Stump Grinding Services in Bradenton, FL

A settlement established by Maroons or escaped slaves named Angola existed in Bradenton’s present area starting in the late 1700s and ending in 1821. It is believed to been spread out between the Manatee River (then known as Oyster River) all the way to Sarasota Bay. The community is estimated to have had 600-750 residents in it. Angola was a rather large maroon settlement as the Manatee River at that time was too shallow for US Navy vessels to navigate. The settlement would be abandoned after the Creeks who were aligned with Andrew Jackson attacked Angola.

When the United States annexed Florida in 1821, there were two known claimants of land in the vicinity of Bradenton but none of them were confirmed by the US federal government.

Josiah Gates along with his family and eight slaves would move to the area where present day Bradenton exists in January 1842 after being attracted to the area for its natural beauty. Gates also thought the area would be a popular place for new settlers to arrive at because it was near Fort Brooke; and he also figured that while they were building there homes they would need a place to stay at temporarily. He would build his home near present-day 15th Street East and his inn at another location naming it Gates House. Gates is also credited as being the first known American settler in present-day Manatee County.