Port Charlotte

 Port Charlotte is located on Southwest Florida’s coast, south of Sarasota and to the north of Fort Myers. It lies on the north side of the Peace River and Charlotte Harbor. This relatively new community, developed in the late 1950’s, covers an area of 23.9 square miles, and is the site of miles of man-made waterways accessing Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico. Charlotte County’s miles of natural shoreline along the Peace and Myakka Rivers, along with these man-made waterways make for an ideal place for waterfront living.

Port Charlotte is not a chartered municipality, but it is the most-populated area in Charlotte County. According to the 2000 census Port Charlotte has a population of 46,451. It has experienced a vast increase in land values over the last few years, with properties doubling or, in some cases, even tripling their value.

Port Charlotte has a healthy economy and a skilled labor force. The American Demographics Magazine projects a 55% increase in manufacturing jobs in Charlotte County through 2007. Development of commercial properties is also on the increase, with development currently underway in central Port Charlotte. The area has twenty five shopping centers offering 4 million square feet of retail space, and Charlotte County also boasts 14 industrial parks with more than 3.8 million square feet of industrial/warehouse space.