Punta Gorda, Florida
Punta Gorda was recently voted "the best small town in America to live" by
"Money Magazine." Let me show you why our area is such a wonderful place to be
located.
Punta Gorda is located in Charlotte county on the Gulf Coast between Sarasota
and Ft. Myers. The city originally was founded in 1887 on the idea that all the
waterfront land would be public parks. Over the years that has changed and
today homeowners enjoy the natural beauty and serenity of our delightful city
overlooking the harbor.
The name Punta Gorda, which means "fat point" when translated from Spanish, was
given to the city because a broad part of the land juts into Charlotte Harbor.
The harbor itself is somewhat unique, as it is the point where the Peace River
meets the Gulf.
The city is bounded by the harbor on one side and by rural land on the other.
That rural land is home to large tracts of citrus groves and cattle ranchs.
The city of Punta Gorda is a rich mix of cultures and age groups, as families,
retirees, and winter residents share neighborhoods. One of the hallmarks of
Punta Gorda is its bountiful offering of clubs, organizations, and civic
groups. Civic involvement spills over into city commission meetings, where the
town is still small enough for folks to know the mayor on a first-name basis.
The city graduates about 300 students a year from Charlotte High, the oldest
high school in the county.
Other schools include Edison Community College, Punta Gorda Middle School, and
Sallie Jones Elementary School, East Elementary School.
A good portion of the downtown is dotted with historic buildings that date back
to the early 1900s and give signs of the city's rich history. More and more of
the older homes in our historic downtown have been lovingly restored and now
contribute greatly to this neighborhood's unique charm.
