Bradenton Beach Information and Links
Ancient artifacts unearthed on the island indicate that local Indian tribes had a presence on Anna Maria as long as 2000 years before the island was 'discovered' by Spanish explorers. There is nothing however, to indicate a permanent settlement as the Calusa, Tocobagan, Ucita, Meceso and Pooy tribes of the Tampa Bay area probably found the barrier island soil unsuitable for their primitive agriculture. More likely they ventured to the island to fish and swim in the surf.
The Spanish discovered the island in 1530. Anna Maria was named and charted long before Florida became part of the United States.
The first permanent settler on the island was George Emerson Bean, who built his 1893 homestead on the northern tip of the island in the area that now bears his name. (Bean Point).
In 1921 - 1922 the first bridge was constructed from the Village of Cortez to Bridge Street on the Island. Before this time visitors got to the island by boat. This made Bridge Street the center of the bustling island community. In 1926 a bridge to Longboat Key was erected.
At that time the community was known as Cortez Beach. In the late 20's the editor of the Bradenton Herald began calling the city Bradenton Beach and the name stuck.
The first Bradenton Beach City hall was also built in the 20's and the current city hall was built in the late 70's.
The city of Bradenton Beach was incorporated in 1952 and in 1967 the new draw bridge was opened to 5th Street North. The island side of the old wooden bridge was saved and turned into a fishing pier, which still stands today.
JetBlue Airways Pointers for High-Spirited Flying
JetBlue Airways shares its top tips for flying free-from-stress allowing customers to enjoy their travel experience as much as they do their final destinations.
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Longboat Key Pass Bridge construction begins
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will begin repairs to the Longboat Key Pass Bridge on State Road 789 from north of Northshore Road on Longboat Key to south Coquina Park in Bradenton Beach. The work is set to begin this week and continue through April 30, 2012. The construction will be ongoing throughout the day and nighttime hours with a suspension of activity from Dec. 23 through Jan. 2 and Jan. 13-17. A spokesperson for FDOT said nighttime temporary lane closures will be controlled by flaggers and there will be no lane closures Friday through Sunday. During the construction, motorists will have to follow a 35 mph speed limit, but the bridge will not be closed to motorists or boaters.
Photographers’ tips for getting postcard-worthy Florida sunset
Most of the magic occurs after the sunset, the pros say. Take a lot of pictures and turn around to see how the setting sun is coloring the landscape.
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Common Sense Beach Swimming Rules
Swim within the "Safe Bathing Areas", if marked, at all times.
Florida sunshine is intense. Please be careful when sunbathing and use sunscreen with a high SPF
Learn to Swim - Learning to swim is the best defense against drowning.
Never Swim Alone - Always swim with a companion. At the very least, have someone onshore who can call for help.
Don't Fight the Current - Rip currents are powerful currents of water moving away from shore. They can sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea. If caught in a rip current, don't fight it by trying to swim directly to shore. Instead, swim parallel to shore until you feel the current relax, then swim to shore. Most rip currents are narrow, and a short swim parallel to shore will bring you to safety. The same forces that cause rip currents also cause longshore currents. These currents are most evident when waves hit the shore at an angle. This tends to cause the water to be pushed along the beach away from the direction of the oncoming waves. Usually, longshore currents are less hazardous than rip currents because they move along the shore, not away from the shore, but they can knock children and weaker adults off their feet. More importantly, longshore currents can feed and increase the power of rip currents. In other words, the longshore current may move along the shore, then turn offshore to become a rip current.
Swim Sober - Alcohol is a major factor in drowning. Alcohol impairs swimming ability and good judgement.
Don't Float Where You Can't Swim - Often, non-swimmers dangerously use floatation devices to go offshore, If they fall off, they can quickly drown. The only exception is a person wearing a Coast Guard approved life jacket.
Don't Dive Headfirst, Protect Your Neck - Diving headfirst into unknown water and striking the bottom can lead to serious, lifelong injuries, including paraplegia. Check for depth and obstructions before diving, and then go in feet first the first time. Use caution while bodysurfing, always extending a hand ahead of you.
Important Links
| City of Bradenton Beach | WAVES |
| City of Anna Maria | Holmes Beach |
| Manatee County | The Islander |
| Live Bradenton Beach cam - Click here | |
| The Sun | Gas Price Information |
Important Telephone Numbers
| City of Bradenton Beach 941.778.1005 | Bradenton Beach Police Emergency 911 |
| Bradenton Beach Police None Emergency 941.778.6311 | Fire Rescue Emergency 911 |
Tampa Bay Area Television Stations
| Channel 3 WEDU-PBS |
Channel 8 WFLA- NBC |
Channel 9 BAY NEWS |
Channel 10 WTSP-CBS |
Channel 13 WTVT-FOX |
| Channel 16 WUSF-PBS |
Channel 28 WFTS-ABC |
Channel 32 WMOR-IND |
Channel 38 WTTA-WB |
Channel 44 WTOG-UPN |
Tampa Bay Area Radio Stations
FM |
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| BLAZ 87.5 | Hip Hop, Hot AC, Urban | WMNF 88.5 | Community Radio |
| WYFE 88.9 | Bible Broadcasting Network | WUSF 89.7 | Public Radio |
| WJUF 90.1 | Public Radio | WBVM 90.5 | Christian Music |
| WLPJ 91.5 | Christian Contemporary | WFTI 91.7 | Religious |
| WYUU 92.5 | Country | WFLZ 93.3 | Top-40 |
| WWRM 94.9 | Adult Contemporary | WXCV 95.3 | Top-40 |
| WBTP 95.7 | Hip Hop | WTMP 96.1 | Urban Contemporary |
| WSUN 97.1 | Rock Alternative | WXTB 97.9 | Rock |
| WLLD 98.7 | Hip Hop | WQYK 99.5 | Country |
| WMTX 100.7 | Hot AC | WPOI 101.5 | 80's Rock |
| WTBT 103.5 | Classic Rock | WRBQ 104.7 | Oldies |
| WDUV 105.5 | Adult Contemporary | WGUL 106.3 | Nostalgia |
| WXGL 107.3 | Classic Hits | ||
AM |
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| WTBN 570 | Religious | WDAE 620 | Sports |
| WRMD 680 | Spanish | WGUL 860 | Nostalgia |
| WFLA 970 | News/Talk | WBZZ 1010 | Talk |
| WWBA 1040 | Talk | WHNZ 1250 | Talk |
| WTAN 1340 | Talk | WWMI 1380 | Disney |
| WLVU 1470 | Sports | WRXB 1590 | Urban Contemporary |
