Bradenton-Sarasota's well-being ranked the best in U.S.

MANATEE -- It doesn't take a poll or index to convince John and Marilyn Howard, who have lived in Bradenton for 27 years, that the Bradenton-Sarasota area is the best place in the nation to find contentment and peace of mind.

"I think the people are wonderful here," said Marilyn Howard, executive director of the Manatee Community Foundation. "They are friendly. I find them to be warm and accepting. Ultimately, it's the people who make a community."

The Howards' convictions are now backed up by a major Gallup survey.

The Bradenton-Sarasota-North Port metropolitan area has recorded the No. 1 Well-Being Index score among the 100 most populous communities in the U.S., according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index.

Joining the area in the top five were Honolulu; Raleigh, N.C.; Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, Calif., and El Paso, Texas.

No other Florida areas made the Top 10.

The score is based on the "five essential elements of well-being," which include residents liking what they do; having supportive relationships and love in their life; managing economic needs in a way that reduces stress; liking where you live; feeling safe; and having good health and energy," according to Gallup.

"Manatee County has a unique location conducive to physical activity," said Luz Corcuera, community health director with the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County. "We're close to the most beautiful beaches in the country, many public parks, Robinson Preserve, downtown Riverwalk and, of course, we are blessed with great weather all year round.

"We are also fortunate to have access to local grown products to increase our daily servings of fresh fruit and vegetables," Corcuera added.

The community has become more interested and invested in the creation of community gardens, local farmers' markets and home-grown containers.

"There are great partnerships aligning with the extension service, the county government, the school district, the faith-based community and DOH-Manatee to supportive community based initiatives that focus on prevention and education, to address our need for access to healthy/nutritious food," Corcuera said.

The index results are based on more than 176,000 interviews with U.S. adults across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, conducted from January through December 2014. The Bradenton-Sarasota area's index score was 64.1, with 100 being the highest score.

Manatee County spokesman Nick Azzara and his wife, Tiffany, have two young sons, Andrew, 4, and Matthew, 1. They feel they are raising their family in the perfect place for health and wellness.

"We live close to G.T. Bray Park and our little boys love playing on the playground," said Nick Azzara, who moved to Manatee County in 2005 and became the county spokesman in 2008. "We love the beaches, and we go in the morning before it gets too hot. For the money, you can't find a better place on earth than Manatee County."

One of the couple's best memories is getting married at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Bradenton in November and the weather being fantastic.

"The family all came in and couldn't believe how nice it was here," Nick Azzara said..

John Howard, 77, is retired from, among other things, being headmaster at St. Stephen's Episcopal School. Being retired in Bradenton and Sarasota carries a lot less stress because the weather is nice and there are many activities to separate the retiree from his or her time, Marilyn Howard said.

"He spends a lot of time taking our dog, Maggie, to the dog park in Creekwood, which is beautiful," Marilyn Howard said. "He's also a great griller and picks up supplies at the Chop Shop on Manatee Avenue West and Fresh Market."

Having a high well-being index means several things, according to Gallup research, including:

Residents exercise more frequently and are less likely to be obese.

They feel safe where they live.

They are more likely to have basic access to food and health care.

They are able to use their strengths and learn new things.

This story was originally published April 8, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Bradenton-Sarasota's well-being ranked the best in U.S.."