Climate
Anna Maria Island’s weather has distinct seasons. The annual average temperature is 74.8 degrees Fahrenheit. In mid-October, the summer Caribbean trade winds that bring the sun and warm breezes to our island are blocked by cooler weather from the North and the temperatures drop to the 70's overnight, but the days are mostly warm and sunny.
By spring, the cloudless, dry days generally reach temperatures in the 70's and 80's with cooler evenings. Afternoons are punctuated by "sea breezes" from the Gulf that dwindle at sunset. The trade winds typically influence the climate by mid-May with daytime temperatures up to around the 90 degree mark. At this time of year a favorite occupation is strolling down to the beach in the evenings to watch the spectacular sunsets lighting up the whole sky with a myriad of brilliant colors as the sun slowly sinks over the horizon. Steady breezes and the occasional gentle rain lead to comfortable and refreshing evenings.
One Island - 3 Beach Communities
Bradenton Beach
Population - 1654
Bradenton Beach, on the southern end of the island, has Coquina beach - a long stretch of white sugar sand and
plenty of parking. This community has just restored their City Pier and welcomes anyone wanting to fish for their dinner
along with those who just want to sit down at the pier restaurant for a grouper sandwich and watch the fisherman on the pier.
Bradenton Beach has quite a few resorts and a revitalized Bridge Street shopping area. Along the Gulf side you'll find a variety
of restaurants where you can view the beautiful Gulf of Mexico sunsets.
Holmes Beach
Population - 4978
Holmes Beach has the Manatee County Beach with a restaurant on the beach and plenty of parking and picnic areas. There are
several shopping plazas in Holmes Beach for groceries, pharmaceudial needs, hardware, etc. along with some laid back beach
stores that rent kayaks, bicycles, and furniture for renters. The center of Holmes Beach has several banks and other
commercial outlets and the only high rises on the island.
Anna Maria City
Population - 1814
Anna Maria City is the northern most part of the island and is mostly residential. However, there are a couple of small
shopping plazas and some wonderful restaurants to enjoy. The beach front restaurants are a favorite spot for weddings.
The Historic Anna Maria Pier goes out into Tampa Bay and is the
gathering place for many of the island locals for fishing or just island talk. The beaches of Anna Maria are beautiful, but
there is limited parking.
Vacation Properties
Enjoy all that Anna Maria Island has to offer - from its rich history,
white sugar sand beaches, extraordinary sunsets, award winning restaurants and
the option to just sit back and do nothing at all!
We offer richly appointed accommodations
at very resonable prices (the views are FREE) ... see our vacation properties
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Island History
Take the time to visit the Anna Maria Island Historical Society office in Anna Maria City houses
many old photographs that are invaluable for understanding the island way of life during the last
century.
The area was first inhabited by the Timucan and Caloosan American Indian tribes, but the recorded
history of the Island is said to have begun around1530 when Spanish explorers such as Hernando
DeSoto claimed the entire area for the Spanish Crown. However, in1892 George Emerson Bean (after
whom Bean Point was named) became the first permanent resident on the Island and homesteaded much
of what is now the City of Anna Maria.
In the early 1900s, Bean began to develop the Island with the Anna Maria Beach Company which laid
out streets, built sidewalks and houses and installed a water system. During this time the pretty
Roser Memorial Community Church, was built by George Roser in memory of his mother. He was the creator
of the Fig Newton that he eventually sold to Nabisco Brands. This church still stands and is used by
some Islanders.
The present Island Playhouse is typical of the early buildings. It was built on the mainland and
later transported to the Island by barge, serving the community during its long life as church,
school, social and city hall.
The Magnolia Avenue School was built in the early 1900s and has since been replaced with the Anna
Maria Island Elementary School located in the City of Holmes Beach. The present school draws students
from north Longboat Key as well as Anna Maria Island; it has a student body in excess of 400.
For years the Island was only accessible by boat. It was not until 1921 that a wooden bridge was
constructed connecting Anna Maria Island to the mainland. The Bridge extended westward from the
historic fishing village of Cortez over to the Island. Bradenton Beach fishing pier at the end of
Bridge Street is the western end of that original bridge.
The cornerstone of the philosophy of the island’s governments has been preservation of the “Old
Florida” heritage. Throughout the decades, local city governments have worked diligently to adhere
to this aim and today, Anna Maria Island has just two structures that are higher than three stories.
The Island remains a mixture of residential homes, vacation properties and businesses existing in
harmony with the landscape and enhancing the Island’s small-town heritage. The year-round and seasonal
residents who enrich the local population come from throughout the Americas as well as Europe and the
Far East. |
