Manatee County: A Brief Overview

Manatee County currently has a population of 411,000 individuals as estimated by the 2020 U.S. Census. The population has increased by approximately 20% since the 2010 census. This increase in population density is highlighted by the average 4,472 new residential building permits issued for years 2018 through 2020. Manatee County is uniquely situated between Tampa Bay and Sarasota Bay and contains the headwaters of the Manatee River, the Myakka River (a Wild and Scenic River) and approximately 150 miles of coastline. Critical habitats include mangrove wetlands, remnant longleaf pine, forested freshwater wetlands, palmetto scrub and oak hammock. As land is developed to accommodate the influx of new residents, landscape uses change.  Additional impermeable surfaces such as sidewalks, roads, roofs, etc. increases the flow of storm water through municipal infrastructure giving water less time to filter through natural systems thus increasing potential pollutant discharge. The population of Manatee County is in critical need of affordable housing, food security, improved transportation, and other public services strained by rapid growth and development.

Along the Manatee River, a community of escaped slaves and freedom seekers established in what is now Manatee Mineral Springs Park. The community of Angola existed during the early 1800's and was destroyed by a violent raid in 1821. Survivors of the raid and others from the community fled to the Bahamas. After archeological excavation revealed the community, the location was designated with a historical marker and festivals have celebrated the history since 2021.

The future of urban extension is strained in Manatee County, many of the challenges are the same, shared globally; climate change, sea level rise, social inequity, grappling with the implications of colonization etc. Extension is poised to act as the connector and the catalyst for social change.