The boundary lines of Manatee County are as follows: Beginning on the south bank of Tampa Bay where the line between townships thirty-two and thirty-three south strikes said bay; thence east on said township line to where same is intersected by the line dividing ranges twenty-two and twenty-three east; thence south on said range line, known as the Washington line, to the southeast corner of township thirty-seven south, range twenty-two east; thence west on the township line between townships thirty-seven and thirty-eight south to the southwest corner of township thirty-seven south, range twenty-one east; thence north on the range line between ranges twenty and twenty-one east to the southeast corner of township thirty-five south, range twenty east; thence west on the township line between townships thirty-five and thirty-six south to the Gulf of Mexico; thence northward along the said gulf, including the waters of said gulf within the jurisdiction of the State of Florida, to a point midway between Egmont and Passage Keys; thence in a direct line to the place of beginning.
Fla. Stat. § 7.41