Anna Maria Island homes for sale
Anna Maria Island is a quaint Barrier Island nestled in the Gulf of Mexico. Beautiful turquoise waters and white sandy beaches are the main attraction here. It is a place where "old" Florida charm can still be found, flip flops are a way of life and the speed limit never exceeds 35mph. High rise condos and fast food restaurants are pleasantly absent from this pristine "get away from it all" island.
The accommodations and restaurants offer something for everyone. From quaint cottages by the sea to deluxe suites, from million-dollar villas to rustic cottages to own, one visit to Anna Maria Island and you will be calling it, "my island in the sun".
Anna Maria Island was discovered by the local Timucan and Caloosan American Indian tribes, and later, by Spanish explorers (including Hernando DeSoto) in the name of the Spanish Crown. Hernando de Soto and his crew entered the mouth of Tampa Bay, north of Anna Maria Island, in May, 1539, passing it by to make their landfall on the mainland.
In 1892, George Emerson Bean became the first permanent resident on the Island, homesteading much of what is now the City of Anna Maria. After Bean's death in 1898, the land's ownership transferred to his son, George Wilhelm Bean, who partnered with Charles Roser, a wealthy real estate developer from St. Petersburg, to form the Anna Maria Beach Company in order to develop the area. The company laid out streets, built sidewalks and houses, and installed a water system.
Laid-back and natural, Anna Maria Island awaits – a mere 20 minutes from Bradenton. A seven-mile strip of beautiful white-sand beaches line this barrier island between the turquoise Gulf of Mexico and peninsular Florida. Also found here, at the southern mouth of Tampa Bay, are the cities of Bradenton Beach, Anna Maria and Holmes Beach. Strict regulations govern the type of buildings and businesses allowed on the island, but excellent dining – seafood, of course! – is very much encouraged. Come visit – you well might feel as though you have journeyed back in time. |
