Popular Reports

Why Everyone Is Talking About Manatee County's Popular Report!

The Financial Data Manatee County’s financial health is explained in language we can all understand.

It’s a One-Stop Shop for County-Wide Information
The Popular Report includes budget information for the County and all five constitutionally elected officers.

The Educational Content
Along with the financial and budgetary data, you get concise and current information about the operations of the Board of County Commissioners, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the Sheriff, the Tax Collector, the Property Appraiser and the Supervisor of Elections.

Reflect and Enjoy
From snowbirds to tourists seeking an affordable stay, travel trailer parks have woven themselves into the cultural fabric of Manatee County, leaving a lasting contribution to our landscape and the tourism industry. The legacy of the Camping Tourists of America and Braden Castle Park is evident in the enduring presence of many mobile home communities and trailer parks in
our area.

Over the past century, travel trailer parks have significantly shaped Florida’s culture, landscape, and tourism, becoming a defining feature of the state. The year 2024 marked the one-hundredth anniversary of Braden Castle Park’s establishment. Since its creation, Braden Castle Park has been our local connection to the broader movement of people seeking seasonal
escapes through road travel. Initially, these camping tourist parks were modest, catering mainly to those in search of a temporary retreat.

As time has passed, these camping sites developed to become snowbird communities and an integral part of our robust tourism economy. These parks often embodied a quirky, laid-back aesthetic, contributing to the image of Florida as a carefree destination.

The continued popularity of travel trailers has led people to our area for many decades. Due to this popularity, in 1936, the Bradenton Kiwanis purchased land on 14th Street West from the City of Bradenton to build the Bradenton Trailer Park in order to welcome them. Rent at that time was $1.50 per lot. The club’s initial $17,000 investment grew into a 40-acre, 596-lot park, which Kiwanis sold in 1997 for $8.8 million. The proceeds enable the club to meet its mission by investing in our community. As we share images from the Historical Records Library’s Herbert Loomis Postcard Collection, we hope you will enjoy this look back at these unique features of our community.