Port Charlotte, Florida

Port Charlotte, Florida
Census-designated place
Port Charlotte Beach
Port Charlotte Beach
Location in Charlotte County and the state of Florida
Location in Charlotte County and the state of Florida
Interactive map of Port Charlotte, Florida
Coordinates: 26°59′25″N 82°06′48″W / 26.99028°N 82.11333°W / 26.99028; -82.11333
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountyCharlotte
Area
32.34 sq mi (83.76 km2)
 • Land28.48 sq mi (73.76 km2)
 • Water3.86 sq mi (9.99 km2)
Elevation
10 ft (3.0 m)
Population
 (2020)
60,625
 • Density2,128.7/sq mi (821.88/km2)
 • Urban
 (Port Charlotte–North Port, FL)
199,998 (US: 194th)
 • Urban density1,484.8/sq mi (573.3/km2)
 • Metro
 (Punta Gorda, FL MSA)
194,843 (US: 229th)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
33900-33999
Area code941
FIPS code12-58350
GNIS feature ID2403437

Port Charlotte is a census-designated place and unincorporated community in Charlotte County, Florida, United States. The population was 60,625 at the 2020 census, up from 54,392 at the 2010 census. It is included in the Sarasota metropolitan area.

History

The Calusa originally settled around the Port Charlotte area. In 1819, Florida was ceded by the Spanish and became a U.S. territory, and in 1845 Florida became the 27th state. For the first 100 years of statehood, the area around Port Charlotte was mostly undeveloped. Maps of the area at the turn of the 20th century show that most of the roads and railroads leading into southwest Florida had bypassed the Port Charlotte area. Aside from some cattle ranches and small farming, the area was mostly uninhabited. This would change when the post-World War II boom opened people's eyes to the possibility of developing land in Florida.

In the 1950s, the now defunct General Development Corporation led by the Mackle brothers decided to take advantage of the Florida land boom and developed land primarily on both of Florida's coastlines. Among the areas they planned and developed was the Port Charlotte area. Ultimately, Port Charlotte became the most populous community in Charlotte County, although like most GDC developments, Port Charlotte remained an unincorporated community.

Port Charlotte was severely impacted by Hurricane Charley on August 13, 2004. The hurricane, predicted to hit Tampa as a Category 2 hurricane, took a last-minute right hand turn and intensified into a Category 4 storm as it made landfall near Charlotte Harbor and caused severe damage in the city of Punta Gorda and in the Port Charlotte area. The storm's 145 miles per hour (233 km/h) maximum sustained winds destroyed almost half of the homes in the county and caused heavy ecological damage to sensitive wetlands in the area.

Just over 18 years later, Port Charlotte was once again severely impacted by a major hurricane, this time Hurricane Ian on September 28, 2022. Ian made landfall as a Category 4 storm in Cayo Costa State Park before moving north-east into Charlotte Harbor, with south-eastern Port Charlotte going through the eye of the storm. Ian caused severe damage to Port Charlotte, mostly wind-related, and to the rest of the surrounding area. Maximum sustained winds of 115 miles per hour (185 km/h) and a wind gust of 132 miles per hour (212 km/h) were reported by a private weather station in Port Charlotte.

Geography

Port Charlotte is located at the north end of the Charlotte Harbor Estuary, northwest of the city of Punta Gorda. It is 100 miles (160 km) south of Tampa and 65 miles (105 km) north of Naples. According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 32.3 square miles (83.7 km2), of which 28.4 square miles (73.6 km2) is land and 3.9 square miles (10.1 km2) (12.01%), is water.

The area of northwestern Port Charlotte where State Road 776 intersects US 41 is also known as "Murdock".[citation needed]

Climate

Port Charlotte has a warm humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification: Cfa) bordering on a tropical wet and dry climate (Köppen climate classification: Aw). The summers are long, hot and humid with frequent afternoon thunderstorms. The winters are mild to warm with a pronounced drop in precipitation. Year round, the diurnal temperature change averages around 20 degrees Fahrenheit (11 degrees Celsius).

Climate data for Port Charlotte, Florida
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 89
(32)		 92
(33)		 93
(34)		 94
(34)		 98
(37)		 102
(39)		 99
(37)		 99
(37)		 95
(35)		 94
(34)		 93
(34)		 89
(32)		 102
(39)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 75
(24)		 77
(25)		 80
(27)		 84
(29)		 89
(32)		 92
(33)		 92
(33)		 92
(33)		 91
(33)		 87
(31)		 81
(27)		 76
(24)		 85
(29)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 52
(11)		 54
(12)		 57
(14)		 61
(16)		 66
(19)		 72
(22)		 74
(23)		 74
(23)		 73
(23)		 67
(19)		 60
(16)		 54
(12)		 64
(18)
Record low °F (°C) 23
(−5)		 27
(−3)		 29
(−2)		 38
(3)		 49
(9)		 57
(14)		 63
(17)		 65
(18)		 61
(16)		 45
(7)		 28
(−2)		 25
(−4)		 23
(−5)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.21
(56)		 2.31
(59)		 2.71
(69)		 1.70
(43)		 3.15
(80)		 8.45
(215)		 7.78
(198)		 7.82
(199)		 6.75
(171)		 3.12
(79)		 1.87
(47)		 1.77
(45)		 49.64
(1,261)
Source: The Weather Channel
Climate data for Port Charlotte
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily daylight hours 10.5 11.0 12.0 13.0 13.5 14.0 13.5 13.0 12.5 11.5 11.0 10.5 12.2
Source: Weather Atlas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19603,197—
197010,789237.5%
198025,770138.9%
199041,53561.2%
200046,45111.8%
201054,39217.1%
202060,62511.5%
source:

Racial and ethnic composition

Port Charlotte CDP, Florida – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 39,890 42,903 44,474 85.88% 78.88% 73.36%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,895 4,753 4,847 6.23% 8.74% 8.00%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 122 130 129 0.26% 0.24% 0.21%
Asian alone (NH) 521 838 1,140 1.12% 1.54% 1.88%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) 15 26 33 0.03% 0.05% 0.05%
Other race alone (NH) 57 86 333 0.12% 0.16% 0.55%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 556 943 2,660 1.20% 1.73% 4.39%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2,395 4,713 7,009 5.16% 8.66% 11.56%
Total 46,451 54,392 60,625 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Port Charlotte had a population of 60,625. The median age was 53.8 years. 15.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 31.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.3 males age 18 and over.

99.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.2% lived in rural areas.

There were 25,999 households in Port Charlotte, of which 19.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.3% were married-couple households, 17.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 27.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 16,077 families residing in the CDP.

There were 29,998 housing units, of which 13.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.4%.

Racial composition as of the 2020 census
RaceNumberPercent
White46,26476.3%
Black or African American5,0618.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native1960.3%
Asian1,1832.0%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander360.1%
Some other race2,0463.4%
Two or more races5,8399.6%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)7,00911.6%

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 54,392 people, 24,501 households, and 15,658 families residing in the CDP.

2000 census

As 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/km2). There were 23,315 housing units at an average density of 1,047.0 per square mile (404.2/km2). 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.

In 2000, 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 2000, in the CDP, the age distribution of the population shows 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.

Arts and culture

Port Charlotte Library (established in 1961) and Mid-County Regional Library are located here. They are part of the Charlotte County Library System.

Sports

Port Charlotte was home to the Charlotte Stone Crabs, which is a member of the Florida State League and Class High-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, which also hold its spring training at Charlotte Sports Park until 2020. The Rays also hold extended spring training in Port Charlotte, and have a Florida Complex League team which began to play in June 2009.

The Port Charlotte Invitational was a golf tournament held in 1969 at the Port Charlotte Golf & Country Club on the LPGA Tour. Kathy Whitworth won the event.

Government

Since Port Charlotte is unincorporated, it is governed by the Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners. The 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.

Education

The gymnasium at Family Christian Academy, formerly known as Community Christian School

Public schools education is administered by Charlotte County Public Schools. Public schools in Port Charlette include Port Charlotte High School.

Private schools in Port Charlotte include:

Technical schools include:

Infrastructure

Health care

AdventHealth Port Charlotte and HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital are the only two hospitals.

Notable people

References

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  2. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Port Charlotte, Florida
  3. ↑ "List of 2020 Census Urban Areas". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ↑ "The Calusa: "The Shell Indians"". University of South Florida. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Charlotte County Maps". University of South Florida. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  7. ↑ "DeSoto County Maps". University of South Florida. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  8. 1 2 "Final USGS Report on Hurricane Charley" (PDF). USGS. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Hurricane Charley may be gone, but it's no mere memory here". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
  10. ↑ Borresen, Jennifer; Carlie, Procell (January 9, 2023). "Ian's deadly path: A visual look at how the hurricane devastated Florida region by region". USA Today. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
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  14. ↑ "World Map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification updated". University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. November 6, 2008. Retrieved September 22, 2010.
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  19. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Port Charlotte CDP, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
  20. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Port Charlotte CDP, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
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