About Anna Maria

Anna Maria is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,503 at the 2010 census. According to the 2018 U.S. Census Bureau's estimates, the city grew slightly to 1,749. The city occupies the northern part of Anna Maria Island and is one of three municipalities on the island. The others are Holmes Beach in the center and Bradenton Beach in the south. Anna Maria is part of the Bradenton–Sarasota–Venice Metropolitan Statistical Area. == Etymology == Ponce de Leon was said to have named the island for Maria Anna von der Pfalz-Neuburg, the queen of Charles II of Spain, the sponsor of his expedition. In the past, pronunciation of the name differed: old timers said "Anna Mar-EYE-a," but most people today say "Anna Mar-EE-a." According to a regional historian of note, Lillian Burns, the daughter of the early land developer, Owen Burns, the correct pronunciation of the name of the island by its early settlers was, an-na ma-rye-a, since it was named for the strong winds occurring in the area, using the German term for the wind, Maria. This pronunciation may be heard in the song, "They Call the Wind Maria", from the musical, Paint Your Wagon. Despite the common legends of the name origins for the city and island, former Tampa Mayor Madison Post named the island for his wife Maria and his sister-in-law Anna.