Charlotte County, Florida

County in Florida, United States

County in Florida

Charlotte County

County

The Old Charlotte County Courthouse at Punta Gorda in April 2010.

Seal

Logo

Location within the U.S. state of Florida

Florida's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 26°54′N 81°57′W﻿ / ﻿26.9°N 81.95°W﻿ / 26.9; -81.95
Country|  United States
State|  Florida
Founded| April 23, 1921
Named after| Charlotte Harbor
Seat| Punta Gorda
Largest community| Port Charlotte
Area

• Total

| 858 sq mi (2,220 km2)
• Land| 680 sq mi (1,800 km2)
• Water| 178 sq mi (460 km2)  20.7%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 186,847

• Estimate

(2023[1])

| 206,134
• Density| 275/sq mi (106/km2)
Time zone| UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district| 17th
Website| www.charlottecountyfl.gov

Charlotte County is a U.S. county located in southwestern Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 186,847.[2] Its county seat is Punta Gorda.[3]

Charlotte County comprises the Punta Gorda, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota Combined Statistical Area.

## History

[edit]

Charlotte County was established April 23, 1921. Before this, the Charlotte County area was a part of Desoto County.[4] It was named for the Bay of Charlotte Harbor. "Charlotte" came from "Carlota" (Spanish). In 1565, the Spanish named "Bahia de Carlota", followed by the English in 1775 who named the area Charlotte Harbor in tribute to Queen Charlotte. Punta Gorda is the only incorporated city in Charlotte County.

On August 13, 2004, Charlotte County, Hurricane Charley came ashore near Port Charlotte as a Category 4 hurricane. On September 28, 2022, Charlotte County was struck by Hurricane Ian, which made a second landfall near the city of Punta Gorda, Florida.[5]

### Historic places

[edit]

There are seventeen properties and districts in Charlotte County listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Most of the officially recognized places are in Punta Gorda, Placida, and El Jobean. Additionally, there are numerous places generally considered historic despite not being officially listed as such, including the Old Charlotte County Courthouse, the Blanchard House Museum, and Port Charlotte Middle School.

Port Charlotte Middle School (originally Port Charlotte Junior High School) was recognized by the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation as an endangered historic site for their annual 11 to Save properties following Hurricane Ian.[6] The school was further evaluated by the Florida Division of Historical Resources, which determined it is "potentially individually eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places" and "an excellent example of educational institution architecture during the 1970s."[7]

In 2024, the Blanchard House Museum was named one of the Florida Trust's 11 to Save, also having been affected by Hurricane Ian.[8]

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 858 square miles (2,220 km2), of which 680 square miles (1,800 km2) is land and 178 square miles (460 km2) (20.7%) is water.[9] Charlotte Harbor Estuary is an important natural preserve and one of the most productive in Florida.

The Punta Gorda, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, consisting of Charlotte County, was defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget in 1992.[10]

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Sarasota County \- northwest
* DeSoto County \- north
* Highlands County \- northeast
* Glades County \- east
* Hendry County \- southeast
* Lee County \- south

### National protected area

[edit]

* Island Bay National Wildlife Refuge

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1930| 4,013| | —
1940| 3,663| | −8.7%
1950| 4,286| | 17.0%
1960| 12,594| | 193.8%
1970| 27,559| | 118.8%
1980| 58,460| | 112.1%
1990| 110,975| | 89.8%
2000| 141,627| | 27.6%
2010| 159,978| | 13.0%
2020| 186,847| | 16.8%
2023 (est.)| 206,134| [11]| 10.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010-2015[2]
Charlotte County racial composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a] Race  | Pop 2010[18] | Pop 2020[19] | % 2010  | % 2020

|
|
|
|

White (NH)  | 137,628  | 153,700  | 86.03%  | 82.26%
Black or African American (NH)  | 8,622  | 8,870  | 5.39%  | 4.75%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)  | 348  | 385  | 0.22%  | 0.21%
Asian (NH)  | 1,884  | 2,566  | 1.18%  | 1.37%
Pacific Islander (NH)  | 49  | 63  | 0.03%  | 0.03%
Some Other Race (NH)  | 184  | 782  | 0.12%  | 0.42%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)  | 2,050  | 6,402  | 1.28%  | 3.43%
Hispanic or Latino | 9,213  | 14,079  | 5.76%  | 7.54%
Total | 159,978 | 186,847 |  |
A map of the racial demographics of Charlotte County, Florida by Census tract

Legend

* Non-Hispanic White

60–70%

70–80%

80–90%

>90%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 186,847 people, 79,789 households, and 51,016 families residing in the county.

As of the census[20] of 2010, there were 159,978 people, 73,370 households, and 44,130 families residing in the county. The population density was 234 people per square mile (90 people/km2). There were 100,632 housing units at an average density of 115 per square mile (44/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.05% White, 5.68% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.19% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.10% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 5.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 92.3% spoke only English at home. 3.0% of the population spoke Spanish at home and 1.1% French.

There were 73,370 households, out of which 17.66% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 7.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.90% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.56.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 14.30% under the age of 18, 5.38% from 18 to 24, 6.99% from 25 to 34, 39.21% from 35 to 64, and 34.12% who were 65 years of age or older (making this the county with the highest percentage of people over 65 in America). The median age was 56.43 years. For every 100 females there were 94.58 males.

The median income for a household (2007-2011) in the county was $45,112; median income for families (2007-2011) was $47,415. Males (2011) had a median income of $27,352 versus $26,861 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,875. About 5.30% of families and 11.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.40% of those under age 18 and 5.60% of those age 65 or over.

According to an October 2001 Census Brief of the 2000 Census, Charlotte County had the highest median age of any U.S. county with a population of more than 100,000 people at 54.3.[21] The median age in 2010 for Charlotte County was 55.9 years, second only to Sumter County in Florida.

## Government and politics

[edit]

Charlotte County Fire & EMS apparatus at Fawcett Memorial Hospital

The county is governed by a five-person Commission, all of them elected to represent districts within the county for a four-year term. The elections are partisan according to political party affiliation and primaries are held months earlier in the event there are numerous candidates. All registered voters in the county are allowed to vote for a candidate Commissioner in each the five districts, not just the voters living in a particular district.

The five current Commissioners for Charlotte County, Florida and terms of office expirations:

* Ken Doherty (R), District 1, November 3, 2020[22]
* Christopher Constance (R), District 2, November 8, 2022[23]
* Bill Truex (R) District 3, November 3, 2020[22]
* Stephen R. Deutsch (R) District 4, November 8, 2022[23]
* Joe Tiseo (R) District 5, November 3, 2020[22]

Charlotte County, as is typical for the southwestern Florida coast, became and remained a solidly Republican county in the years following the Second World War. No Democrat has won the county since Lyndon Johnson did so during his 1964 landslide,[24] the only time a Democrat has carried the county since Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944. In the last 60 years, Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996 was the only Democrat not being outvoted by an absolute majority due to the appeal of Ross Perot. Charlotte resisted George Wallace in the 1968 election to still return an absolute Republican majority, unlike several neighboring counties.

United States presidential election results for Charlotte County, Florida[25][26] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 82,480  | 66.45% | 40,450  | 32.59%  | 1,188  | 0.96%
2020 | 73,243  | 62.84% | 42,273  | 36.27%  | 1,042  | 0.89%
2016 | 60,218  | 61.96% | 33,445  | 34.41%  | 3,524  | 3.63%
2012 | 47,996  | 56.52% | 35,906  | 42.28%  | 1,021  | 1.20%
2008 | 45,205  | 52.87% | 39,031  | 45.65%  | 1,263  | 1.48%
2004 | 44,428  | 55.68% | 34,256  | 42.93%  | 1,102  | 1.38%
2000 | 35,428  | 52.96% | 29,646  | 44.31%  | 1,826  | 2.73%
1996 | 27,847  | 44.18% | 27,121  | 43.03%  | 8,059  | 12.79%
1992 | 24,311  | 39.17% | 22,907  | 36.91%  | 14,846  | 23.92%
1988 | 28,893  | 63.98% | 15,974  | 35.37%  | 292  | 0.65%
1984 | 27,486  | 70.85% | 11,305  | 29.14%  | 2  | 0.01%
1980 | 20,486  | 64.62% | 9,769  | 30.82%  | 1,445  | 4.56%
1976 | 12,703  | 54.44% | 10,300  | 44.14%  | 330  | 1.41%
1972 | 12,888  | 76.64% | 3,874  | 23.04%  | 55  | 0.33%
1968 | 6,056  | 50.58% | 3,647  | 30.46%  | 2,270  | 18.96%
1964 | 4,163  | 46.29%  | 4,831  | 53.71% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 3,026  | 60.92% | 1,941  | 39.08%  | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 1,589  | 63.11% | 929  | 36.89%  | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 1,134  | 58.79% | 795  | 41.21%  | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 559  | 44.09% | 520  | 41.01%  | 189  | 14.91%
1944 | 404  | 33.86%  | 789  | 66.14% | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 407  | 30.90%  | 910  | 69.10% | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 548  | 41.20%  | 782  | 58.80% | 0  | 0.00%
1932 | 396  | 29.33%  | 954  | 70.67% | 0  | 0.00%
1928 | 593  | 55.73% | 441  | 41.45%  | 30  | 2.82%
1924 | 167  | 31.21%  | 321  | 60.00% | 47  | 8.79%

### Voter Registration

[edit]

Voter Registration and Party Membership as of August 31, 2024:[27]

Party  | Number of Votes  | Percentage
| Republican | 78,449  | 51.23%
| No Party Affiliation  | 37,196  | 24.29%
| Democratic | 31,980  | 20.88%
| Minor parties  | 5,506  | 3.60%
Total  | 153,131  | 100.0%

## Economy

[edit]

Charlotte County attracted plentiful new commercial developers and companies in 2023, continuing the county’s growth trend of the last several years. Most of the building activity is taking place within industrial areas surrounding Punta Gorda Airport, as much of the rest of the county’s land is zoned for residential use, and the land that is zoned commercial outside the airport area has insufficient acreage to support large-scale projects.[28]

Another program the Economic Development Department is working with is an affordable housing initiative called the “Live Local Act.”

The program was created by the Florida Legislature to fund and incentivize workforce housing.

“Affordable housing and workforce housing is an issue in Charlotte County, Sarasota County, Florida and the entire country,” he said. “People need someone where to live in order to work here.”

CCED has been holding workshops with the county’s large employers like hospitals, the school district, Cheney Brothers or the Sheriff’s Office.[29]

## Education

[edit]

Florida SouthWestern State College maintains a campus in the county. Southern Technical College operates a campus in the county. Charlotte County Public Schools administers all public schools from kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Western Michigan University operated a regional location in the county until August 2019 when they closed the school. AeroGuard Flight Training Center opened a flight school at the airport. The Airframe and Power Plant Program offered through Charlotte Technical College also operates at the airport.

## Library

[edit]

The Charlotte County Library System consists of 4 library branches.[30]

* Port Charlotte Public Library
* Punta Gorda Public Library
* Englewood Charlotte Public Library
* Mid-County Regional Library

The erection of the first library was in 1963.[31] In 1976, Charlotte County and Glades County joined to make the Charlotte-Glades Library System. One reason the counties paired together was due to the additional $50,000 in state aid to libraries who join to serve the public. Charlotte County was financially responsible in the relationship. In 2008 the two counties separated and reverted to providing services to residents and visitors of their own communities.[32] The newest addition to the library system was an expansion to the Englewood Branch; the new building created is an additional 6,500 square feet. This provides more space for the youth services department, a new computer lab, and an archives run by the historical department.[33] The Mid-County Regional Library suffered heavy damage due the impact of Hurricane Ian in 2022. It had to close as a result, but is expected to re-open in 2026.[34]

## Communities

[edit]

### City

[edit]

* Punta Gorda

### Census-designated places (unincorporated)

[edit]

* Charlotte Harbor
* Charlotte Park
* Cleveland
* Englewood (part)
* Grove City
* Harbour Heights
* Manasota Key (part)
* Rotonda West (under the name Rotonda)
* Solana
* West Port Charlotte

### Other unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Boca Grande (part)
* Cape Haze
* Deep Creek
* Don Pedro Island, an island located north of Little Gasparilla Island.
* Little Gasparilla Island
* Murdock
* Placida
* Babcock Ranch, a solar-powered community currently under construction.
* Port Charlotte

## Transportation

[edit]

### Airport

[edit]

* Punta Gorda Airport (Florida)

### Major highways

[edit]

See also: List of county roads in Charlotte County, Florida

* Interstate 75
* U.S. Route 17
* U.S. Route 41
* State Road 31
* State Road 776

## See also

[edit]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Charlotte County, Florida
* Southwest Florida

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ 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 can be of any race.[16][17]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Charlotte County, Florida". Census.gov. Retrieved March 5, 2025.
2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 21, 2016. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ https://www.randymajors.org/maps?x=-81.6421381&y=26.8820195&cx=-82.3031484&cy=26.6482324&zoom=8&state=US&hyear=1900
5. ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Hurricane Ian: September 30, 2022". www.weather.gov. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
6. ^ Kirkpatrick, Dafni (August 3, 2023). "Florida Trust for Historic Preservation Announces this year's 11 to Save, Most Endangered Historic Places in Florida" (PDF) (Press release). Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
7. ^ Lucas, Kyra (May 28, 2024). RE: PSIQ response for Port Charlotte Middle School, 23000 Midway Boulevard, Port Charlotte, FL 33952, Charlotte Co (Report). Tallahassee, Florida (available in public records): Florida Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State.
8. ^ Kirkpatrick, Dafni (July 24, 2024). "Florida Trust for Historic Preservation Announces this year's 11 to Save, Most Endangered Historic Places in Florida" (PDF) (Press release). Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
9. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
10. ^ "Metro Area History 1950–2020". U.S. Census Bureau. March 2020. Row 4128. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
11. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
12. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
15. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
16. ^ https://www.census.gov/ [not specific enough to verify]
17. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
18. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
19. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
20. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
21. ^ "Census 2000 Brief" (PDF). www.census.gov. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
22. ^ a b c "Summary Results - Election Night Reporting". enr.electionsfl.org. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
23. ^ a b "Summary Results - Election Night Reporting". enr.electionsfl.org. Retrieved November 7, 2018.
24. ^ Sullivan, Robert David; ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’; America Magazine in The National Catholic Review; June 29, 2016
25. ^ David Leip’s Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections; 2016 Presidential General Election Data Graphs – Florida by County (and earlier election years)
26. ^ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved June 22, 2025.
27. ^ "Sarasota County, FL : Supervisor of Elections". Sarasota County, FL : Supervisor of Elections. SOE Software Corporation. April 20, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
28. ^ "Charlotte County Florida. Your Business. Cleared for Takeoff".
29. ^ "Charlotte County Florida. Your Business. Cleared for Takeoff".
30. ^ "Charlotte County Library System: Home Page". www2.youseemore.com.
31. ^ "Charlotte County Government. Charlotte County Weekly Department Highlights" (PDF).[permanent dead link]
32. ^ Charlotte County Government. Charlotte-Glades Library System Long-Range Plan of Service.
33. ^ "Sweet Sparkman Architects. Englewood Charlotte Library". Archived from the original on December 6, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
34. ^ Semon, Nancy (January 14, 2025). "Charlotte County's Mid-County Regional Library to reopen in 2026". GULFSHORE BUSINESS. Retrieved March 27, 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Charlotte County, Florida at Wikimedia Commons
* Charlotte County Government / Board of County Commissioners Main Portal
* Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Charlotte County, Florida

| Sarasota County | DeSoto County | Highlands County

|
|

|  |
Gulf of Mexico |

Charlotte County, Florida

| Glades County
|  |
| Lee County | Hendry County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Charlotte County, Florida, United States

County seat: Punta Gorda

City|

* Punta Gorda

CDPs|

* Charlotte Harbor
* Charlotte Park
* Cleveland
* Englewood‡
* Grove City
* Harbour Heights
* Manasota Key
* Port Charlotte
* Rotonda
* Solana

Unincorporated
communities|

* Deep Creek
* El Jobean
* Little Gasparilla Island
* Placida

Ghost town|

* Bermont

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* Florida portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

Geography of Florida

Natural features|

* Beaches
* Caves
* Everglades (drainage and development)
* Keys
* Lakes
* Lake Okeechobee
* Reef
* Rivers
* Sinkholes
* Springs
* Straits
* Swamps

Regions|

* Big Bend
* region
* coast
* Central Florida
* Emerald Coast
* Everglades
* First Coast
* Forgotten Coast
* Gold Coast
* Halifax area
* Heartland
* Keys
* Nature Coast
* North central Florida
* North Florida
* Panhandle
* South Florida
* Southwest Florida
* Space Coast
* Suncoast
* Tampa Bay Area
* Treasure Coast

Metro areas|

* Cape Coral–Fort Myers
* Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin
* Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach
* Gainesville
* Homosassa Springs
* Jacksonville
* Lakeland–Winter Haven
* Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach
* Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island
* North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton
* Ocala
* Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford
* Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville
* Panama City
* Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent
* Port St. Lucie
* Punta Gorda
* Sebastian-Vero Beach
* Sebring
* Tallahassee
* Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
* The Villages

Largest cities|

* Jacksonville
* Miami
* Tampa
* Orlando
* St. Petersburg
* Hialeah
* Port St. Lucie
* Tallahassee
* Cape Coral
* Fort Lauderdale
* Pembroke Pines
* Hollywood
* Gainesville
* Miramar
* Coral Springs
* Palm Bay
* West Palm Beach
* Clearwater
* Lakeland
* Pompano Beach
* Miami Gardens
* Davie

Counties|

* Alachua
* Baker
* Bay
* Bradford
* Brevard
* Broward
* Calhoun
* Charlotte
* Citrus
* Clay
* Collier
* Columbia
* DeSoto
* Dixie
* Duval
* Escambia
* Flagler
* Franklin
* Gadsden
* Gilchrist
* Glades
* Gulf
* Hamilton
* Hardee
* Hendry
* Hernando
* Highlands
* Hillsborough
* Holmes
* Indian River
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Lafayette
* Lake
* Lee
* Leon
* Levy
* Liberty
* Madison
* Manatee
* Marion
* Martin
* Miami‑Dade
* Monroe
* Mosquito (former county)
* Nassau
* Okaloosa
* Okeechobee
* Orange
* Osceola
* Palm Beach
* Pasco
* Pinellas
* Polk
* Putnam
* Santa Rosa
* Sarasota
* Seminole
* St. Johns
* St. Lucie
* Sumter
* Suwannee
* Taylor
* Union
* Volusia
* Wakulla
* Walton
* Washington

Other|

* State forests
* State parks
* Wakulla Volcano

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* Israel

Geographic|

* MusicBrainz area

26°54′N 81°57′W﻿ / ﻿26.90°N 81.95°W﻿ / 26.90; -81.95
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template