Originally discovered by Hernando De Soto at Shaw's Point in 1539, the city took the name of Dr. Joseph Braden, whose nearby fortlike house was a refuge for early settlers during Indian attacks. The current city of Bradenton was formed in 1943, when the Florida legislature merged the cities of Manatee and Bradentown.

Bradenton is located at 27°29'18"N 82°34'40"W and has a total area of 14.44 square miles, 16.14% is water. Bradenton is located on between Tampa and Sarasota surrounded by waterways, both fresh and saltwater along the Gulf of Mexico and into Tampa Bay. Bradenton is located on the mainland and is separated from the outer barrier islands of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key by the Intracoastal Waterway. The business district and community of Bradenton Beach on the southern end of Anna Maria island is oriented toward vacationers who come to enjoy the surrounding beaches. Bradenton Beach is a charming and vibrant community of 1,500 people located at the southern end of Anna Maria Island. Longboat Key, the next barrier island south, is popular with shell hunters along its beaches. Access to Anna Maria Island can be achieved from the mainland (Bradenton) via bridges on Cortez Road or Manatee Avenue or from Longboat Key to the south via the bridge over Longboat Pass.

Bradenton is served by Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport in nearby Sarasota, Florida and is connected to St. Petersburg, Florida by the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Located on the Manatee River in downtown Bradenton is the South Florida Museum, Bishop Planetarium and Parker Manatee Aquarium. This one-stop museum-planetarium-aquarium offers a glimpse of Florida history, a star and laser show, and viewing of Snooty and other live manatees.

Bradenton also is home to the Village of the Arts, a neighborhood immediately south of downtown where special zoning laws allow residents to live and work in their homes. As a result, about 50 of these once dilapidated houses have been converted into studios, galleries, small restaurants and other small businesses, mostly catering to the arts. The Village of the Arts prides itself as the largest arts district on the Gulf Coast. Because of the Village of the Arts, the City of Bradenton was recently recognized as one of the Top 10 cities in the country for working artists.

The Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy is located in the city. In addition to tennis, the United States National Soccer Academy is also located in Bradenton.

Points of interest:

• Cortez Fishing Village
• Palma Sola Botanical Park
• South Florida Museum, home of Snooty the manatee
• DeSoto National Park
• Pittsburgh Pirates spring training at McKechnie Field
• Gamble Mansion (Ellenton)
• Myakka River State Park
• ArtCenter Manatee