Manatee County
Your Next Adventure Awaits in Manatee
Get ready for top–rated schools, an emerging arts scene, pleasant temperatures and award-winning white sand beaches. Nestled just south of Tampa Bay and north of Sarasota, Manatee County is home to endless waterfront activities like riverwalks, deep-sea fishing, scuba diving and more.
Whether you love nature preserves with miles of biking trails, vibrant communities teeming with public art and free concerts, or sports programming from little league to the Pittsburgh Pirates spring training, Florida’s West Coast offers a small-town vibe with an excellent opportunity to raise a family and level up your career.
- Education
- Arts, Culture and Outdoor Recreation
- Living Here
Small, Student-Focused Learning Communities
Highly rated public schools create career-focused pathways from K-12 to higher education in Manatee County. Out of Florida’s 67 school districts, the School District of Manatee County ranked #25 in 2022. College preparatory schools and private schools, like world-renowned sports training destination IMG Academy, extend throughout the region. Post-secondary education ranges from job-focused training at Manatee Technical College to regional campuses of the University of South Florida, and the University of Florida’s engineering campus, Innovation Station. And did we mention the globally recognized art & design academy, Ringling College? Niche.com ranked the school in the top 100 colleges for design in America.
Amenities that bolster a true quality of life
Ready to live boldly? Manatee County’s unending outdoor recreation activities lead to unprecedented adventure, with nature preserves like the 487-acre Robinson Preserve and 556-acre Lake Manatee State Park conducive for perfect afternoons of kayaking or canoeing along the Manatee River.
An emerging art scene in downtown Bradenton also drives culture in Manatee County, with Village of the Arts being Florida’s largest artist community. Art enthusiasts flock to the city’s riverwalk, where free concerts, film screenings and an outdoor public art display create a cultural hub. The State College of Florida is a strong contributor to the arts in Manatee County, with year-round public music performances, art exhibitions and theatrical performances.
It’s Literally All Sunshine Here
And not just because the sun shines 250 days a year. Bradenton is home to the #1 ranked master-planned community, Lakewood Ranch. Nine parks, three town centers and more than 60 groups and clubs provide a vibrant space for living with an opportunity for socializing and having fun. A variety of housing options run throughout Manatee County as well, including the communities of Palmetto, Longboat Key, Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach, Ellenton, Holmes Beach, and the unincorporated community of Parrish.
Tools & Resources
Housing
From master-planned communities to waterfront condos, from urban to rural, Sarasota-Manatee FL offers relaxing vibes and plenty of amenities.
Meet Your New HomePlay Here
Sarasota-Manatee FL offers strong recreation with a relaxing vibe — not to mention the big city amenities of Tampa within an hour’s drive.
Find Your Happy PlaceIndustries Hiring
From aviation and aerospace, to healthcare and sports performance, Sarasota-Manatee companies are hiring in legacy and up-and-coming industries.
Check out Job OpportunitiesWhat’s New in Sarasota-Manatee?
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