2CD7C81%7D/uploads/Subpart_A___CHARTER.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=March 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016232458/https://cityofbradenton.com/vertical/Sites/%7B98CFEB92-7265-45CB-AF6F-7115C2CD7C81%7D/uploads/Subpart_A___CHARTER.pdf |archive-date=October 16, 2020 }}</ref>

== Media ==
=== Newspapers ===
* ''[[The Bradenton Herald]]'' is Manatee County's local newspaper, published daily.
* ''[[The Bradenton Times]]'' is Manatee County's local online-only newspaper.
* Daily editions of the ''[[Sarasota Herald Tribune]]'' and the ''[[Tampa Bay Times]]'' are also available throughout the area.

=== Radio stations ===
Bradenton is located in the [[Template:Sarasota Radio|Sarasota-Bradenton radio market]]. It also receives many stations from the nearby [[Template:Tampa Bay Radio|Tampa-St. Petersburg market]].

The stations listed below are located and/or licensed in Bradenton or Manatee County:

* [[WWPR (AM)|WWPR]] – 1490 AM – studio and transmitter in Bradenton
* [[WBRD]] – 1420 AM – licensed to Palmetto
* [[WJIS]] – 88.1 FM
* [[WPBB]] – 98.7 FM ''(studios and transmitter in Pinellas County)''
* [[WHPT]] – 102.5 FM ''(Sarasota; transmitter in northeastern corner of Sarasota County; studios in St. Petersburg)''
* [[WRUB (FM)|WRUB]] – 106.5 FM

=== Television stations ===
[[WSNN-LD]] is based in Sarasota but transmits from Manatee County. [[WWSB]] channel 40, the local ABC affiliate, is based in Sarasota, but has a transmitter in Parrish, northeast of Bradenton; it is seen on cable channel 7 on most cable systems in the area. [[WXPX-TV]] channel 66, the local [[Ion Television]] affiliate, is licensed in Bradenton, with its transmitter in [[Riverview, Florida|Riverview]] in Hillsborough County.

== Education ==
[[Manatee County Public Schools]] operates area public schools. Schools in the city limits include:
* [[Manatee High School]]

The [[State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota|State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota]]'s (SCF) main campus is located in [[Bayshore Gardens, Florida|Bayshore Gardens]], and [[State College of Florida Collegiate School]] has a campus on the SCF Bradenton campus.<ref name=SCFMap>{{cite web|url=http://www.scf.edu/AboutSCF/Locations/default.asp|title=Locations|publisher=State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota|access-date=2019-07-09|quote=SCF Bradenton 5840 26th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34207}} – [http://www.scf.edu/content/PDF/Publications/SCFBradentonMap1.pdf Campus map here], which indicates the exact location of SCFCS.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10map/GUBlock/st12_fl/place/p1204350_bayshore_gardens/DC10BLK_P1204350_001.pdf|title=2010 CENSUS – CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Bayshore Gardens CDP, FL|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2019-07-09}}</ref>

== Culture ==
Bradenton is home to the Washington Park neighborhood, a historically African American Community where [[Lincoln Memorial High School|Lincoln Academy]] was located.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://mymanatee.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/custom/washington_park_bradenton | title=CONTENTdm }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=72415 | title=Lincoln High School Historical Marker }}</ref>

[[File:Charming gallery one.jpg|thumb|Some of the restored homes]]
Bradenton is home to the [[Village of the Arts]], a renovated neighborhood immediately south of downtown where special zoning laws allow residents to live and work in their homes. Many of these once dilapidated houses have been converted into studios, galleries, small restaurants and other small businesses. The Village of the Arts promotes its 'First Fridays' activities celebrating the seasons and different holidays. The Village of the Arts remains the largest arts district on the Gulf Coast.

The Manatee Players, who reside at the Manatee Performing Arts Center, have a three-year record of first-place wins within the Florida Theatre Conference and the Southeastern Theatre Conference competitions. In addition, the theatre currently holds the first place title from the [[American Association of Community Theatre]] competition.

Located on the [[Manatee River]] in downtown Bradenton is the [[South Florida Museum]], Bishop Planetarium and Parker Manatee Aquarium. This one-stop museum-planetarium-aquarium offers a glimpse of Florida history, a star and multimedia show, and ongoing lecture and film series. The Parker Manatee Aquarium was the permanent home to Manatee County's most famous resident and official mascot, [[Snooty]], the [[manatee]]. Born at the Miami Aquarium and Tackle Company on July 21, 1948, Snooty was one of the first recorded captive manatee births. He was the oldest manatee in captivity, and likely the oldest manatee in the world.<ref name="snooty">{{cite book |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title= Snooty the Manatee|publisher= South Florida Museum |isbn= 978-1-56944-441-2}}<!-- |access-date= March 13, 2014 --></ref> On July 23, 2017, two days after his 69th birthday, Snooty died as the result of drowning.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/07/24/snooty-the-manatee-dies-in-heartbreaking-accident-days-after-his-69th-birthday/|title=Snooty the famous manatee dies in 'heartbreaking accident' days after his 69th birthday|first=Katie|last=Mettler|date=July 24, 2017|access-date=January 13, 2018|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110031423/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/07/24/snooty-the-manatee-dies-in-heartbreaking-accident-days-after-his-69th-birthday/|archive-date=January 10, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

ArtCenter Manatee is the center for art and art education in Manatee County. The nearly {{convert|10000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} building in downtown Bradenton features three galleries, five classrooms, an Artists' Market gift shop and an art library featuring over 3,000 art volumes.

The nonprofit organization [[Realize Bradenton]] works with the above-listed cultural partners to promote Downtown Bradenton as a destination for the arts. It also produces events in the downtown area with a focus on arts and culture.<ref>January Holmes and Carl Mario Nudi, "Realizing Bradenton's culture potential", ''Bradenton Herald'', May 14, 2010</ref>

Additionally, the town is the subject of the [[We the Kings]] song "This Is Our Town"; they, as well as the band [[Have Gun, Will Travel (band)|Have Gun, Will Travel]] originate from Bradenton.

== Sports ==
Bradenton is the spring training home of [[Major League Baseball]]'s [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] who play their home games at downtown's [[LECOM Park]]. During the regular baseball season, the stadium is home to the minor league [[Bradenton Marauders]] who play in the Florida State League in [[Class A-Advanced]].

The city is home to the [[State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota|State College of Florida, Manatee–Sarasota Manatees]] sports teams.

Manatee County high schools produce several teams including [[Manatee High School]] whose football team was nationally ranked in the 1950s, 1980s, and 1990s and regained their national status in 2009. Manatee High School has won five football state championships. Bradenton is also home to the [[IMG Academy]], the home of the U.S U-17 residential soccer program.

The Concession Golf Club in Bradenton was home of the [[2015 NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championship]].

Bradenton and [[Sarasota, Florida|Sarasota]] together held the [[2021 U-18 Baseball World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Press Conference: "The XXX WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup will be blessed by Florida hospitality" |url=https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2021-u18-baseball-world-cup/news/-the-xxx-wbsc-u-18-baseball-world-cup-will-be-blessed-by-florida-hospitality- |website=WBSC |publisher=World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) |access-date=10 September 2022}}</ref>

== Points of interest ==

* [[Bishop Museum of Science and Nature]], home of the late manatee [[Snooty]]
* [[Bradenton Riverwalk]]
* [[De Soto National Memorial]]
* [[DeSoto Square]] (Now abandoned and vacant)
* [[Manatee Village Historical Park]]
* [[Neal Preserve]]
* [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] [[spring training]] at [[LECOM Park]]
* Robinson Preserve<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mymanatee.org/home/government/departments/parks-and-recreation/natural-resources/preserves/robinson-preserve.html|title=Robinson Preserve|website=Manatee County Government|access-date=June 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619163526/http://www.mymanatee.org/home/government/departments/parks-and-recreation/natural-resources/preserves/robinson-preserve.html|archive-date=June 19, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Village of the Arts]]

== Notable people ==
<!--DO NOT add a person on here without any sources. Also, the person has to have an article on here per WP:WTAF-->{{div col}}
* [[Hank Aaron]] (1934–2021) – [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) player and [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum]] inductee<ref>{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Chris |date=March 11, 2019 |title=When Hank Aaron lived in a segregated Bradenton |url=https://www.staugustine.com/news/20190311/when-hank-aaron-lived-in-segregated-bradenton |access-date=May 24, 2021 |work=[[The St. Augustine Record]]}}</ref>
* [[Freddy Adu]] (b. 1989) – soccer player<ref>{{cite magazine |date=March 7, 2003 |title=SI.com – Sports Illustrated – The Magazine – Who's Next? Freddy Adu |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/news/2003/03/03/freddy/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615024200/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/news/2003/03/03/freddy/ |archive-date=June 15, 2011 |access-date=February 21, 2011 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref>
* [[Hugo Armando]] (b. 1978) – tennis player<ref>{{Cite web |title=USTA Player Development Hires Former Top 100 Player Hugo Armando as USTA Coach |url=http://www.tennisindustrymag.com/news/2009/02/usta_player_development_hires.html |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=TennisIndustryMag}}</ref>
* [[Sekou Bangoura]] (b. 1991) – tennis player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sekou Bangoura |url=https://www.atptour.com/en/players/sekou-bangoura/bh02/overview |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=[[ATP Tour]]}}</ref>
* [[Bob Barron]] (1928–1991) – [[NASCAR Cup Series]] driver<ref>[https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=7338&h=3581079&tid=&pid=&queryId=9d96995cf6d89948394001e1b0386bd2&usePUB=true&_phsrc=OzZ14821&_phstart=successSource Robert Frank Barron in the Florida, U.S., Death Index, 1877–1998]</ref>
* [[Waite Bellamy]] (b. 1940) – [[Continental Basketball Association|Eastern Professional Basketball League]] player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Waite Bellamy |url=https://www.nasljerseys.com/EBA/Players/B/Bellamy.Waite.htm |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=NASL Jerseys}}</ref>
* [[Chase Brown]] (b. 2000) – [[National Football League]] (NFL) player<ref name=":10">{{Cite news |last=Baker |first=Matt |date=2022-10-22 |title=How 2 Manatee County families helped the nation's top rusher reach stardom |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/high-schools/2022/10/22/chase-brown-sydney-brown-illinois-football-illini-heisman-trophy/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]}}</ref>
* [[Sydney Brown (American football)|Sydney Brown]] (b. 2000) – NFL player<ref name=":10" />
* [[Jim Boyd (politician)|Jim Boyd]] (b. 1956) – [[Florida Senate Majority Office|Florida Senate Majority Leader]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jim Boyd |url=https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/s20?Tab=Personal |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=[[Florida Senate]]}}</ref>
* [[An Byeong-hun]] (b. 1991) – [[PGA Tour]] golfer<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kennedy |first=Sara |date=2009-08-31 |title=A win for the ages |url=https://www.bradenton.com/latest-news/article34080615.html |access-date=2024-01-08 |work=[[The Bradenton Herald]]}}</ref>
* [[Sandra Cacic]] (b. 1974) – tennis player<ref>{{Cite news |last=McKibben |first=Dave |date=1997-09-29 |title=Cacic Glad She Extended Her Stay in U.S. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-sep-29-sp-37454-story.html |access-date=2024-01-08 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>
* [[Gene Clines]] (1946–2022) – MLB player<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-01-27 |title=Gene Clines, part of 1st MLB all-minority lineup, dies at 75 |url=https://apnews.com/article/mlb-sports-baseball-pittsburgh-chicago-cubs-2e91bea869a3d237cad6ce0d8f3f06bd |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>
* [[Kimberly Couts]] (b. 1989) – tennis player<ref>{{Cite news |last=Huber |first=Mic |date=2011-04-13 |title=Larcher de Brito beats training partner |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2011/04/14/larcher-de-brito-beats-training-partner/29009989007/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]}}</ref>
* [[Jordan Cox (tennis)|Jordan Cox]] (b. 1992) – tennis player<ref>{{Cite news |last=Polen |first=Richard |date=2014-07-22 |title=Wimbledon juniors runner-up adjusting to pro tournaments |url=https://www.joplinglobe.com/sports/wimbledon-juniors-runner-up-adjusting-to-pro-tournaments/article_fe06129e-2c43-5b2f-9bbe-855a1d5e2e64.html |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=[[The Joplin Globe]]}}</ref>
* [[Ed Culpepper]] (1934–2021) – NFL player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ed Culpepper |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CulpEd20.htm |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]}}</ref>
* [[Tiffany Dabek]] (b. 1990) – tennis player and coach<ref>{{Cite news |last=Huber |first=Mic |date=2009-09-04 |title=This 'Hit Man' from Moscow is unbeatable ... and only 9 |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2009/09/05/this-hit-man-from-moscow-is-unbeatable-and-only-9/28887807007/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]}}</ref>
* [[Taylor Dent]] (b. 1981) – tennis player<ref>{{Cite news |last=Huber |first=Mic |date=2010-03-30 |title=Bradenton's Dent in Sarasota Open |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2010/03/31/bradentons-dent-in-sarasota-open/28933607007/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]}}</ref>
* [[Bill Doak]] (1891–1954) –&nbsp;MLB player<ref>{{Cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Steve |title=Bill Doak |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/bill-doak/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]]}}</ref>
* [[Eric DuBose]] (b. 1975) – MLB player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eric DuBose |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/eric-dubose-276511 |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=[[Major League Baseball]]}}</ref>
* [[Brian Dunn (tennis)|Brian Dunn]] (b. 1974) – tennis player<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Terry |date=2005-10-17 |title=Dunn heads for Canada to wrap up successful summer |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1990/08/22/dunn-heads-for-canada-to-wrap-up-successful-summer/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]}}</ref>
* [[Victoria Duval]] (b. 1995) – tennis player<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fendrich |first=Howard |date=2012-08-28 |title=Bubbly Bradenton teen enjoys night with Clijsters at Open |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2012/08/28/bubbly-bradenton-teen-enjoys-night-with-clijsters-at-open/29118018007/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]}}</ref>
* [[Tyler Dyson]] (b. 1997) – MLB player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tyler Dyson's Braden River High School Career |url=https://www.maxpreps.com/fl/bradenton/braden-river-pirates/athletes/tyler-dyson/?careerid=d31g18s9ukah1 |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=[[MaxPreps]]}}</ref>
*[[Zach Edey]] (b. 2002) – [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) player<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dopirak |first=Dustin |date=2019-11-14 |title='It seems like a movie': Purdue's new big man Zach Edey was on skates until two years ago |url=https://theathletic.com/1366159/2019/11/14/it-seems-like-a-movie-purdues-new-big-man-zach-edey-was-on-skates-until-two-years-ago/ |access-date=2024-02-15 |work=[[The Athletic]]}}</ref>
*[[Graeme Edge]] (1941–2021) – co-founder of [[The Moody Blues]], drummer, songwriter, and poet<ref>{{Cite news|last=Runnells|first=Charles|date=February 19, 2020|title=Moody Blues' John Lodge talks hometown show, new album, saluting Ray Thomas, Naples condo|work=[[Naples Daily News]]|url=https://www.naplesnews.com/story/entertainment/2020/02/19/john-lodge-moody-blues-naples-condo-fort-myers-show-album/4747490002/|access-date=November 27, 2021}}</ref>
*[[Pee Wee Ellis|Alfred Ellis]] (1941–2021) – member of [[The J.B.'s]], [[Saxophone|saxophonist]], [[composer]], and [[Arrangement|arranger]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pee Wee Ellis Concert & Tour History |url=https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/pee-wee-ellis |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Concert Archives}}</ref>
*[[Deshaun Fenwick]] (b. 1991) – NFL player<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=David |date=2017-05-04 |title=Braden River's Deshaun Fenwick discusses commitment to South Carolina |url=https://www.bradenton.com/sports/high-school/article148690019.html |access-date=2024-01-07 |work=[[The Bradenton Herald]]}}</ref>
*[[Tommie Frazier]] (b. 1974) – [[Canadian Football League]] player and [[college football]] coach<ref>{{cite web |title=Randy York's N-Sider: Tommie Frazier – Huskers.com – Nebraska Athletics Official Web Site |url=http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=1555187 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712232337/http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=1555187 |archive-date=July 12, 2011 |access-date=February 21, 2011 |work=huskers.com |df=mdy-all}}</ref>
*[[Colton Gordon]] (b. 1998) – MLB player
*[[Sammy Green]] (b. 1954) –&nbsp;NFL player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sammy Green |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GreeSa20.htm |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]}}</ref>
*[[Rod Harper]] (b. 1985) – NFL player<ref>{{Cite news |last=Perkins |first=Pete |date=2009-04-11 |title=Siegfried reaches out, finds talented WR |url=https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2009/apr/11/siegfried-reaches-out-finds-talented-wr-20090411/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |work=[[Arkansas Democrat-Gazette]]}}</ref>
*[[Christian Harrison]] (b. 1994) – tennis player<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brockman |first=Jim |date=2022-04-12 |title=Bradenton's Christian Harrison hopes to make a run at Sarasota Open |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/sports/2022/04/12/bradentons-christian-harrison-hopes-make-run-sarasota-open/7282819001/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |work=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]}}</ref>
*[[Teri Harrison]] (b. 1981) – model, actress, and [[Playboy Playmate]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Teri Marie Harrison Playboy |url=https://www.playboyplus.com/profile/teri-harrison |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Playboy}}</ref>
*[[Jamea Jackson]] (b. 1986) – tennis player<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tignor |first=Steve |date=2023-05-24 |title=Holding Court with...Jamea Jackson |url=https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/holding-court-with-jamea-jackson |access-date=2024-01-08 |work=Tennis.com}}</ref>
*[[Helen Jepson]] (1904–1997) – [[opera]] singer<ref>{{Cite news |last=Oliver |first=Myrna |date=1997-09-20 |title=Helen Jepson; Opera Star of '30s and '40s |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-sep-20-mn-34204-story.html |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>
*[[Hank Johnson (baseball)|Hank Johnson]] (1906–1982) – MLB player<ref name="sabr">{{cite web |last1=Nowlin |first1=Bill |title=Hank Johnson |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/hank-johnson/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=sabr.org |publisher=[[Society for American Baseball Research]]}}</ref>
*[[Shang Juncheng]] (b. 2005) – tennis player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Juncheng Shang |url=https://www.db4tennis.com/players/male/juncheng-shang |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=DB4Tennis}}</ref>
*[[Al Klink]] (1915–1991) – saxophonist<ref>{{Cite news |date=1991-03-21 |title=Al Klink; Big-Band Saxophone Player |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-21-mn-838-story.html |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>
* [[Jessica Korda]] (b. 1993) – [[LPGA|LPGA Tour]] golfer<ref name="Korda-sisters">{{cite web |date=July 21, 2021 |title=This Bradenton Family Has a Tennis Star and Two Olympic-Bound Golfers |url=https://www.sarasotamagazine.com/news-and-profiles/2021/07/bradenton-tennis-player-made-it-to-wimbledon-this-year |publisher=Sarasotamagazine.com}}</ref>
* [[Nelly Korda]] (b. 1998) – LPGA Tour golfer<ref name="Korda-sisters" />
* [[Sebastian Korda]] (b. 2000) – tennis player
* [[Michaëlla Krajicek]] (b. 1989) – tennis player<ref>{{cite web |title=Michaella Krajicek |url=http://www.wtatennis.com/page/Player/Latest/0,,12781~10870,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001200615/http://www.wtatennis.com/page/Player/Latest/0%2C%2C12781~10870%2C00.html |archive-date=October 1, 2012 |access-date=April 26, 2021 |website=Women's Tennis Association}}</ref>
* [[Rick Lamb]] (b. 1990) – PGA Tour golfer<ref>{{cite web |title=Rick Lamb – Official PGA TOUR Profile |url=http://www.pgatour.com/players/player.46732.rick-lamb.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115001734/https://www.pgatour.com/players/player.46732.rick-lamb.html |archive-date=January 15, 2018 |access-date=January 13, 2018 |publisher=PGA Tour}}</ref>
* [[JC Latham]] (b. 2003) – NFL player<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hogg |first=Curt |date=2019-01-26 |title=Five-star DE sophomore JC Latham transferring to IMG Academy |url=https://usatodayhss.com/2019/jc-latham-transfers-to-img-academy |access-date=2024-02-15 |work=[[USA Today]]}}</ref>
* [[Kelvin McKnight]] (b. 1997) – NFL player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kelvin McKnight |url=https://samfordsports.com/sports/football/roster/kelvin-mcknight/6216 |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=[[Samford University]]}}</ref>
* [[Adrian McPherson]] (b. 1983) – NFL player<ref>{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Pete |date=2006-06-20 |title=STRENGTH VS. STRENGTH // Remember the name Adrian McPherson |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2000/12/01/strength-vs-strength-remember-the-name-adrian-mcpherson/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115183451/https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2000/12/01/strength-vs-strength-remember-the-name-adrian-mcpherson/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 15, 2024 |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]}}</ref>
* [[Ahmad Miller]] (b. 1978) – NFL player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ahmad Miller |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/player/_/id/3765 |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>
* [[Shintaro Mochizuki]] (b. 2003) – tennis player<ref>{{Cite web |title=SHINTARO MOCHIZUKI OF IMG ACADEMY WINS 2019 WIMBLEDON BOYS' SINGLES TITLE |url=https://www.imgacademy.com/news/shintaro-mochizuki-img-academy-wins-2019-wimbledon-boys-singles-title |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=[[IMG Academy]]|date=July 15, 2019 }}</ref>
* [[Johnny Moore (baseball)|Johnny Moore]] (1902–1991) – MLB player<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rogers III |first=C. Paul |title=Johnny Moore |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/johnny-moore/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=[[Society for American Baseball Research]]}}</ref>
* [[Jamie Moyer]] (b. 1962) – MLB player<ref>{{cite web |last=Sheridan |first=Phil |date=March 13, 2011 |title=Phil Sheridan: Moyer eyes 2012 comeback |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20110313_Phil_Sheridan__Moyer_eyes_2012_comeback.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318101206/http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20110313_Phil_Sheridan__Moyer_eyes_2012_comeback.html |archive-date=March 18, 2011 |access-date=March 29, 2013 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer}}</ref>
* [[Naoki Nakagawa]] (b. 1996) – tennis player<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-04-08 |title=Naoka Nakagawa stays aggressive, wins USTA Internationals |url=https://www.dailybreeze.com/2014/04/08/naoka-nakagawa-stays-aggressive-wins-usta-internationals/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |work=[[Daily Breeze]]}}</ref>
* [[Sharrod Neasman]] (b. 1991) – NFL player<ref name=":11">{{Cite news |last=Dill |first=Jason |date=2017-02-08 |title=Hometown Heroes Brian Poole and Sharrod Neasman deserve cheers for reaching the Super Bowl |url=https://www.bradenton.com/sports/article131390959.html |access-date=2024-01-08 |work=[[The Bradenton Herald]]}}</ref>
* [[Ingrid Neel]] (b. 1998) – tennis player<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pratt |first=Steve |date=2015-09-10 |title=Tennis: Neel, partner eliminated at U.S. Open Junior |url=https://www.postbulletin.com/sports/tennis-neel-partner-eliminated-at-u-s-open-junior |access-date=2024-01-08 |work=[[Post-Bulletin]]}}</ref>
* [[Ryan Neuzil]] (b. 1997) – NFL player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ryan Neuzil's Braden River High School Career |url=https://www.maxpreps.com/fl/bradenton/braden-river-pirates/athletes/ryan-neuzil/?careerid=paam7lki0jjvf |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=[[MaxPreps]]}}</ref>
* [[Whitney Osuigwe]] (b. 2002) – tennis player<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Ashley |date=2019-02-19 |title=BLACK HISTORY MONTH: WHITNEY OSUIGWE |url=https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/national/black-history-month-profile--whitney-osuigwe0.html |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=[[United States Tennis Association]]}}</ref>
* [[Brian Poole (American football)|Brian Poole]] (b. 1992) –&nbsp;NFL player<ref name=":11" />
*[[Maria Sharapova]] (b. 1987) – tennis player<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESPN.com: TENNIS – IMG factory churns out talent |url=https://www.espn.com/tennis/french01/s/2001/0524/1204120.html |access-date=2022-06-16 |publisher=ESPN}}</ref>
*[[Satnam Singh]] (b. 1995) – NBA player and wrestler<ref>{{Cite news |last=Winegardner |first=Mark |date=2011-12-27 |title=The Mavericks' Satnam Singh becomes NBA's first Indian-born player |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/7392937/prodigy-satnam-singh-bhamara-nba-first-indian-born-player |access-date=2024-02-15 |work=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>
*[[Myles Straw]] (b. 1994) – MLB player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Myles Straw Class of 2013 |url=https://www.perfectgame.org/Players/PlayerProfile.aspx?ID=293009 |access-date=2024-01-07 |website=Perfect Game}}</ref>
*[[Sunitha Rao]] (b. 1985) – tennis player<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-08-08 |title=Sharapova, Taylor, Rao having summer success |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2003/08/08/sharapova-taylor-rao-having-summer-success/28760044007/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]}}</ref>
*[[John Reeves (American football)|John Reeves]] (b. 1975) – NFL player<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Reeves Biography |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/bio/_/id/2100/john-reeves |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>
*[[Austin Reiter]] (b. 1991) –&nbsp;NFL player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Austin Reiter |url=https://gousfbulls.com/sports/football/roster/austin-reiter/6914 |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=USF Athletics}}</ref>
*[[Patrik Rikl]] (b. 1999) – tennis player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Patrik Rikl |url=https://www.stevegtennis.com/stats-ranking-titles-profile/Patrik%20Rikl |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=Stevegtennis.com}}</ref>
*[[Anthony T. Rossi|Anthony Rossi]] (1900–1993) – businessman and founder of [[Tropicana Products|Tropicana]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Basse |first=Craig |date=1993-01-26 |title=Anthony Rossi, founder of Tropicana, dead at 92 |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1993/01/26/anthony-rossi-founder-of-tropicana-dead-at-92/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]}}</ref>
*[[Clifford Rozier]] (1972–2018) – NBA player<ref>{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Chris |date=2018-07-19 |title="The final shot of Clifford's life is good" |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/local/manatee/2018/07/19/anderson-clifford-roziers-best-friend-remembers-late-nba-player/11444145007/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |work=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]}}</ref>
*[[Ace Sanders]] (b. 1991) – NFL player<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ace Sanders |url=https://www.espn.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/player/_/id/71241/ace-sanders |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=[[ESPN]]}}</ref>
*[[Robby Stevenson]] (b. 1976) – NFL player<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pentz |first=Perry D. |date=2007-07-17 |title=Robby Stevenson played in 2 NCAA national championship games |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2007/07/17/robby-stevenson-played-in-2-ncaa-national-championship-games/28568593007/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]}}</ref>
*[[Willie Taggart]] (b. 1976) –&nbsp;NFL player and coach<ref>{{Cite news |last=Newberg |first=Josh |date=2018-08-22 |title=Willie Taggart takes us on a tour of his old neighborhood |url=https://247sports.com/college/florida-state/Article/Florida-State-Seminoles-Willie-Taggart-Bradenton-neighborhood-120937220/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=[[247Sports]]}}</ref>
*[[Sarah Taylor (tennis)|Sarah Taylor]] (b. 1981) – tennis player<ref>{{Cite news |last=Huber |first=Mic |date=2002-12-10 |title=Smashnova, Taylor among early entrants |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2002/12/11/smashnova-taylor-among-early-entrants/28732135007/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]}}</ref>
*[[Charles Trippy]] (b. 1984) – bassist for [[We the Kings]] and YouTuber<ref>{{Cite web |title=ABOUT CHARLES |url=https://charlestrippy.wixsite.com/trippy/about |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Charles Trippy}}</ref>
* [[Peter Warrick]] (b. 1997) – NFL player<ref>{{cite web |title=Player Bio: Peter Warrick |url=http://www.seminoles.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/warrick_peter00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716035941/http://www.seminoles.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/warrick_peter00.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |access-date=February 21, 2011 |work=Seminoles}}</ref>
* [[Fabian Washington]] (b. 1983) – NFL player<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-05-13 |title=Fabian Washington Interview |url=https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/2009/5/13/874048/fabian-washington-interview |access-date=2024-01-08 |website=Baltimore Beatdown}}</ref>
* [[Benny Williams (basketball)|Benny Williams]] (b. 2002) – [[college basketball]] player<ref>{{Cite news |last=Waters |first=Mike |date=2020-08-12 |title=How coronavirus concerns played a role in Syracuse basketball commit Benny Williams' transfer to IMG Academy |url=https://www.syracuse.com/orangebasketball/2020/08/how-coronavirus-concerns-played-a-role-in-syracuse-basketball-commit-benny-williams-transfer-to-img-academy.html |access-date=2024-02-15 |work=Syracuse.com}}</ref>
* [[Todd Williams (American football)|Todd Williams]] (b. 1978) – NFL player<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-01-07 |title=EX-FSU, Southeast High star Todd Williams dead at 35 |url=https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2014/1/7/ex_fsu_southeast_hig |access-date=2024-01-15 |work=[[Bay News 9]]}}</ref>
* [[Tyrone Williams (cornerback)|Tyrone Williams]] (b. 1973) – NFL player<ref>{{Cite news |last=Scarella |first=Michael |date=2007-04-19 |title=Former NFL player going to jail for battery on a Manatee County deputy |url=https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2007/04/19/former-nfl-player-going-to-jail-for-battery-on-a-manatee-county-deputy/28542278007/ |access-date=2024-01-08 |work=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]}}</ref>
* [[Sam Woolf (singer-songwriter)|Sam Woolf]] (b. 1996) – singer-songwriter<ref>{{Cite news |last=Handelman |first=Jay |date=2014-01-15 |title=Bradenton student Sam Woolf advances to Hollywood Week on 'American Idol' |url=http://ticket.heraldtribune.com/2014/01/15/bradenton-student-sam-woolf-advances-to-hollywood-week-on-american-idol/ |access-date=2024-01-07 |work=[[Sarasota Herald-Tribune]]}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Bradenton, Florida}}
* [http://www.cityofbradenton.com City of Bradenton]

{{Manatee County, Florida}}
{{Bradenton, Florida}}
{{Florida county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bradenton, Florida| ]]
[[Category:Sarasota metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Cities in Manatee County, Florida]]
[[Category:County seats in Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Intracoastal Waterway in Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places on Tampa Bay]]
[[Category:Cities in Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1842]]
[[Category:1842 establishments in Florida Territory]]