Bradenton, nickname: “The Friendly City”, is the county seat of Manatee County, Florida, and is located between St. Petersburg and Sarasota, south of the Manatee River. West Bradenton is close to the Gulf Beaches, Florida’s oldest fishing village of Cortez, and Anna Maria Island. East Bradenton is close to I-75 and Lakewood Ranch. Downtown Bradenton with it’s charming Old Main Street with nice restaurants and bars, as well as the Bradenton Riverwalk, and the Marina, are located in the center, right at the Manatee River.