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Port Charlotte is a census-designated place located
in Charlotte County, Florida. As of the 2000 census,
the CDP had a total population of 46,451.
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The
Port Charlotte area was largely platted and developed
by the now-defunct General Development Corporation,
which also developed many other subdivisions and municipalities
along Florida's west coast. Port Charlotte is not
a chartered municipality, but the most-populated area
in Charlotte County.
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Port
Charlotte was hard hit by Hurricane Charley on August
13, 2004. The hurricane, predicted to hit Tampa, took
a last-minute hard right turn into Charlotte Harbor
and caused severe damage in the city of Punta Gorda
and in the Port Charlotte area. Many residents were
caught by surprise because of many false alarms in
recent years.
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In the wake of Hurricane Charley, Port Charlotte
faces the challenge of finding affordable housing
for its service-industry workforce. With many homes
and apartments destroyed or damaged beyond repair,
many low-income residents who have lived in the
area for years have been forced to seek housing
elsewhere. As of 2005, property values have doubled
and tripled in many areas in less than three years,
especially in the wake of speculation following
Hurricane Charley.
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Water wars in the area are common between municipalities
and counties, all fighting for a dwindling supply
from local water management districts, wellfields,
and the Peace River.
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Port Charlotte and its surrounding areas was voted
number the one place to live in the south two years
in a row. Port Charlotte is located at 26°59'25"
North, 82°6'21" West (26.990181, -82.105831)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the
CDP has a total area of 61.8 km² (23.9 mi²).
57.7 km² (22.3 mi²) of it is land and
4.1 km² (1.6 mi²) of it is water. The
total area is 6.66% water.
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GOVERNMENT : |
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The
county is governed by a 5-person county commission.
They take turns rotating into the commission chair
position every year. County commissioners frequently
sit on other regional boards involving other municipalities
and counties. |
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