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In 1855 the area south of the mouth of Tampa Bay became Manatee County, named after the gentle sea cow or "mermaid" that frequents the waters of Manatee County. Farmers, cattle ranchers and citrus growers cleared the land and settled in. Agricultural remains an important part of the Manatee County's economy. It ranks in nation's top ten counties in the production of watermelons and tomatoes. In its beginning, narrow roads connected Manatee County to Sarasota, Tampa and the rest of the state. All commerce came through Tampa with its deep water port until Port Manatee was built making it the closest U.S. port to the Panama Canal. The Sunshine Skyway Bridge now connects Manatee County to St. Petersburg and Interstate 75 connects it through Tampa to the rest of the state.