Charlotte Town Profiles
Charlotte County Town Profiles
Port Charlotte - Punta Gorda - Englewood Area
Charlotte County Profile
First settled by Hernando Desoto in 1536, Charlotte County was recently voted Money Magazine?s ?Best place to live in the South.? And it?s no wonder. This unique harbor and beach community and its barrier islands are easy to get to from Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers. Once you arrive, you have access to129 square miles of sparkling waters and aquatic preserves. 12 miles of soft, sandy beaches. Thousands of plant species. Hundreds of hiking trails. An Abundance of marine life. A Federal wildlife refuge. Clean air. Warm sunshine. And a very special brand of old-fashioned tranquility. Come discover Florida the way it used to be.
Englewood: Located on the Lemon Bay, off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, Englewood remains one of Florida?s best-kept secrets. Englewood is a beach community which thrives on its nature parks, cultural events, beaches, fishing, and more.
Don Pedro Island State Recreation Area: This is one of the most popular destinations among eco-tourists exploring the Gulf of Mexico. It is a private, unspoiled barrier island featuring seven miles of tropical, sandy white beaches enhanced by crystal green waters. Dolphin sightings are not uncommon, and game fishing is popular along with year-round swimming and shelling.
Placida: If you?re looking for adventure, this secluded Gulf Coast community hosts any number of fun-in-the-sun pursuits. Placida is also offers excellent catch-of-the-day dining and charming home-away-from-home accommodations.
Little Gasparilla Island: Situated on the Gulf of Mexico, this barrier island is home to world-class fishing and just about any other water sport you and your family might be interested in.
Location: Nestled along Florida?s Southwest Gulf Coast, between Sarasota and Naples, about 100 miles south of Tampa.
Geography: Charlotte County provides some of the most beautiful natural settings Florida has to offer, with numerous upland and aquatic preserve areas to explore. Charlotte Harbor includes one of the world?s largest protected marine estuaries encompassing 270 square miles with 219 miles of natural shoreline. Charlotte Harbor/Gasparilla Sound Aquatic Preserve comprises nearly 80,000 acres of some of the most pristine and productive coastal areas in the state and a unique network of barrier islands and mangrove forests. For more information on the Preserve and a map, click here.
Regions: Vacation destinations include the barrier island community of Boca Grande; the historic city of Punta Gorda; Englewood; Port Charlotte; Little Gasparilla Island; Don Pedro Island; Manasota Key; Cape Haze; the picturesque fishing and arts village of Placida; and Palm Island, with its serene beaches accessible by ferry.
Climate: At 5 to 25 feet above sea level, Charlotte County enjoys a climate characterized as sub-tropic where extremes of temperature in both summer and winter are checked by the tempering influence of the Gulf of Mexico. Prevailing winds are an easterly average of 12-18 mph.
Seasons: Winter: January-March. At certain peaks, winter residents increase the population by 30%. April-December is considered low season. During this time, Floridians increase their visits to the area.
Lodging: A wide range of accommodations is available, designed to suit all price and style requirements. Options include hotels, motels, B&B?s, resort properties, RV recreation areas, and condo and home rentals.
Restaurants: Fresh seafood is abundant and the area boasts a wide selection of ethnic foods including French, Italian, Japanese, Thai, and Mexican. All-American cuisine is also in plentiful supply.
Beaches: Over twelve miles of sandy Gulf beaches share the coastline with the mangrove forests of Charlotte Harbor.
Golf: Choose from over sixteen magnificent courses throughout Charlotte County. Courses range from executive to championship level, each with scenic vistas and spectacular landscapes.
Attractions: Charlotte County features over 70 parks and recreational areas. Take a unique wildlife buggy tour through the silent beauty of an untouched cypress swamp. Set sail on a small boat cruise. Camp out under the stars. Snorkel right off your canoe in the Peace River. Ride a bicycle alongside real Bison at Babcock?s Wilderness Adventure, or come face-to-face with a gopher tortoise on an exhilarating hike through Cedar Point.
Shopping: From waterfront boutiques and malls, to antique fairs and flea markets, there are shopping opportunities for everyone. Historic Fishermen?s Village is a waterfront shopping and dining complex that is an attraction in itself.
Cultural: Local art agencies serve the community by promoting visual arts, theater, dance, music, arts & humanities, and the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra.
Airports: The area boasts four airports strategically located in well-populated areas for travel convenience: The Charlotte County Airport, Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), Southwest Florida International Airport, Ft. Myers, (RSW), and Tampa International Airport (TIA).
Major Access: The Seminole Gulf Railroad has excursion passenger and freight service; Major bus line has a station in Port Charlotte; the Charlotte County Airport has a 6,500 foot lighted runway plus two 5,000 foot runways; and AMTRAK includes bus service to and from Port Charlotte-Tampa train station.
Roads: Interstate-75 through Charlotte County has 22-miles running north/south with five exits (#27 to #31). U.S. 17 ends in Punta Gorda and U.S. 41, the Tamiami Trail, is the main highway running north/south.
Transportation: A variety of services including: auto rentals, taxi & limo service, bus and bicycle rentals.
Mileage from Florida Cities:
? Daytona: 183 miles
? Jacksonville: 238 miles
? Miami: 214 miles
? Orlando:129 miles
? Tampa: 52 miles
Charlotte Harbor & The Gulf Islands is located halfway between Sarasota and Naples on the Southwest Florida Gulf coast. Southwest Florida International Airport, 30 minutes to the south in Ft. Myers, provides convenient flight service. For more information call 1-888-4PUR-FLA.
Don Pedro Island
Don Pedro Island State Recreation Area is a 225-acre park located in the Gulf of Mexico between Palm Island and Little Gasparilla Island. This secluded barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico is accessible only by boat. The island offers an array of shorebirds including terns, plovers and sandpipers, year-round swimming, shelling and fishing. Dockage is available on the bay side of this barrier island, Intercoastal Waterway, green marker #35, Englewood. Amenities include 1 mile of white sandy beach, picnic pavilion, restroom facility, tables and grills and dune boardwalks.
Englewood-Cape Haze
Located on the Lemon Bay, off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, Englewood remains one of Florida's best-kept secrets. Englewood is a beach community which thrives on its nature parks, cultural events, beaches, fishing, and more.
Manasota Key
Two jewels you will find on Manasota Key are Chadwick Park at Englewood Beach and the Stump Pass Beach State Recreation Area. Sparkling water, sandy shores, hidden seashells and a lot of sunshine!
Palm Island
Seven miles of white sandy beach and crystal clear water await you on this retreat away from the world. A car ferry to get there adds to the remote feel of this island getaway.
Placida
If you're looking for adventure, this secluded Gulf Coast community hosts any number of fun-in-the-sun pursuits. Placida is also offers excellent catch-of-the-day dining and charming home-away-from-home accommodations.
Port Charlotte
Port Charlotte, the county's geographical center, is home to the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Charlotte County Historical Center, a waterfront museum featuring changing glimpses into Charlotte's past. Port Charlotte also connects to the charming El Jobean community with its own old-Florida flair.
The only city in Charlotte County, Punta Gorda is about 100 miles south of Tampa on the Gulf Coast between Sarasota and Ft. Myers. The city originally was founded in 1887 on the idea that all the waterfront land would be public parks. That changed when homeowners eventually outvoted the man running the city and started a new destiny for the town by the harbor.
The name Punta Gorda, which means "fat point" when translated from Spanish, was given to the city because a broad part of the land in Punta Gorda juts into Charlotte Harbor. The harbor itself is somewhat unique, as it is the point where the Peace River meets the ocean.
The city is bounded by the harbor on one side and by rural land on the other. That rural land is home to large tracts of citrus, cattle and swamp with ranchettes that produce meat and fruits. The rural land eventually meets up with the borders of North Fort Myers.
The city of Punta Gorda is a rich mix of cultures and age groups, as families, retirees and winter residents share neighborhoods. One of the hallmarks of Punta Gorda is its bountiful offering of clubs, organizations and civic groups.
Civic involvement spills over into city commission meetings, where the town is still small enough for folks to know the mayor on a first-name basis.
Other details about Punta Gorda
- It graduates about 300 students a year from Charlotte High, the oldest high school in the county;
- Other schools include Edison Community College, Punta Gorda Middle School, Sallie Jones Elementary School, East Elementary School.
- Voting records show two-thirds of the area is Republican.
- A good portion of the city is dotted with historic buildings that date back to the early 1900s and give signs of the city's rich history.
