Anna Maria Island, FL
Real Estate: Living In Anna Maria Island
Aerial view of Anna Maria Island town and beaches, a barrier island on Florida’s Gulf Coast in Manatee County. File photo: Unwind, Shutter Stock, licensed.
Anna Maria Island, is a barrier island – approximately 7 miles long north to south – located on the coast of Manatee County, Florida, in the United States. It is surrounded west by the Gulf of Mexico, on the south by Longboat Pass, on the east by Anna Maria Sound, and on the north by Tampa Bay.
According to the 2020 Census, Anna Maria Island had a population of 8,500. The median value of a single-family home is $2,800,000 and the median rent of a one-bedroom apartment is $1,860. The median household income is $94,508, with 2.92 percent of the population living behold the poverty threshold.
Anna Maria Island is divided into three cities: Anna Maria in the north, Holmes Beach in the middle, and Bradenton Beach in the south. The only public school located on the island is Anna Maria Elementary School, which offers kindergarten to fifth grade and is a part of the Manatee school district; students wishing to attend middle, high school, or college – be it public or private institutions – must travel to mainland Manatee County.
Tourism is a focal point of the local economy, and island, county and state officials have invested millions of dollars in advertising to attract visitors; while successful in this endeavor, the increase in visitors to Anna Maria Island can, at times, also result in congested traffic, noise, litter and parking issues during peak tourist seasons.
Wildlife is abundant on Anna Maria Island; sea turtles come ashore to nest from May through October, and the island itself is a bird sanctuary, with numerous species calling it home including cranes, herons, parrots, sandpipers, osprey, hawks, vultures, seagulls, crows, and bald eagles. In addition, bottlenose dolphins can often be found in the Intracoastal Waterway, the Gulf, and Bimini Bay.
There are six award-winning beaches on Anna Maria Island, with notable ones including Coquina Beach, lined with majestic Australian pine trees; Cortez Beach, which has three concrete piers that provide ideal fishing locations, in addition to acting as wavebreakers, making for calm swimming waters; and Manatee Public Beach, ideal for a pleasant family afternoon at the beach.
Anna Maria Island also boasts incredible restaurants, unique shops, and several great bars for grabbing a drink and unwinding after a long day of exploring.
