Manatee County, Fla., Near Top of the Hat Heap.(Originated from The Bradenton Herald, Fla.)

BRADENTON, Fla.--Jul. 28--Hang on to your hat when you hear this.

The hat business in Manatee County capped at $3.5 million in gross sales last year.

The figure came from the state Department of Revenue, which won't reveal who sold all those hats.

However, it has Mike Curry scratching his head.

"The number is kind of off somewhere," said Curry, head wear and licensed accessory buyer for Champs Sports, 303 Manatee Ave. W.

Champs buys more hats than any other retailer in the country to supply its 560 stores, said Curry, who would not reveal how many hats the company buys in a year.

However, he did say the hats are bought through the …