Bradenton : Florida

Bradenton is a city of just under 50,000 on the west coast of Florida. It calls itself the friendly city. It is located between Tampa and Sarasota on Tampa Bay and the Manatee River. One of the most interesting things about Bradenton is it's Village Arts Center, a reclaimed and specially zoned area where artists live and work. The Pittsburgh Pirates hold their annual spring training here at McKechnie Field. Photo of City Hall courtesy of Wikipedia: charming gallery by bpage and Wikpedia; both in the public domain.

Bradenton offers easy access to beaches and boating. It is a big town for art because of the Viilage Arts Center, which spans 36 acres and has 200 homes in it. Each gallery and studio is a home. Many retirees find the area attractive. Baseball fans love watching the Pirates get ready for the season. Nearby Cortez is old time fishing village that is a popular place to visit.

This is an older part of Florida so there is some crime, plus traffic and suburban sprawl on busy Route 41.

People looking for an inexpensive place on the west coast of Florida and low-key living style might like Bradenton.

Tourism and retirement are big drivers. Tropicana's juice production is centered here and is one of the largest employers.

Bradenton is on the west coast of Florida between Tampa and Sarasota to the south.  The average January temperature is about 60 and the average July temperature is about 80.  Expect a daily rainshower in the summer.

ArtCenter Manatee is the center for art and art education with a nearly 10,000 sq. ft. building in downtown Bradenton featuring  three galleries, five classrooms, an Artists Market gift shop and an art library; The Village Arts Center, which provides special downtown zoning for artists, gives the town an artsy flair; there is the South Florida Museum, a planaterium, and an aquarium; the Village of the Arts remains the largest arts district on the Gulf Coast;  Bradenton's Riverfront Theatre.