Braenton is a city in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's 2006 population at 53,986. Bradenton is the largest Principal City of the Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 682,833. It is the county seat of Manatee County. Bradenton is pronounced BRAY-din-tin.