Charlotte County is a mainly agricultural and residential area, with the towns of Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte located at the head of Charlotte Bay along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Punta Gorda has the character of a small port town while neighboring Port Charlotte is a large planned community. Both towns are quiet and residential with a substantial percentage of retirees and winter residents. Compared to other Gulf Coast cities they are not particularly touristy.
Local activities include boating and golf, and the more complete and culturally diverse city of Ft. Myers is 25 miles south. The area has some of the best job-growth expectations in the state. While hospital services are better than average, the area is lacking in other services as well as arts and entertainment amenities.
The terrain is level with residential areas close to water and agriculture mixed with cypress forests and swampland farther inland. The climate is subtropical with a strong Gulf influence. Summer temperatures are in the 80’s or low 90’s with humidity, some Gulf breezes, and frequent late-afternoon thunderstorms. Winters are very pleasant, with bright, sunny, relatively dry days and temperatures in the 60’s and 70’s. Gulf hurricanes and tropical storms can bring heavy downpours, especially in late summer and fall.