History of Manatee County, Florida in Timeline

Manatee County, Florida, established in 1855, had a population of 399,710 as of the 2020 census. It's part of the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota Metropolitan Statistical Area, with Bradenton as its county seat and largest city. The county is named after the Florida manatee. Key features include access to Tampa Bay, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, and the Manatee River.

1904: Pettigrew Unsuccessful Run

Prior to the 1906 race, in 1904, Pettigrew ran unsuccessfully for the same position losing to A.T. Cornwell.

1906: Andrew Jackson Pettigrew Elected

In 1906, Andrew Jackson Pettigrew was elected to the Florida House of Representatives as a socialist, defeating John A. Graham.

1907: First Independent Library Opens

In 1907, Manatee County's first independent library opened in Bradenton.

1908: Pettigrew Runs for Governor

Pettigrew would later go on to run for governor in 1908, being unsuccessful.

1912: Pettigrew Runs for Secretary of Agriculture

In 1912, Pettigrew ran for Secretary of Agriculture, being unsuccessful.

1914: Carnegie Library in Palmetto

In 1914, a Carnegie Library opened in Palmetto.

1915: Bealls Founded

In 1915, Bealls of Florida was founded in unincorporated Manatee County, where its headquarters are located.

1918: Carnegie Library in Bradenton

In 1918, another Carnegie Library opened in Bradenton.

1921: Creation of Sarasota County

In 1921, the Florida Legislature created Sarasota County, further reducing Manatee County to its current boundaries.

1944: Last Democrat to Win Manatee County

In 1944, Franklin D. Roosevelt was the last Democrat to win Manatee County in an election.

1964: Library Associations Merge

In 1964, the Bradenton and Palmetto library associations merged with the Manatee County government to create the Manatee County Public Library System. Additionally, a bookmobile was established for rural areas in 1964.

1966: Talking Books Program

In 1966, a Talking Books program for the blind was established in Manatee County.

1967: First Library Branch Built

In 1967, the first branch of the Manatee County Public Library system was built in Bayshore.

1969: East Ninth Street Branch Opens

In 1969, a new branch opened on East Ninth Street, and a new building for the Palmetto Library was built.

1970: Governor Kirk Appoints Himself Superintendent

In 1970, from April 6 to 13, Governor Claude R. Kirk Jr. fired Manatee County's superintendent and school board and appointed himself in their place in an attempt to end desegregation busing.

1971: Island Branch Opens

In 1971, an Island branch opened.

1978: Central Public Library Opens

In 1978, the modern Central Public Library opened in downtown Bradenton.

1983: Island Branch Moved

In 1983, the Island branch was moved into a new building.

1991: Braden River Branch Opens

In 1991, the Braden River branch of the library system opened.

1994: Rocky Bluff Branch Opens

In 1994, the Rocky Bluff branch of the library system opened.

1997: Braden River Branch Moved

In 1997, the Braden River branch moved to a new building.

1998: South Manatee Branch Opens

In 1998, the South Manatee branch opened.

2000: Reciprocal Borrowing Begins

In 2000, reciprocal borrowing began between Manatee and Sarasota County Libraries.

2001: PepsiCo Buys Tropicana

In 2001, PepsiCo bought Tropicana, which was founded in Manatee County in the 1950s.

2011: Rocky Bluff Relocation

In 2011, the Rocky Bluff branch relocated to a larger location that included a built-in café.

2017: Library Begins Offering New Items

Starting in 2017, the Manatee County library system began offering items including musical instruments, tools, telescopes, binoculars, cake pans, hotspots, and museum passes.

2020: Demographics of Manatee County

According to the 2020 United States census, Manatee County had a population of 399,710 people, 150,345 households, and 99,157 families.

2020: Household Income and Poverty

In 2020, the median household income in Manatee County was $59,963, and the per capita income was $35,146. 10.9% of the population was living in poverty.

2020: WiFi Hotspots Offered During Pandemic

Starting in the Spring of 2020, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Manatee County library system began offering WiFi hotspots to patrons in order to provide internet service remotely.