Celebrate Palmetto’s 125th Anniversary
On July 1, 2022, the City of Palmetto is celebrating their 125th Anniversary as a city. All are invited Friday, July 1 at the Palmetto Historical Park, 515 10th Avenue West from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. There will be crafts, family activities, historical tours, food and drink vendors and special anniversary cupcakes.
The City was founded by Samuel S. Lamb and he named it Palmetto after South Carolina (the Palmetto State) where he was born. Additional families moved to the area, bringing supplies, mules and horses. A post office was established, people opened mercantile stores, and farmers utilized the Manatee River to transport their produce. Only a few families lived in Palmetto but progress was being made. The first City Charter was signed on July 1, 1897. Palmetto’s first elected government included P.S. Harllee, as Mayor; C.E. McNeill, City Clerk; John Wright, Marshal; and S.S. Lamb, J.K. Parrish, J.W. Willis as aldermen. Once officially established as a city, Palmetto had to keep strict records of taxes collected, monies spent and official acts undertaken. One of the first acts of the city council was to order the town be cleaned up. The first sanitation ordinances were passed and violations carried a stiff fine of $100 and 60 days in jail.
“Palmetto has seen many changes over the past 125 years but we are proud to maintain our small town appeal,”
said Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant. “Join us for the 125th anniversary on Friday, July 1, 2022 as we celebrate our past and look forward to our exciting future.” She encouraged everyone to come again Monday evening for the 4th of July extravaganza in Sutton Park.
