Bradenton is one of southwest Florida's oldest cities. It was named for Joseph Braden, an early settler who grew sugar cane and operated a sugar mill. The county's largest city and the county seat, Bradenton is also its center of commerce, government, health and social services, and much of the area's cultural life. Increasingly cosmopolitan in character, the city retains its small-town charm. A number of new residential sections complement older established neighborhoods in both urban and suburban settings. In Manatee County, art, music and theater have strong community support. An active force in developing that support is the Manatee County Cultural Alliance, which promotes the area's cultural resources and publishes an up-to-date calendar of events. The County Art League is a comprehensive center for the visual arts. With three galleries, several classrooms and annual programs offering a variety of exhibition and educational opportunities, the League encourages both enjoyment and participation in the arts. Opportunities to exhibit are shared by amateur and professional artists. The best way to discover Manatee County and Florida is by a trip to Bradenton's South Florida Museum and Bishop Planetarium. History, natural history and archaeological exhibits depict South Florida from the Stone Age to the Space Age. The museum's Mary E. Parker Aquarium is the home of "Snooty," the oldest living manatee born in captivity and the county mascot. Since his arrival at the museum in 1949, the manatee has greeted more than one million visitors. Adjacent to the museum, the Bishop Planetarium features daily star shows, spectacular laser light and sound shows on weekends, and nighttime use of the observatory telescope. Bradenton and nearby Palmetto's easily accessible water makes boating and fishing popular pastimes. The county's boating public is served by 30 marinas and eight boat ramps. In bays, bayous, and along the shores of the Gulf, fishermen find trout, redfish, pompano and flounder. Offshore they go for kingfish, mackerel, grouper and tarpon. Among the public fishing piers are the Anna Maria City Pier at Pine Avenue; the Bradenton Beach Fishing Pier at Bridge Street; Manatee Beach Fishing Pier on Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach; and the Rod 'n' Reel Pier on Bay Boulevard in Anna Maria. The Bradenton area represents natural Florida because it has not suffered many of the negative effects of Florida's booming growth. The best example of the area's unspoiled nature is the broad sweeps of white sand beaches unmarred by high rise condominiums or hotels. The beaches feature the Gulf of Mexico's emerald waters bordered by tall, shady Australian Pines. Serene natural beauty and breathtaking Gulf views give Bradenton and the Gulf Islands a kick back and relax style all their own - the perfect setting for a rejuvenating, carefree vacation.