Located north across Charlotte harbor is Port Charlotte, a fairly new community that began to develop in the late 1950's. It has a population of about 46,300 with plenty of room for more growth.
Port Charlotte was named as the "Best Place to Retire" by Money Magazine, as there are several opportunities for recreation, including golf courses, yacht clubs, tennis courts, parks, boat ramps, and pool and beach swimming. There are more than 165 miles of man-made waterways, many with access to Charlotte Harbor.
Families looking for schools in the immediate Port Charlotte area will find many options - six elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school, one Technical Center, as well as several church-related schools.
The Murdock region of northern Port Charlotte is a growing shopping and business center, consisting of restaurants, theaters, banks, and office complexes. At the center of Murdock is the Port Charlotte Town Center Mall, where major retailers as well as smaller, specialty stores can be found.
Just to the north of the Town Center Mall, baseball fans will enjoy the state-of-the-art Charlotte Sports Park, home to the Charlotte Sports Park and spring training facility for the Tampa Bay Rays. Fans can watch the game from the tiki hut, or catch a glimpse of the bullpens while taking a stroll along the boardwalk.
Photo (left): Charlotte Sports Park
Photo by Tampa Bay Rays
Photo (right): Port Charlotte waterfront homes