On May 19, Bradenton marks 123 years since its incorporation in 1903, and residents may notice new “America 250 / Bradenton 123” banners displayed throughout downtown and inside City Hall.
Bradenton’s story began modestly. Incorporation passed by just 59 votes to 34, transforming a riverside cluster of homes and trading posts into an official municipality. Even the City’s original name came with a mistake. A clerical error during the post office application process resulted in the spelling “Braidentown,” which was later corrected to “Bradentown.”
Then, in 1924, a local businessman stood before the Manatee River Kiwanis Club and declared the town would always feel small until it dropped the “W.” The state Legislature later approved the change and Bradenton was born, along with a motto that still fits today: The Friendly City…