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About the Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte and North Port, Florida Area Request my Free Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte and North Port Relocation Package. It's packed full of useful and important information about the Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte and North Port, Florida area. Don't move here without it! Remember: I'll send it to you for free and without obligation. Just fill out the form and I will send it right out... It's my job to know EVERYTHING about Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte and North Port! Ask me any question. Or request a FREE information package. There's no obligation, and I promise to get back to you quickly...Punta Gorda, FloridaFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Punta Gorda is a city in Charlotte County, Florida, United States. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 16,762. It is the county seat of Charlotte County and the only incorporated municipality in the county. Punta Gorda is the principal city of the Punta Gorda, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area and is a principal city of the Sarasota-Bradenton-Punta Gorda Combined Statistical Area, which was first defined by OMB bulletin 07-01, released in December 2006. Punta Gorda was the scene of massive destruction after Hurricane Charley, a Category 4 hurricane, came through the city on August 13, 2004. Charley was the most destructive tropical system to hit Florida since Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
Punta Gorda occupies a point where the Peace River meets Charlotte Harbor. The first settlers, the Howard brothers, came to Charlotte Harbor in the late 19th century, about a decade after the close of the American Civil War. The rate of growth in the area hasn¡¯t changed much since then. Less than ten years after the first settlements in the area, railroads rolled into town, and with them came the first land developers and Southwest Florida¡¯s first batch of tourists. Punta Gorda became the southernmost stop on the South Florida Railroad, attracting the industries which propelled its initial growth. One man drawn to the area was George Brown, an African-American shipbuilder and landowner, who became one of Punta Gorda¡¯s founding fathers. In 1887, just 12 years after the first settlers trekked to Charlotte Harbor, 34 men, 4 of whom were African-American, met at Hector¡¯s Billiard Parlor and Drugstore to discuss incorporation. Once Punta Gorda was officially incorporated, mayoral elections took place and a council was formed. Four of the five council members elected were not American citizens, and the remaining councilman was a native of Florida, Albert Gilchrist. In 1890, the first postmaster of Punta Gorda was appointed. Robert Meacham, an African-American, was appointed by jilted lawyer Isaac Trabue as a deliberate affront to the Southern mentalities of the original community. Trabue had come to Punta Gorda to create his own town, named after himself. When the founders incorporated Punta Gorda without Trabue, he vowed revenge. Trabue eventually left the area and returned to his home in Kentucky. Early Punta Gorda greatly resembled the modern social climate of various classes living together and working together. While the regal Punta Gorda Hotel, at one point partly owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt, reflected the upper class, Punta Gorda was a pretty tough town, as most frontier towns were. In the early days, Punta Gorda¡¯s location at the end of the railway line made it a popular destination for some pretty shady characters, resulting in around 40 murders between 1890 and 1904. In 1925, a bungalow was built by Joseph Blanchard, an African-American sea captain and fisherman. The Blanchard House still stands as a museum, representing middle-class African-American life in the area. Exhibits cover political, civic and religious life; founding families; education; and the Civil Rights Movement through vintage photos, newspaper clippings and family heirlooms. The Blanchard House and Museum of African American History and Culture of Charlotte County highlights the community that thrived from the town's founding until integration led residents to move away and businesses to close. In addition to exhibits, the museum will serve as a community center with a library of books by black writers, a book club, seminars on African-American history and culture, and leadership classes. Punta Gorda in the 20th century still maintained steady growth. Charlotte County was formed in 1921 after DeSoto County was split. Also in 1921, the first bridge was constructed connecting Punta Gorda and Charlotte Harbor along the brand-new Tamiami Trail. This small bridge was replaced by the Barron Collier Bridge in 1931, and then by the current bridge crossing the Peace River. GeographyPunta Gorda is located at DemographicsAs of the census of 2000, there were 14,344 people, 7,165 households, and 5,187 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,012.8/sq mi (391.1/km©÷). There were 8,907 housing units at an average density of 628.9/sq mi (242.9/km©÷). The racial makeup of the city was 94.60% White, 3.17% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.78% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.99% of the population. There were 7,165 households out of which 8.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.8% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.6% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.27. In the city the population was spread out with 8.2% under the age of 18, 2.1% from 18 to 24, 9.9% from 25 to 44, 33.4% from 45 to 64, and 46.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 64 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males. The median income for a household in the city was $48,916, and the median income for a family was $54,879. Males had a median income of $34,054 versus $26,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $32,460. About 4.7% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.  Port Charlotte, FloridaFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Port Charlotte is a census-designated place (CDP) in Charlotte County, Florida, United States. The population was 46,451 at the 2000 census. GeographyPort Charlotte is located at According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 23.9 square miles (61.9 km©÷). 22.3 square miles (57.8 km©÷) of it is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km©÷) of it (6.66%) is water. HistoryThe Port Charlotte area was largely platted and developed by the now-defunct General Development Corporation, which also developed many other subdivisions and municipalities along Florida's west coast. Port Charlotte is not a chartered municipality, but the most-populated area in Charlotte County. Port Charlotte was hard hit by Hurricane Charley on August 13, 2004. The hurricane, predicted to hit Tampa, took a last-minute hard right turn into Charlotte Harbor and caused severe damage in the city of Punta Gorda and in the Port Charlotte area. Many residents were caught by surprise because of many false alarms in recent years. In the wake of Hurricane Charley, Port Charlotte faces the challenge of finding affordable housing for its service-industry workforce. With many homes and apartments destroyed or damaged beyond repair, many low-income residents who have lived in the area for years have been forced to seek housing elsewhere. As of 2005, property values have doubled and tripled in many areas in less than three years, especially in the wake of speculation following Hurricane Charley. However, in 2006, property values fell greatly in a statewide "market correction" now leaving Charlotte County and the Port Charlotte area one of the most affordable coastal areas in Florida. Unfortunately, as of a report in October 2007; Charlotte County also has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state. Water wars in the area are common between municipalities and counties, all fighting for a dwindling supply from local water management districts, wellfields, and the Peace River. Port Charlotte has experienced a tremendous boom in land values between 2003 and 2005. About 800 acres of old platted lots in a portion of central Port Charlotte have been taken by the county via eminent domain and will be developed into a big mixed-use development by Kitson and Partners, who was also awarded the contract with the State of Florida and Charlotte County to develop the Babcock Ranch Project. GovernmentThe county is governed by a 5-person county commission. They take turns rotating into the commission chair position every year. County commissioners frequently sit on other regional boards involving other municipalities and counties. DemographicsAs of the census of 2000, there were 46,451 people, 20,453 households, and 13,601 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 2,085.9/sq mi (805.3/km©÷). There were 23,315 housing units at an average density of 1,047.0/sq mi (404.2/km©÷). The racial makeup of the CDP was 89.23% White, 6.53% African American, 0.28% Native American, 1.14% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.18% from other races, and 1.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.16% of the population. There were 20,453 households out of which 20.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.71. In the CDP the population was spread out with 18.7% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 30.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.2 males. The median income for a household in the CDP was $33,193, and the median income for a family was $38,406. Males had a median income of $29,019 versus $21,892 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,563. About 7.3% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over. The Herald Tribune stated in an article October 11, 2007, Charlotte County had the region¡¯s highest unemployment rate at 5.8 percent in August, outstripping both the national and state averages.
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