A county found in the southwest section of Florida, Charlotte County is located just to the north of Fort Myers. It's about 23 miles north of Fort Myers and about 107 miles south of Tampa.
The largest city in the county is Punta Gorda, FL and the county is known for having one of the highest median ages of any county in the country. In 2010, the medial age was 55.9 for Charlotte County, which was the second oldest in the State of Florida.
Retail and healthcare are two of the largest industries found in Charlotte County. These two industries tend to dominate with tourism providing a few jobs throughout the area, as well.
The top employers found in Charlotte County include:
Along with these top employers found directly in Charlotte County, the larger Southwest Florida area include other top employers, such as:
Many other top employers are found throughout the area with the healthcare field dominating most larger employers.
Charlotte County offers plenty of things to do. Of course, the beach is found nearby, but there's more here than just the beach.
Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park is one of the larger parks in the area. With more than 45,000 acres and 100 miles of shoreline, this park offers the third largest Florida State Park. It's a great choice for fishing, hiking, paddling, and plenty of other outdoor activities.
Another excellent park to enjoy in Charlotte County is the Port Charlotte Beach Park. This park is actually home to an aquatic facility, which offers a swimming pool for public use. In addition, the park offers a recreation Center, along with plenty of other amenities including a public beach and fishing pier.
Charlotte County is also home to plenty of other attractions. The Punta Gorda History Center is a popular choice for those looking to learn about the history of the area. In addition, you can enjoy the best muscle cars at the Muscle Car City Museum, which has more than 200 cars from the 1950s and 1970s on display.
The Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary is another great attraction found here with plenty of unique animals to enjoy. It's a non-profit sanctuary with leopards, hyenas, baboons, tigers, lions, and bears. You can also enjoy the Peace River Wildlife Center in Ponce de Leon Park, which offers plenty of wildlife to enjoy.
Other attractions found throughout Charlotte County include:
The county also offers a free bike loan program called Yellow Bike Loaner Program. You can use this program to explore many downtown spaces, such as Fishermen's Village Marina, Punta Gorda Isles Yacht Club, and Laishley Park Municipal Marina.
Along with the many attractions, Charlotte County offers several community events throughout the year. It's a great place to call home for those looking to live near the beach without living in a larger city or a spring break destination.