With its increasing population of 157,536, southwest Florida’s Charlotte County is a diverse and delightful area. You have your choice of pristine beaches, historic downtowns or rural farmlands. The area offers a thriving industry, top-notch schools and first-class entertainment. The outdoor recreational opportunities are limitless, and you can enjoy them all year round. But there is also a wealth of shopping, dining and cultural possibilities to be enjoyed. Come visit Charlotte County. You may decide to stay.
Location
Charlotte County is the one and only county in the Punta Gorda Metropolitan Statistical Area, and its county seat is Punta Gorda. It is located in southwest Florida on the Gulf of Mexico, between Lee County to the south and Sarasota County to the northwest. It has DeSoto County to the north, Highlands County to the northeast, Glades County to the east, and Hendry County to the southeast.
Geography/Terrain
With a total area of 859 square miles, Charlotte County encompasses 694 square miles of land and 166 square miles of water. It sits at 5 to 25 feet above sea level. The major bodies of water are Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico, as well as the Peace and Myakka Rivers. The terrain includes beaches, mangrove forests, aquatic and wilderness preserves.
Distance to 3 closest major cities
Located approximately 100 miles south of Tampa, Charlotte County is 160 miles northwest of Miami and 120 miles southwest of Orlando.
Jobs
Currently one of the most rapidly growing counties in the state, Charlotte County offers exceptional opportunities for new and developing businesses. The major employers in the County are: Charlotte County School Board; Southside Virginia Community College; County of Charlotte; Cardinal Homes; Appomattox River Manufacturing; Britthaven of Keysville; Tate Lumber Company; United Parcel Service Ltd; Curtis Tharpe Trucking; and Morgan Lumber Company Ltd.
Educational, health and social services provide 21.6% of the employment in the county, retail trade provides 17.6%, arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services provide 10.6%, and construction provides 10.6%. The unemployment rate in the county is 5.0% and the average commute time is 23.6 minutes. The median household income in the county is $37,469.
Housing
This is a fantastic time to buy a home in Charlotte County. There are plenty to choose from, with the current profusion of homes on the market, both new and older. It is a buyer’s market, with homes are on the market for an average of 3 to 6 months. Scenic canals and estuaries often surround the many single-family neighborhoods in the county. In recent years, townhouses, villas, and low-rise condominiums have been attractively added to the area, providing additional and attractive residential options.
Parks/Sports/Recreation/Golf
Charlotte County offers superlative boating, fishing, and sailing opportunities. You can enjoy a variety of nature explorations, such as paddling on hundreds of miles of Blueways trails, exploring any of the five National Wildlife Refuges or bird watching.
There are 70 parks and recreation areas in the county, four state facilities, and one federal wildlife refuge. You can walk the trail through Kiwanis Park in Port Charlotte, enjoying a delightful variety of wildlife. The Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park is the 4th largest state park, and home to the Old Datsun Trail.
Babcock/Webb Wildlife Management Area encompasses 124 square miles of the largest undisturbed pine flatwoods in southwest Florida.
For water recreational activities, the county offers 12.5 miles of Gulf coast beaches, 15 public beach access sites, 28 marinas, and 13 boat ramps. Charlotte County boasts some of Florida’s most spectacular, yet least-crowded beaches. Englewood Beach is Charlotte County's only gulf beach. For privacy and seclusion, the beach at Stump Pass, a state recreation area, located just past Englewood Beach is best. At Boca Grande, a beach just outside the county, dolphins can often be seen from the beach, and it’s a great spot for snorkelers. This beach is most like the Caribbean beaches.
There are 365 miles of canals throughout the county, both fresh and salt water. You can canoe or kayak along the 53 Blueway Trails which extend for 197.8 miles throughout Charlotte Harbor. Charlotte Harbor itself encompasses 270 square miles. Fed by the Peace and Myakka rivers, it is the 17th largest estuary in the nation and the 2nd largest estuary in Florida. The 105-mile long Peace River is one of the longest rivers in the state.
Fourteen of the parks are equipped to offer a variety of activities, such as fishing, swimming, shuffleboard, basketball, baseball, football, playgrounds and nature trails. Port Charlotte Athletic Complex in Kiwanis Park is equipped with a full indoor basketball court, five baseball fields, volleyball and tennis courts, horseshoes, playground and indoor meeting rooms. Carmalita Athletic Complex has three baseball fields and one football field.
Golf Digest has rated Charlotte County the third on their list of the best golf cities. There are approximately 65 courses in the area, from public to executive courses, championship courses and exclusive country clubs. All the courses have magnificent views and can be played throughout the year. This area is truly a golfer’s paradise.
Special Attractions/Events
Art galleries, festivals and exhibits abound in Charlotte County. There is a professional symphony orchestra and theatrical productions providing year round artistic and cultural experiences. Museums such as the Charlotte County Historical Center and the African-American museum offer insight into the area’s rich past. You can visit downtown Punta Gorda, with its unique historic areas and delightful charm.
You can shop and dine to your heart’s content at Fishermen’s Village, or attend some the special events held there, such as the Mote Marine Exhibit, the Antique Auto Show and the Fine Arts and Crafts Show. You can hear a jazz concert, or take in some racing at the Charlotte County Speedway. You can enjoy big name performers at the Center for Performing Arts or attend a Paul Gaughin Art Festival. And of course, there is a full range of shops and restaurants to meet every need and taste.
There are a vast number of sporting special events happening throughout the year. Some of these include: Oberto Redfish Cup Fishing Tournament; Big Air Dogs Competition; Iron Fish Professional Cooking Competition; Cardboard Boat Races; Kids Cup Fishing Tournament; Golden Gloves Boxing Championship; Port Charlotte Softball Invitational; Harlem Ambassadors Basketball Performance; Florida International Airshow; and the Charlotte Harbor Kayak & Wildlife Festival.
Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places
Charlotte County has received numerous accolades, such as, "the Number Two Best Place to Live in America", the "Number One Best Place to Live in the South" and one of "America's Best Places to Sail."
Established on April 23, 1921, Charlotte Harbor was named for the Bay of Charlotte Harbor. In 1565, the Spanish named "Carlos Bay." In 1775 the English named the area Charlotte Harbor in tribute to the Queen Charlotte Sophia, wife of King George III. Punta Gorda remains the only incorporated city in the county.
The Spanish are said to have named the Peace River in 1544 as Rio de la Paz, "river of peace."
On August 13, 2004, Hurricane Charley came ashore near Port Charlotte, and devastated Charlotte County. But the county has come back stronger and better than ever!
- NUMBER1EXPERT™ 
