Holmes Beach

Holmes Beach is a city on Anna Maria Island in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,966 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 5,100. It is part of the Bradenton - Sarasota - Venice Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city occupies the central part of Anna Maria Island and is one of three municipalities on the island. The others are Bradenton Beach in the south and Anna Maria in the north.HistoryHolmes Beach was named for John E. Holmes, Sr., the property developer who started this planned community after World War II.GeographyHolmes Beach is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.7sqmi, of which 1.6sqmi is land and 0.1sqmi is water.Key RoyaleIncluded in the city limits is the adjacent bayside island of Key Royale, formerly known as School Key. It was uninhabited until 1960, when a bridge was built joining it to the Holmes Beach section of Anna Maria Island; development then began.