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The Island....
Located on the west coast of Florida,
Anna Maria Island is the barrier between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay with
white sand beaches stretching for 7 miles along the gulf coastline. There is a canal network throughout
the island that allows an interesting selection of water-front lifestyles, plus an island trolley system for
transportation throughout the three individually unique island cities.
NEW!
We've added a new section to our AMIsland.com web site - AMIsland Photographs.
We offer these photos for your personal enjoyment. If you wish to use any of these photographs for any purpose, other than your personal viewing, please drop
us a line and let us know. These are copyrighted photos and we reverse all rights.
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Island Beaches
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Anna Maria Island supports a very special ecology and "Old Florida" philosphy. The laid-back lifestyle allows time to step back from the hectic energies and
just walk on the beach, or enjoy a picnic supper at sunset.
Surrounded by the lush sub-tropical growth and island birds, you feel the peace and security of times gone by.
Once you've visited our island, you'll want to come back. |
Anna Maria City, to the north, is basically residental with the addition of
sandwich shops, a few restaurants, and the Bay View Plaza on the bay-side of the island, with boutiques and Mama Lo's Coffee Shop.
Our city post office is here (we have to go to the post office to get our mail in
Anna Maria City - we don't have home delivery). The post office has long been a gathering place for island residents, and few are ready to give up the sense of community for
home delivery.
One can shop for antiques jewelry and clothing, or enjoy the restaurants and the Island Players Theater. |
Bay View Plaza and Roser Church on Pine Avenue
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George Emerson Bean,a world traveler from Connecticut, became the first permanent resident on the Island and homesteaded what is now the City of Anna Maria.
He built his home near the present location of the Rod and Reel Pier in 1893 and homesteaded 140 acres, from the North Point (Bean Point) to what is now Magnolia Avenue, where the Island Community Center is located.
His son, George W. Bean, became the first land developer and with John Roser formed the Anna Maria Beach Company. Streets and sidewalks were laid out; homes, businesses and a water system were built.
We recently had a wonderful email from Mr. George Bean of South Carolina, one of George Emerson Bean's decendants. Click here to read his own island
memory. Thank you George.
The first house of worship, Roser Memorial Community Church, was
built by George Roser in memory of his mother. Roser was the creator of the Fig Newton which he eventually sold to Nabisco Brands. Roser Memorial Community Church still stands on Pine Avenue, along with the George Bean house
across the street.
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Manatee County Beach 
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Holmes Beach, is the "business" center of the island.
The island library, the banks and island grocery store are all in
Holmes Beach along with a wide variety of shops and restaurants.
Manatee County Beach greets the visitors to our island, where the
Beach Cafe serves their guests on the beach patio right on the Gulf.
One of the two bridges to the island, Manatee Bridge, brings the traveler into Holmes Beach at the end
of SR 64, which ends on the island.
Holmes Beach is a homogenous mixture of residential
single-family homes, multi-family condominium
developments and businesses existing in harmony
with the landscape as well as the Island’s small-town
heritage. |
| At the end of World War II Jack Holmes,
a developer with a dream, created a 600-acre community in the center of
the island. In 1948 an airstrip was built as a landing strip for small
planes. The film "On An Island With You," starring Esther Williams and
Peter Lawford, was partially filmed on the island. Esther Williams bought
property, although it is not known if she ever lived on the island.
In 1970 an airplane accident signaled doom for the airstrip. Despite a "Save Our Airport"
campaign the airport closed in 1973. |
| Bradenton Beach, at the southern end of the island, is home to many condominium units, luxurious resorts and
gulf front rentals. Coquina beach stretches along the gulf shoreline and supports the largest beach parking area on the island. |
Prior to 1921, the only way to get to the island was by boat. In 1921 Anna Maria was physically connected to the mainland by a
wooden bridge that extended westward from the fishing village of Cortez
to the Island.
The Bradenton Beach fishing pier is the western end of that
original bridge. Within the last few years, historic Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach has been restored, and the both residents and tourists can enjoy a meal at the
City Pier Restaurant. |
Bradenton Beach City Pier 
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| At the southern most end of Bradenton Beach is the Longboat Key bridge, and one can continue along the gulf barrier island to Sarasota for more shopping and restaurants on St. Armand's Circle. |
Take a few minutes to visit the rest of our web site, or click on the dolphin to continue the island tour. We thank you for your
interest in Anna Maria Island, our little bit of paradise on the Sun Coast of Florida.
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