Demographics, Climate, Wildlife
Our small island, only 7 miles long from south to north, and a few blocks to just over a mile wide depending where you are on the island, is home to three cities: Bradenton Beach to the south, Holmes Beach in the center, and Anna Maria on the north end. Each city has its own mayor, city commission and police department. Resident count varies depending on the time of year; it significantly increases from October to April when seasonal residents return to their island home in the sun to escape the cold, harsh northern winters. Holmes Beach is home for the majority of annual residents, with a population of just over 3800, followed by Anna Maria with around 1500 residents and Bradenton Beach checking in with approximately 1150 full time islanders.
Anna Maria Island’s Colorful Past:
The peaceful façade of Anna Maria conceals the history of a movie star captured by cannibals and a pirate stranded on a deserted island.
The cannibals were fakes, created by Hollywood for the 1948 movie, “On an Island with You,” filmed in Anna Maria’s tropical paradise.
However, a real pirate, Jean LaFitte, was shipwrecked near Anna Maria in 1821, and nearly a century later, Fig Newton cookies paved the way for the island’s first streets and sidewalks. (More about that later.)
Then a decade or so after the island acquired its first streets, a tavern opened where the Sandbar Restaurant is now located, and barroom brawls made a debut.
Island Trolley
Whether this is your first time on Anna Maria Island, your 50th time, or you’re a native, there is no better way to get around the island than to ride the free Anna Maria Island trolley. Sit back, relax, enjoy the view and leave the driving and parking to someone else. Hop on and off as often as you like. Several trolleys loop the island from Coquina Beach on the southern tip in Bradenton Beach up to the City Pier in the City of Anna Maria on the northern end of the island on a daily basis. The trolleys also run on most holidays.
Anna Maria Beach
Located on the northern tip of the island in the City of Anna Maria lies Anna Maria Beach, which provides a peaceful escape from the bustle of the outside world.
This hidden haven offers the opportunity to unwind in the unspoiled splendor of the Gulf of Mexico. Locals adore these beaches for their seclusion, calm surf,
and the best sunset views on the island. Anna Maria Beach is a short walk or free trolley ride away from Pine Avenue!
If you’re looking for a quiet, intimate setting, look no further than Bean Point. This beach, located at the very tip of the island, is a hidden gem and features
powder-soft white sand, sweeping views of Tampa Bay (and the iconic Sunshine Skyway bridge), and an unobtrusive, relaxed atmosphere that can be hard to find on most public beaches.
Visting Anna Maria Island
Anna Maria Island, a seven-mile-long barrier island on Florida’s Gulf Coast west of Bradenton, is brimming with history, arts, and culture, and its award-winning beaches draw
visitors from near and far looking for a laid-back getaway.
See postcard-perfect Gulf sunsets, swim, snorkel, and dive the turquoise waters, look for shells and fossilized shark teeth, take a boat tour to spot dolphins, and enjoy
some of the best waterfront dining in Florida.
Anna Maria Island Information
Surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico, Tampa Bay, and the Intracoastal Waterway, Anna Maria Island is an easy 1 1/2-hour drive from Tampa.
Boasting arguably the whitest and most pristine seven miles of beach in the US, Anna Maria Island on the west coast of Florida just
south of Tampa is a coveted destination for Floridians and global travelers alike.