If you took a tour with Palmetto Mayor Larry Bustle of the growing city north of the Manatee River, you would see and hear the pride in his voice as he describes all the new projects under way.
But as the tour winds its way through the established neighborhoods, past the Manatee County Agricultural Museum and Palmetto Historical Park and onto Main Street, his speech slows and a more emotional feeling comes out.
"This is the crown jewel of our city," Bustle said recently during one of those tours.
Although Palmetto has been experiencing rapid growth just as the rest of Manatee County, the mayor described how the city has maintained its small-town charm.
"Palmetto was always an attractive place," he said. "It's a quiet, little town."
But the "little town" moniker belies the progressive steps the city commission has taken over the years to make Palmetto a destination venue for new residents and businesses.
In the past five years, more than 540 acres have been annexed into the city. To the north, the former Manatee Fruit Co. citrus groves will be converted into a residential and commercial development. On the east side along the Manatee River, Sanctuary Cove will become a community of canal-side homes.
These future developments follow a trend that started with the Palms of Terra Ceia condominium high-rise community developed in the mid-1980s and the Riviera Dunes complex of single-family homes, multi-story condominiums and commercial buildings in the mid-1990s.
"Palmetto is attracting many newcomers because of its proximity to Tampa and St. Petersburg," Bustle said.
The 2-square-mile city is just south of Interstate 275, which leads to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay to St. Petersburg.
Interstate 75 is about 3 miles to the east of Palmetto, which zips residents north to jobs and activities in Brandon and Tampa or south to Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota.
The city is growing. The U.S. Census estimates the Palmetto population in 2006 at 14,500, up more than 1,500 from 2000.
Not all of the growth is new development on annexed parcels along the city's perimeters. Bustle indicated his excitement about the redevelopment planned along 10th Avenue West.
City commissioners recently heard a proposal for a city block of new storefronts, with residential units above them, on the street that runs from the Manatee River north past the historical park, Palmetto Library and elementary school.
"Tenth Avenue is ripe for redevelopment," Bustle said. "This proposed mixed-use project will be real important for the rest of 10th Avenue."
This is the area the mayor called "the crown jewel."
It builds on the history of the city, old and new, blending to create a livable city.
Settled in 1851 by the Joseph Atzeroth family, Palmetto became a city on July 1, 1897.
Since then, Palmetto has grown from a citrus and vegetable market town to a diverse residential and industrial city.
Quick facts
Zip Codes: 34220, 34221
Nearby: Rubonia, Terra Ceia and Ellenton, South Skyway Fishing Pier, Port Manatee, Airport Manatee
Carl's picks
Nighttime: Riverside Cafe, 955 Riverside Drive. (941) 729-4402
A great place along the river's edge to have a cold one while listening to live island beat music.
Restaurant: Mangrove Grill, 102 Riviera Dunes Way. (941) 723-2556
For a touch of that Florida-Caribbean cuisine, relax marinaside at this popular eatery.
Walk: Palmetto Trail, starting at Sutton Park. (941) 723-4570
Take a leisurely stroll or ride your bike through older, quiet westside neighborhoods and end up at Emerson Point Preserve.
Hangout: Heritage Park and Manatee County Agriculture Museum, 1015 Sixth St. W. (941) 723-4991 and (941) 721-2034
The restored historical buildings give you a sense of what the pioneer Palmetto families had to endure to settle along the river.
Great escape: Palmetto Public Library, 923 Sixth St. W. (941) 722-3333
Discover who founded Palmetto or curl up in a comfortable chair to read a novel.
