Manatee County Map, Florida
Explore the definitive interactive map and reference guide to Manatee County, Florida. With a population of 399,710 living across 743 square miles of land, Manatee County is one of 5 counties in the Tampa Bay region. The county seat is Bradenton, and the county carries the FIPS identifier 12081 in U.S. Census and USGS datasets.
On the south shore of Tampa Bay, Manatee blends barrier-island beach communities (Anna Maria Island), a historic downtown Bradenton, and rapidly growing master-planned communities like Lakewood Ranch.
Manatee County at a glance
A concise reference summary of Manatee County's key statistics — useful for research, real estate, relocation, travel planning, GIS workflows, journalism, and civics education.
- Official name
- Manatee County
- County seat
- Bradenton
- FIPS code
- 12081
- Region
- Tampa Bay
- Established
- 1855
- Named for
- The West Indian manatee, once abundant in local waters.
- Land area
- 743 sq mi
- Water area
- 149 sq mi
- Total area
- 892 sq mi
- Population (2020)
- 399,710
- Population density
- 538 / sq mi
- Time zone
- Eastern Time
Where is Manatee County, Florida?
Manatee County is located in the Tampa Bay region of Florida, one of 67 counties that make up the state. Its county seat, Bradenton, is the administrative hub — home to the courthouse, county commission chambers, tax collector, property appraiser, supervisor of elections, and clerk of the circuit court.
The county spans a total of 892 square miles — 743 of land and 149 of water — and operates on Eastern Time. Federal agencies including the U.S. Census Bureau, USGS, and FEMA reference the county by its FIPS code, 12081, in datasets, boundary files, and hazard mapping.
Manatee County shares borders with 4 neighboring counties: Hillsborough County, Hardee County, DeSoto County, Sarasota County. Use the interactive map above to explore where those boundaries meet or jump directly to any neighboring county page for a side-by-side comparison.
Manatee County geography & landscape
The Manatee River, Tampa Bay coastline, mangrove estuaries, barrier islands, and inland agricultural land.
The county's overall footprint — 743 square miles of land plus 149 square miles of water — places it in the mid-range of Florida's 67 counties by area. Elevation across most of Florida is modest, and land-use, drainage basins, and habitat corridors defined by state and federal agencies (Florida Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Water Management Districts) shape how growth and conservation coexist here.
Economy & industry in Manatee County
Health care, tourism, agriculture (Tropicana's largest orange-juice plant is in Bradenton), retail, and a fast-growing professional-services base in Lakewood Ranch.
Employment, tax base, and land use in Manatee County reflect its location in Tampa Bay and its position as one of Florida's most populous counties. Economic development authorities, chambers of commerce, and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity publish updated employer and workforce data for the county on their portals.
History of Manatee County
Established 1855. Bradenton grew from a sugar-plantation era and the settlement of the Manatee River. The Village of Cortez remains one of Florida's few surviving working commercial-fishing villages.
Established in 1855, Manatee County is one of Florida's 19th-century counties. Its boundaries, seat, and government have evolved through territorial, statehood, Reconstruction, and modern eras — a lineage documented by the Florida Historical Society, the State Archives of Florida, and the Manatee County Historical Commission or equivalent local body.
Tourism & things to do in Manatee County
Anna Maria Island beaches, De Soto National Memorial, South Florida Museum, Village of the Arts, Robinson Preserve, and IMG Academy.
Whether you're planning a weekend trip, a longer stay, or a day drive from a neighboring county, Manatee County offers a mix of natural, cultural, and community attractions tied to its Tampa Bay identity. For the latest hours, admission fees, and seasonal events, check the county's official tourism development council and the Florida State Parks portal (floridastateparks.org).
Cities, towns & communities in Manatee County
Manatee County contains the following incorporated cities, towns, and notable census-designated places. Each municipality provides local services, zoning, and police protection within the broader county jurisdiction. Use the ZIP code lookupto jump between Florida counties instantly.
Getting to Manatee County
Access routes and regional transportation infrastructure serving Manatee County.
- I-75
- US-19
- US-41
- US-301
- SR-70
- SR-64
- Sarasota-Bradenton International (SRQ)
- Manatee County (BKV)
Manatee County GIS, parcel & boundary data
Manatee County's authoritative boundary lines, parcel data, zoning layers, flood zones, and land-use inventories are maintained by county government and state agencies. Use the official links in the sidebar for parcel lookups, appraiser searches, and record requests. For statewide GIS, the Florida Geographic Data Library (FGDL) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection publish downloadable layers keyed to FIPS 12081.
You can download this county's outline as SVG, PNG, or a printable PDF factsheet using the export tools in the sidebar — perfect for reports, presentations, classroom handouts, or planning documents.
Frequently asked about Manatee County
Population figures reflect the U.S. Census Bureau 2020 decennial count with ACS 5-year updates where noted. Land and water areas come from the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line boundary files. Highway designations use Florida Department of Transportation route inventories. County establishment dates and namesakes are drawn from the Florida Association of Counties and State Archives of Florida. See our methodology page.
Nearby Florida counties
Counties that share a border with Manatee County. Click any to view its map, seat, cities, and full guide.