Bradenton (pronounced /breɪdəntən/ bray-den-ton) is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's 2007 population to be 53,471. Bradenton is the largest Principal City of the Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2007 estimated population of 682,833. It is the county seat. The area that would become Bradenton was first explored in 1539 by Hernando De Soto, who began his search for the legendary El Dorado at Shaw's Point. The original town of Bradentown was incorporated on May 19, 1903.