Cortez in Manatee County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Welcome to Cortez/Bienvenido a Cortez
Photographed by McGhiever, April 3, 2026
1. Welcome to Cortez/Bienvenido a Cortez Marker
Cortez has been a commercial fishing village since 1888, when a handful of families came here from Carteret County, North Carolina.
Today the unincorporated community of Cortez is less than two square miles and has a population of almost 5,000. It has managed to stay true to its roots thanks to its two remaining fish houses: Cortez Bait and Seafood (owned by John Banyas, a member of the Taylor family) and A.P. Bell Fish Company, Inc. (owned by the Bell family). Members of both families are descended from early pioneer settlers.
When you look at Cortez on a world map, its tiny footprint is barely visible. Yet the village has a broad world-wide reach - extending as far as Russia - since local fish houses distribute products from over seventy-eight commercial fisheries near its shores.
This sign is one of five located around Cortez. Each one shares a little piece of history or a glimpse behind the scenes at the village's way of life. Scan the QR code in the map to visit them and see other points of interest.
To hear first-person stories from commercial fishing industry workers in Cortez, scan the QR codeat the bottom right.
Click or scan to see
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Hoy, la comunidad no incorporada de Cortez abarca menos de dos millas cuadradas y tiene una población de casi 5,000. Ha logrado mantenerse fiel a sus raíces gracias a sus dos casas de peces restrantes: Cortez Bait and Seafood (propiedad de John Banyas, miembro de la familia Taylor) y A.P. Bell Fish Company, Inc. (propiedad de la familia Bell). Miembros de ambas familias descienden de los primeros colonos pioneros.
Cuanda miras a Cortez en un mapa mundial, su diminute huella es apenas visible. Sin embargo, el pueblo tiene un amplio alcance mundial, que se extiende a tan lejos como Rusia, y que las pescaderías locales distrubuyen productos a más de setente y ocho pesquerías comerciales cerca de sus costas.
Este letrero es uno de los cinco ubicados alrededor de Cortez. Cada uno comparte un pedacito de historia o un deslumbrar de la vida del pueblo. Escanea el código QR en el mapa para visitarlos y ver otros puntos de interés.
Para escuchar en primera personahistorias de trabajadores comerciales de la industria Pesquera en Cortez, escanea el código QR en la parte inferior derecha.Photographed by McGhiever, April 3, 20262. Welcome to Cortez/Bienvenido a Cortez Marker south of the Florida Maritime Museum
Erected by the Florida Maritime Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1888.
Location. 27° 28.05′ N, 82° 40.84′ W. Marker is in Cortez, Florida, in Manatee County. It can be reached from 119th Street W. south of Cortez Road (Florida Highway 684), on the left when traveling south. The marker is just south of the Florida Maritime Museum, at the edge of the parking lot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4415 119th Street W, Cortez FL 34215, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast and on Tampa Bay. It is also in the American South and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The 1890 Bratton Store / The 1912 Cortez Rural Graded Schoolhouse (a few steps from this marker); A Century of Community/Un siglo de comunidad (within shouting distance of this marker); Robert Sailors Artistic Haven/Refugio artístico de Robert Sailors (within shouting distance of this marker); The Burton/Bratton Store / La Tienda de Burton/Bratton (within shouting distance of this marker); Propeller from the 1892 Steamboat 'Mistletoe' (within shouting distance of this marker); Pillsbury Boatshop/Pillsbury Tienda de Barcos (within shouting distance of this marker); Pillsbury Boatshop (within shouting distance of this marker); Seminole Chickee (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cortez.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 27, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
