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| Land and Water | |
| Land area | 740 square miles |
| Coastline | 150 miles |
| Beaches | 27 miles
|
| Climate - Average Temperature Range |
| January | 50.1F - 72.5F |
| August | 72.7F - 91.3F |
| Average Annual Rainfall | 54.3 inches |
| Average Relative Humidity | 72.7F - 91.3F |
| Prevailing Winds | Easterly
|
| City Populations |
| Anna Maria | 1,822 |
| Bradenton | 49,733 |
| Bradenton Beach | 1,512 |
| Holmes Beach | 4,993 |
| Longboat Key (Manatee County) | 2,589 |
| Palmetto | 12,772 |
| Unincorporated | 197,350 |
| TOTAL | 270,771 |
| Projected for 2005 | 290,446 |
| Source: 2001 Florida Estimates of Population, University of Florida |
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Education
The Manatee County school district has a total enrollment of more than 40,000
students and encompasses 30 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, 5 high schools, and
1 Technical Institute. The school system saw an increase of nearly 1,600 students last
year. Recently, two new elementary schools and a middle school were added and the
district will increase by two additional elementary schools again this year.
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Obtaining a Driver’s License
The state requires newcomers who drive to apply for a Florida driver’s license
within 30 days of becoming a resident. In order to obtain a license, be prepared to show
proof of Florida registration of your vehicle, an out-of-state driver’s license and
Social Security card. Certain states also require you to show a birth certificate or a
U.S. passport. Drivers who currently possess a valid out-of-state driver’s license and
have a driving record free of violations are only required to pass a vision test.
However, drivers who have offenses against their license or drivers attempting to
acquire a license for the first time must also pass a written exam (based on the Florida
Driver’s Handbook) as well as a driving test. For additional information, call the
Division of Drivers’ Licenses at 708-6432.
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Registering To Vote
Newcomers interested in obtaining a voter’s registration card can do so by visiting
the Supervisor of Elections Office (305 15th St. W., Bradenton; 741-3823) or any
Department of Motor Vehicles office. To qualify, potential voters must be U.S.
citizens of at least 18 years of age. Keep in mind that registration books close
29 days prior to elections.
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Local & State Taxes
Many newcomers are drawn to Manatee County because of its favorable tax structure,
which features no personal income taxes or inheritance taxes. In lieu of this form of
taxation, the government relies primarily on sales (the sales tax in Manatee County is
six and one-half percent; medical items and groceries are exempt from taxation) and
property taxes for its main sources of income (homeowners in Florida who use their
home as their residence and meet certain other requirements may be eligible for a
$25,000 homestead exemption).
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Local Government
Manatee County operates under a constitutional form of government adopted in 1921.
A seven-member commission based out of the Manatee County Government Administration
Center in Bradenton meets weekly to address issues and concerns relative to county
residents. In addition, the county also has an appointed administrator and its citizens,
who take their voting rights very seriously, regularly elect a tax collector, property
appraiser, supervisor of elections, sheriff and clerk of the circuit court.
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Area Demographics
