This Tiny Isolated Florida Village Is One Of The Last Of Its Kind

The other day, we told you about a restaurant with some of the best seafood in Florida, the Star Fish Company Market & Restaurant in Cortez. There was just as much curiosity about the town as there was about the restaurant. For anyone who wants to learn more about this tiny town that seems frozen in time, here’s a little more information:

Cortez is a historic fishing village located on Florida’s west coast, near Bradenton. The town has fewer than 5,000 residents, and many Floridians have never even heard of it.

Google Maps

Visiting Cortez is like stepping back in time. It’s one of the few authentic fishing villages left in Florida, and it was founded in the 1880s by settlers from North Carolina.

Flickr/psyberartist

The original structures built by these settlers are still standing and selling fresh-caught seafood, and their descendants are still living and working in this historic town.

Flickr/Jim Mullhaupt

The Star Fish Market & Restaurant is a huge draw for folks in the area looking for delicious fresh seafood and a real Old Florida experience.

Flickr/Carol VanHook

The town’s largest event is the Cortez Commercial Fishing Festival. It takes place over two days in February and draws 20,000 people.

Flickr/r chelseth

Why visit? Well, besides the incredible seafood? If you want a glimpse of Florida the way it looked 100 years ago, this tiny town — and its working waterfront — is one of the few places you can do just that.

Flickr/creativelenna

Have you ever visited Cortez? What’s your favorite town to visit to experience Old Florida charm?