Anna Maria Island
Encyclopedia
Anna Maria Island, sometimes called Anna Maria Key, is a barrier island
on the coast of Manatee County
, Florida
in the United States
. It is bounded on the west by the Gulf of Mexico
, on the south by Longboat Pass (which separates it from Longboat Key
), on the east by Anna Maria Sound, and on the north by Tampa Bay
. Anna Maria Island is approximately seven miles long north to south. Anna Maria Island is at latitude 27.513N, longitude -82.719W. A nautical chart of the island and surrounding waters may be seen at http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/11425.shtml
In 1892 George Emerson Bean became the first permanent resident on the Island and homesteaded much of what is now the City of Anna Maria. After Bean's death in 1898, the land went to his son, George Wilhelm Bean, who partnered with Charles Roser
, a wealthy real estate developer from St. Petersburg
, to form the Anna Maria Beach Company to develop the area. The company laid out streets, built sidewalks and houses and installed a water system.
was said to have named the island for Maria Anna von der Pfalz-Neuburg, the queen of Charles II of Spain
, the sponsor of his expedition. In the past, pronunciation of the name differed: old timers said "Anna Mar-EYE-a," but most people today say "Anna Mar-EE-a." According to a regional historian of note, Lillian Burns, the daughter of the early land developer, Owen Burns
, the correct pronunciation of the name of the island by its early settlers was, an-na ma-rye-a, since it was named for the strong winds occurring in the area, using the German term for the wind, Maria. This pronunciation may be heard in the popular song, They Call The Wind Maria, from the musical, Paint Your Wagon.
in the north, Holmes Beach
in the middle, and Bradenton Beach
in the south. In 2005 the United States Census Bureau
estimated the combined population of the three cities at approximately 8,500.
south of Manatee Avenue in Holmes Beach and County Road 789 north of there.
There are two bridges across Sarasota Bay from the mainland: the Cortez Bridge, which brings State Road 684 into Bradenton Beach from Cortez
, and the Manatee Avenue Bridge, which brings State Road 64
into Holmes Beach from the Palma Sola section of Bradenton
. Each of these state roads terminates at its intersection with State Road 789.
Anna Maria Island is serviced by a free trolley-style bus that runs north and south on Gulf Drive. The trolley connects with both the MCAT (Manatee County Area Transit) system serving the greater Bradenton area, and the SCAT (Sarasota County Area Transit) system. The MCAT connects to the trolley at Manatee Public Beach, at the intersection of State Road 789
and State Road 64
. The SCAT connects to the trolley at Coquina Beach, at the south end of Anna Maria Island, just before the Longboat Key Bridge. Several local taxi companies serve Anna Maria Island.
Anna Maria Island was only accessible by boat until 1921, when the wooden Cortez Bridge was constructed from the fishing village of Cortez
to what is now Bridge Steet in Bradenton Beach. The remaining parts of the Cortez Bridge are used as a fishing pier.
Anna Maria Island is also known as the "wedding capital of Florida," Anna Maria Island Weddings, http://www.amiweddings.com and the Chamber of Commerce hosts an annual Wedding Festival, and companies such as Simple Weddings Florida (http://www.simpleweddingsflorida.com) often offer complete packages that include the beach wedding ceremony, officiant, photographer, and decor. For more information, visit the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce at http://www.annamariaislandchamber.org/wedding.cfm
With its crystal white beaches and an average year-round temperature of 74.8 degrees, Anna Maria Island is a year-round tourist attraction. Restaurants, resorts, gift and curio shops, real estate companies, and local watering holes dominate the economy. Current tourism-related businesses can be found at http://stayami.com/default.aspx.
Bottlenose dolphins can be observed both in the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf. You can watch them from boats,piers, and even from the shore. They often dive in and out of the wake from boats, leaping high into the air and thrilling their watching audience.
Barrier island
Barrier islands, a coastal landform and a type of barrier system, are relatively narrow strips of sand that parallel the mainland coast. They usually occur in chains, consisting of anything from a few islands to more than a dozen...
on the coast of Manatee County
Manatee County, Florida
Manatee County is a county in the state of Florida. According to the 2010 census by the U.S. Census Bureau there are 322,833 people living in Manatee Country.Manatee County is part of the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is bounded on the west by the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, on the south by Longboat Pass (which separates it from Longboat Key
Longboat Key, Florida
Longboat Key is a town in Manatee and Sarasota counties along the central west coast of the U.S. state of Florida, located on the barrier island of the same name. Longboat Key is south of Anna Maria Island, between Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. It is almost equally divided between Manatee...
), on the east by Anna Maria Sound, and on the north by Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
. Anna Maria Island is approximately seven miles long north to south. Anna Maria Island is at latitude 27.513N, longitude -82.719W. A nautical chart of the island and surrounding waters may be seen at http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/11425.shtml
History
Anna Maria Island was discovered by local indian tribes the Timucan and Caloosan American Indian tribes and then by Spanish explorers (including Hernando DeSoto) in the name of the Spanish Crown. Hernando de Soto and his crew entered the mouth of Tampa Bay north of Anna Maria in May, 1539, but passed it by to make their landfall on the mainland.In 1892 George Emerson Bean became the first permanent resident on the Island and homesteaded much of what is now the City of Anna Maria. After Bean's death in 1898, the land went to his son, George Wilhelm Bean, who partnered with Charles Roser
Charles Roser
Charles Martin Roser , also known as C. M. Roser, was an Ohio food maker, Florida real estate developer and philanthropist. He was born in Elyria, Ohio and died in St. Petersburg, Florida...
, a wealthy real estate developer from St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, to form the Anna Maria Beach Company to develop the area. The company laid out streets, built sidewalks and houses and installed a water system.
Name origin
Ponce de LeonJuan Ponce de León
Juan Ponce de León was a Spanish explorer. He became the first Governor of Puerto Rico by appointment of the Spanish crown. He led the first European expedition to Florida, which he named...
was said to have named the island for Maria Anna von der Pfalz-Neuburg, the queen of Charles II of Spain
Charles II of Spain
Charles II was the last Habsburg King of Spain and the ruler of large parts of Italy, the Spanish territories in the Southern Low Countries, and Spain's overseas Empire, stretching from the Americas to the Spanish East Indies...
, the sponsor of his expedition. In the past, pronunciation of the name differed: old timers said "Anna Mar-EYE-a," but most people today say "Anna Mar-EE-a." According to a regional historian of note, Lillian Burns, the daughter of the early land developer, Owen Burns
Owen Burns
Owen Burns was born in Fredericktown in Cecil County on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He was an entrepreneur, banker, builder, and land developer who at one time owned the majority of Sarasota, Florida and developed or built many of its historic structures, developments, roads, seawalls, and...
, the correct pronunciation of the name of the island by its early settlers was, an-na ma-rye-a, since it was named for the strong winds occurring in the area, using the German term for the wind, Maria. This pronunciation may be heard in the popular song, They Call The Wind Maria, from the musical, Paint Your Wagon.
Municipalities
Anna Maria Island today is divided into the three cities of Anna MariaAnna Maria, Florida
Anna Maria, is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,814 at the 2000 census. According to the 2005 U.S. Census Bureau's estimates, the city grew slightly to 1,867. The city occupies the northern part of Anna Maria Island and is one of three municipalities on the...
in the north, Holmes Beach
Holmes Beach, Florida
Holmes Beach is a city on Anna Maria Island in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,966 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 5,100. It is part of the Bradenton–Sarasota–Venice Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in the middle, and Bradenton Beach
Bradenton Beach, Florida
Bradenton Beach is a city on Anna Maria Island in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,482 at the 2000 census, and 1,561 in the U.S Census estimates of 2005. It is part of the Bradenton–Sarasota–Venice Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city occupies the southern...
in the south. In 2005 the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
estimated the combined population of the three cities at approximately 8,500.
Transportation
The main north-south road on the island is Gulf Drive, which begins on the south end of the island at the foot of the Longboat Pass Bridge from Longboat Key. Gulf Drive is the only road that runs the entire length of the island. It is State Road 789Florida State Road 789
A 19-mile-long road along the Florida’s Gulf Coast, State Road 789 spans Bird Key, St. Armands Key, and Lido Key, in Sarasota; Longboat Key ; and Anna Maria Island...
south of Manatee Avenue in Holmes Beach and County Road 789 north of there.
There are two bridges across Sarasota Bay from the mainland: the Cortez Bridge, which brings State Road 684 into Bradenton Beach from Cortez
Cortez, Florida
Cortez, a census-designated place in Manatee County, Florida, United States, is a small Gulf coast commercial fishing village that was founded by settlers from North Carolina in the 1880s. The population was 4,491 at the 2000 census...
, and the Manatee Avenue Bridge, which brings State Road 64
Florida State Road 64
State Road 64 extends from State Road 789 approximately two blocks from the Gulf of Mexico in Holmes Beach in Manatee County to US 27/US 98 in Avon Park in Highlands County. State Road 64 travels from west to east through the counties of Manatee, Hardee and Highlands. It is a mostly rural 2-lane...
into Holmes Beach from the Palma Sola section of Bradenton
Bradenton, Florida
Bradenton is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's 2007 population to be 53,471. Bradenton is the largest Principal City of the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2007 estimated population of 682,833...
. Each of these state roads terminates at its intersection with State Road 789.
Anna Maria Island is serviced by a free trolley-style bus that runs north and south on Gulf Drive. The trolley connects with both the MCAT (Manatee County Area Transit) system serving the greater Bradenton area, and the SCAT (Sarasota County Area Transit) system. The MCAT connects to the trolley at Manatee Public Beach, at the intersection of State Road 789
Florida State Road 789
A 19-mile-long road along the Florida’s Gulf Coast, State Road 789 spans Bird Key, St. Armands Key, and Lido Key, in Sarasota; Longboat Key ; and Anna Maria Island...
and State Road 64
Florida State Road 64
State Road 64 extends from State Road 789 approximately two blocks from the Gulf of Mexico in Holmes Beach in Manatee County to US 27/US 98 in Avon Park in Highlands County. State Road 64 travels from west to east through the counties of Manatee, Hardee and Highlands. It is a mostly rural 2-lane...
. The SCAT connects to the trolley at Coquina Beach, at the south end of Anna Maria Island, just before the Longboat Key Bridge. Several local taxi companies serve Anna Maria Island.
Anna Maria Island was only accessible by boat until 1921, when the wooden Cortez Bridge was constructed from the fishing village of Cortez
Cortez, Florida
Cortez, a census-designated place in Manatee County, Florida, United States, is a small Gulf coast commercial fishing village that was founded by settlers from North Carolina in the 1880s. The population was 4,491 at the 2000 census...
to what is now Bridge Steet in Bradenton Beach. The remaining parts of the Cortez Bridge are used as a fishing pier.
Tourism
Anna Maria Island has a thriving arts community. Cultural Connections, http://culturalconnections.info/, a coalition of the island's cultural venues, includes the Anna Maria Island Art League, http:www.IslandArtLeague.org/; Anna Maria Island Artists Guild, http://www.amiartistsguildgallery.com/; a local theater company, the Island Players, http://www.theislandplayers.org/; Anna Maria Island Community Chorus & Orchestra (AMICCO), http://www.amicco.org/, Anna Maria Island Historical Society, http://www.amihs.org/; Island Gallery West, http://www.islandgallerywest.com/; and The Studio at Gulf and Pine, http://www.studioatgulfandpine.com/. The group produces an island-wide arts weekend each November called artsHOP.Anna Maria Island is also known as the "wedding capital of Florida," Anna Maria Island Weddings, http://www.amiweddings.com and the Chamber of Commerce hosts an annual Wedding Festival, and companies such as Simple Weddings Florida (http://www.simpleweddingsflorida.com) often offer complete packages that include the beach wedding ceremony, officiant, photographer, and decor. For more information, visit the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce at http://www.annamariaislandchamber.org/wedding.cfm
With its crystal white beaches and an average year-round temperature of 74.8 degrees, Anna Maria Island is a year-round tourist attraction. Restaurants, resorts, gift and curio shops, real estate companies, and local watering holes dominate the economy. Current tourism-related businesses can be found at http://stayami.com/default.aspx.
Wildlife
From May through October in Florida, sea turtles come ashore to nest. Anna Maria Island is one of the many places in Florida that sea turtles nest on the beaches. Protection of the sea turtles is an important aspect of the island culture, and information and training is available for tourists and locals in abundance. Manatees are also frequent summer visitors at Anna Maria Island, and similarly, the Manatee is held in great reverence by islanders. A subspecies of the Indian Manatee, these herbivores call Anna Maria Island their summer vacation home. The entire island is a bird sanctuary, and pelicans, multiple types of cranes and herons, wild parrots, sand pipers, hawks, vultures, seagulls, and crows share the island with humans.Bottlenose dolphins can be observed both in the Intracoastal Waterway and the Gulf. You can watch them from boats,piers, and even from the shore. They often dive in and out of the wake from boats, leaping high into the air and thrilling their watching audience.