Parrish, Florida, is an unincorporated community in Manatee County. It is in the Sarasota-Bradenton area of southwestern Florida. Today, Parrish is home to gated golf course communities and modern subdivisions.

History

A couple of veterans of the Third Seminole War, Capt. William Hooker and William Johnson, raised cotton on land acquired from the federal government in 1850. Subsequently, the land was acquired by Maj. William Turner in 1867. He named the plantation "Oak Hill," and a settlement eventually grew up around it.

The early community was also called Oak Hill, and the name was eventually changed to Parrish. Crawford Parrish had settled in the county in 1869. He bought land from Turner and grew tobacco and food crops here. He also planted citrus orchards and raised livestock. He was instrumental in getting a train depot built here, and fruit was then more easily shipped to Bradenton and other cities.

Parks and Recreation

Just to the south of Parrish is one of Florida's oldest and biggest parks. Myakka River State Park includes a mix of dry prairies, pine forests, wetlands and hammocks. Anglers, canoeists and kayakers enjoy the two lakes situated within the park. A safari tram tour is offered on a seasonal basis, and the tram transports intrepid visitors into the back country. There are five depression-era palm log cabins that are available for rent.

Attraction and Activities

Those that invest in Parrish FL real estate will have the Florida Railroad Museum to enjoy. Diesel train excursions are offered on the weekends. The facility is open year-round. The locomotive rental concept is novel. The engineer gives hands-on training to a prospective "engineer" that is then able to take the controls of the locomotive for an hour.

The River Wilderness Golf and Country Club offers 18 holes of championship golf in a gated community in Parrish. The golf course borders the Manatee River, and the 27,000 sq-ft clubhouse offers numerous additional leisure opportunities.

Events

The popularity of tourism in the area fuels interest in festivals and other special events. The Sarasota Film Festival has grown to the point that it screens over 200 films each year during its ten-day run in January. Palmetto hosts the Manatee County Fair each year. Those that own Parrish real estate will have many cultural events to choose from as well.

Parrish FL homes of many types are available for the prospective Parrish home buyer to consider. The homes for sale in Parrish include luxurious estates along lush fairways in gated communities. At the same time, affordable ranch-style Parrish homes for sale may meet the needs of some young families and retirees. It is advisable to work with a Parrish real estate agent with good local knowledge to find out about the real estate in Parrish that might best meet one's needs. A Parrish realtor can also show the discriminating buyer custom-designed, luxury Parrish properties.