Charlotte County, Florida
Encyclopedia
Charlotte County is a county
located in the U.S. state
of Florida
. As of 2000, the population was 141,627. In 2005, the population of the MSA was 154,030.
The U.S. Census Bureau
2007 estimate for the county was 152,814 http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2007-01-12.csv. Its county seat
is Punta Gorda, Florida
.
Charlotte County is coextensive with the Punta Gorda Metropolitan Statistical Area, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) designated by the Office of Management and Budget and used by the Census Bureau and other agencies for statistical purposes. Punta Gorda is designated as the principal city of the MSA. The Punta Gorda, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area was first defined in 1993.
. "Charlotte" came from "Carlos" (Spanish), "Charles" (English), or "Calos" (Calusa Indian). In 1565, the Spanish named "Carlos Bay," followed by the English in 1775 who named the area Charlotte Harbor in tribute to the Queen Charlotte Sophia, wife of King George III. Punta Gorda
is the only incorporated city in Charlotte County.
On August 13, 2004 Charlotte County was devastated when Hurricane Charley
came ashore near Port Charlotte
as a Category 4
hurricane.
as well as those on the List of Registered Historic Places in Charlotte County.
is an important natural preserve and one of the most productive in Florida.
of 2000, there were 141,627 people, 63,864 households, and 44,130 families residing in the county. The population density
was 204 people per square mile (79/km²). There were 79,758 housing units at an average density of 115 per square mile (44/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.58% White
, 4.39% Black
or African American
, 0.22% Native American
, 0.85% Asian
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
, 0.79% from other races
, and 1.14% from two or more races. 3.30% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 92.3% spoke English
, 3.0% Spanish
and 1.1% French
as their first language.
In 2005 the population was 88.8% non-Hispanic white, 5.3% African-American, 4.2% Latino and 1.1% Asian (source=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12015.html)
There were 63,864 households out of which 17.40% 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 15.70% under the age of 18, 4.50% from 18 to 24, 18.80% from 25 to 44, 26.40% from 45 to 64, and 34.70% who are 65 years of age or older (making this the county with the highest percentage of people over 65 in America). The median age is 54 years. For every 100 females there were 91.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $389,379, and the median income for a family was $92,653. Males had a median income of $129,309 versus $122,273 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $291,806. About 5.30% of families and 8.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.00% of those under age 18 and 5.00% 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.
The five current Commissioners for Charlotte County, Florida and terms of office expirations:
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
located in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. As of 2000, the population was 141,627. In 2005, the population of the MSA was 154,030.
The U.S. Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
2007 estimate for the county was 152,814 http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2007-01-12.csv. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Punta Gorda, Florida
Punta Gorda, Florida
Punta Gorda is a city in Charlotte County, Florida, United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau estimates of 2007, the city had a population of 16,762. It is the county seat of Charlotte County and the only incorporated municipality in the county...
.
Charlotte County is coextensive with the Punta Gorda Metropolitan Statistical Area, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) designated by the Office of Management and Budget and used by the Census Bureau and other agencies for statistical purposes. Punta Gorda is designated as the principal city of the MSA. The Punta Gorda, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area was first defined in 1993.
History
Charlotte County was established April 23, 1921. It was named for the Bay of Charlotte HarborCharlotte Harbor (estuary)
Charlotte Harbor Estuary is a natural estuary spanning the west coast of Florida from Venice to Bonita Springs on the Gulf of Mexico and is one of the most productive wetlands in Florida...
. "Charlotte" came from "Carlos" (Spanish), "Charles" (English), or "Calos" (Calusa Indian). In 1565, the Spanish named "Carlos Bay," followed by the English in 1775 who named the area Charlotte Harbor in tribute to the Queen Charlotte Sophia, wife of King George III. Punta Gorda
Punta Gorda
Punta Gorda may refer to:*Punta Gorda, Belize*Punta Gorda, Florida*Punta Gorda Light, Humboldt County, California, USA*Punta Gorda, Montevideo, in Uruguay....
is the only incorporated city in Charlotte County.
On August 13, 2004 Charlotte County was devastated when Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley was the third named storm, the second hurricane, and the second major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. Charley lasted from August 9 to August 15, and at its peak intensity it attained 150 mph winds, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane on the...
came ashore near Port Charlotte
Port Charlotte, Florida
Port Charlotte is a census-designated place in Charlotte County, Florida, United States. The population was 46,451 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Punta Gorda Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
as a Category 4
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
hurricane.
Historic places
Historic places in Charlotte County include the Old Charlotte County CourthouseOld Charlotte County Courthouse
The Old Charlotte County Courthouse is an historic two-story yellow brick courthouse building located at 227 Taylor Street in Punta Gorda, Florida, Florida. Designed in the Classical Revival style by architects Leitner and Henson of St. Petersburg, it was built between 1927 and 1928 by Paul H....
as well as those on the List of Registered Historic Places in Charlotte County.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 859.12 square miles (2,225.1 km²), of which 693.6 square miles (1,796.4 km²) (or 80.73%) is land and 165.51 square miles (428.7 km²) (or 19.27%) is water. Charlotte Harbor EstuaryCharlotte Harbor (estuary)
Charlotte Harbor Estuary is a natural estuary spanning the west coast of Florida from Venice to Bonita Springs on the Gulf of Mexico and is one of the most productive wetlands in Florida...
is an important natural preserve and one of the most productive in Florida.
Adjacent counties
- Sarasota County, FloridaSarasota County, FloridaSarasota County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county was 372,057. Its county seat is Sarasota, Florida....
- northwest - DeSoto County, FloridaDeSoto County, FloridaDeSoto County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 32,209. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 35,406 . Its county seat is Arcadia, Florida. The county comprises the Arcadia, Florida Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :DeSoto...
- north - Highlands County, FloridaHighlands County, FloridaHighlands County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the population was 97,346. Its county seat is Sebring, Florida. The county comprises the Sebring, Florida, Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
- northeast corner - Glades County, FloridaGlades County, FloridaGlades County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 10,576. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 11,252 . Its county seat is Moore Haven, Florida.- History :...
- east - Hendry County, FloridaHendry County, FloridaHendry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 36,210. The U.S. Census Bureau 2007 estimate for the county is 39,611 . Its county seat is La Belle. The county comprises the Clewiston, Florida, Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:Hendry County...
- southeast corner - Lee County, FloridaLee County, FloridaLee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. Located in southwest Florida, the principal cities in the county are Fort Myers and Cape Coral...
- south
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 141,627 people, 63,864 households, and 44,130 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 204 people per square mile (79/km²). There were 79,758 housing units at an average density of 115 per square mile (44/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.58% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 4.39% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.22% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.85% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.79% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.14% from two or more races. 3.30% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 92.3% spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, 3.0% Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
and 1.1% French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
as their first language.
In 2005 the population was 88.8% non-Hispanic white, 5.3% African-American, 4.2% Latino and 1.1% Asian (source=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/12015.html)
There were 63,864 households out of which 17.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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 15.70% under the age of 18, 4.50% from 18 to 24, 18.80% from 25 to 44, 26.40% from 45 to 64, and 34.70% who are 65 years of age or older (making this the county with the highest percentage of people over 65 in America). The median age is 54 years. For every 100 females there were 91.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $389,379, and the median income for a family was $92,653. Males had a median income of $129,309 versus $122,273 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $291,806. About 5.30% of families and 8.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.00% of those under age 18 and 5.00% 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.
Unincorporated
|
Harbour Heights, Florida Harbour Heights is a census-designated place in Charlotte County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,873 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Punta Gorda Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:... Manasota Key, Florida Manasota Key is a census-designated place in Charlotte County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,345 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Punta Gorda Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Manasota Key is located at .... Placida, Florida Placida is an unincorporated community in Charlotte County, Florida, United States. It is located near where County Road 771 becomes County Road 775, and the Coral Creek meets Gasparilla Sound.... Port Charlotte, Florida Port Charlotte is a census-designated place in Charlotte County, Florida, United States. The population was 46,451 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Punta Gorda Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:... Rotonda, Florida Rotonda West is a census-designated place in Charlotte County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,574 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Punta Gorda Metropolitan Statistical Area... Solana, Florida Solana is a census-designated place in Charlotte County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,011 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Punta Gorda Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Solana is located at .... |
Government
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 favorite candidate Commissioner in 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:
- Bob Starr (R), District 1, November 6, 2012
- Adam Cummings (R), District 2, November 2, 2010 (not running)
- Robert Skidmore (R) District 3, November 6, 2012
- Richard Loftus (R) District 4, November 2, 2010
- Tricia Duffy (R) District 5, November 6, 2012
Politics
Charlotte County tends to vote Republican in national, state, and local elections.| Year | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Other Third party (United States) The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 52.9% | 45.7% | 1.5% |
| 2004 | 55.7% | 42.9% | 1.4% |
| 2000 | 53.0% | 44.3% | 2.7% |
| 1996 | 44.2% | 43.0% | 12.7% |
| 1992 | 39.2% | 36.9% | 23.9% |
| 1988 | 64.0% | 35.4% | 0.6% |
Government links/Constitutional offices
- Charlotte County Clerk of the Circuit Court
- Charlotte County Government / Board of County Commissioners Main Portal
- Charlotte County Property Appraiser
- Charlotte County Sheriff's Office
- Charlotte County Supervisor of Elections
- Charlotte County Geographic Information System
- Charlotte County Chamber of Commerce
- Charlotte County Fire/EMS
Special Districts
- Charlotte County Public Schools
- South Florida Water Management District
- Southwest Florida Water Management District
Judicial branch
- Charlotte County Clerk of Courts
- Public Defender for the 20th Judicial Circuit serving Charlotte, CollierCollier County, FloridaCollier County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 251,377. The U.S. Census Bureau 2007 estimate for the county is 315,839...
, GladesGlades County, FloridaGlades County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 10,576. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 11,252 . Its county seat is Moore Haven, Florida.- History :...
, HendryHendry County, FloridaHendry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 36,210. The U.S. Census Bureau 2007 estimate for the county is 39,611 . Its county seat is La Belle. The county comprises the Clewiston, Florida, Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:Hendry County...
and LeeLee County, FloridaLee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. Located in southwest Florida, the principal cities in the county are Fort Myers and Cape Coral...
Counties - Office of the State Attorney, 20th Judicial Circuit
- Circuit and County Court for the 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida