Palmetto

About Palmetto

Located in Manatee County, Palmetto is a community of 14,000 residents on the north shore of the Manatee River just south of Tampa Bay. Bradenton, the county seat, is just over the Manatee River bridge. Located between Sarasota to the south and St. Petersburg and Tampa to the north, Palmetto enjoys proximity to big-city amenities but is a quiet waterfront community.

With a marina, boat launch, impressive fishing wharf, and nearby Gulf of Mexico beaches on Anna Maria Island, Palmetto avoids the congestion and noise of heavy tourism. Manatee County Fairgrounds and Bradenton Area Convention Center in Palmetto bring the greater community to town and fuel local business.

Palmetto History

Palmetto Historical Park preserves much of the town’s story through original buildings, including the Heritage Station Post Office from 1880, the 1900 Cottage Museum, the Carnegie Library of 1914, and the 1936 School House. Samuel Sparks Lamb is considered the father of Palmetto, arriving in 1868 and establishing the village in 1893. Newcomers have been drawn to the mile-wide Manatee River and fertile land ever since.

Living and Working in Palmetto

Palmetto is a diverse, close-knit, and friendly small town with plenty of celebrations that bring everyone together. Festivals, parades, car shows, fishing competitions, fundraisers, and a river regatta are on tap year-round. Residents consistently remark on how neighbors come together in good times and are quick to lend assistance when needed.

Most own their own homes, which include new construction, river-view condos, a ranch-style houses, or vintage charmers in the Historic District. Palmetto attracts many small businesses, and its economy is influenced by nearby SeaPort Manatee, a major deepwater shipping hub. Local growers aid Manatee County in being among Florida’s top agricultural producers. Palmetto residents pursue careers locally or commute to jobs in Sarasota, St. Petersburg, and Tampa in tourism, healthcare, finance, technology, education, and maritime.

Things to do in Palmetto

Sutton Park is a gathering spot for annual events like Fourth Festival’s concert and fireworks or Movies in the Park on the first Friday of every month. Fishing by boat or off lengthy Palmetto Pier is a favorite pastime. Stroll Palmetto Living Seawall Park at sunset. Check out Palmetto Estuary Nature Preserve.

Spend the day at Manatee County Beach on the Gulf. A day trip to Myakka River State Park gets you a taste of undeveloped Florida with live oaks, palms, turtles, and alligators. Explore Sarasota for theater, opera, symphonies, ballet, and circus lore at Ringling Museum of Art.

Palmetto Transportation

Major arteries serving Palmetto are U.S. 41 and Business 41. Interstate-75 is just east of town, and I-275 is to the north. Manatee County Area Transit operates bus routes in Palmetto that connect to neighboring towns, beaches, and SeaPort Manatee. Residents fly through Tampa, Sarasota Bradenton, and St. Pete-Clearwater international airports.

Resources for Moving to Palmetto

Peace River Electric and Florida Power & Light are electricity providers. Contact Palmetto for water, sewer, and trash services.

Palmetto is great for water lovers. Growing families, empty nesters, and retirees enjoy year-round recreation, great schools, and proximity to Sarasota, St. Pete, and Tampa.