Punta Gorda, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Punta Gorda, Florida
|
|
|---|---|
Punta Gorda City Hall
|
|
| Etymology: Spanish: punta gorda, lit. 'fat point' | |
Location in Charlotte County and the state of Florida
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Charlotte |
| Settled | 1882 |
| Incorporated (city) | 1887 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 21.87 sq mi (56.64 km2) |
| • Land | 15.50 sq mi (40.13 km2) |
| • Water | 6.37 sq mi (16.51 km2) 28.52% |
| Elevation | 6 ft (2 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 19,471 |
| • Density | 1,256.52/sq mi (485.14/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
33950-33951, 33955 , 33980
|
| Area code(s) | 941 |
| FIPS code | 12-59200 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0289380 |
Punta Gorda is a city in Southwest Florida. It is the main city of Charlotte County, Florida, United States. The name Punta Gorda means "Fat Point" in Spanish. This name refers to a piece of land that sticks out into Charlotte Harbor.
In 2020, about 19,471 people lived in Punta Gorda. The city is known for its beautiful waterfront and historic downtown. It has faced challenges, like Hurricane Charley in 2004 and Hurricane Ian in 2022. After these storms, the city worked hard to rebuild and improve. New buildings were made to be stronger against hurricanes. The city also added fun places like the Harborwalk and trails for walking and biking.
Contents
History of Punta Gorda
Early Beginnings
Before Europeans arrived, the Calusa people lived in the area where Punta Gorda is now. The name "Punta Gorda" has been on maps since at least 1851. It describes a point of land that goes into Charlotte Harbor, which is connected to the Gulf of Mexico.
In the late 1800s, settlers began to move to this area. In 1876, James and Josephine Lockhart built a house in what is now the city center. Later, Isaac Trabue bought land and planned a town called Trabue.
The Railroad Arrives
The Florida Southern Railroad was very important for the town's growth. It reached Trabue in 1886. This made Trabue the southernmost stop on the railroad for a while. The railroad brought the first land developers and tourists to Southwest Florida.
On December 3, 1887, the townspeople decided to make their town official. They also voted to change the name from Trabue to Punta Gorda. This was the Spanish name for the point of land. W. H. Simmons was elected as the first mayor.
Phosphate and Progress
In 1888, a valuable mineral called Phosphate was found near the Peace River. Phosphate was shipped from Punta Gorda to other parts of the world. This made phosphate mining a very important industry for the city for a short time.
Punta Gorda was a busy frontier town. It had a mix of people from different backgrounds. The city also had its challenges, like many new towns at the end of a railway line.
20th Century Growth
.jpg)
In 1925, Joseph Blanchard, an African American sea captain, built a house. Today, this house is the Blanchard House Museum. It teaches people about the lives of middle-class African Americans in the area.
Charlotte County was formed in 1921. Also, the first bridge connecting Punta Gorda and Charlotte Harbor was built. This bridge was part of the new Tamiami Trail. Later, bigger bridges were built to cross the Peace River.
During World War II, the U.S. Army built an airfield in Punta Gorda. Pilots were trained there for combat. After the war, this airfield became the Punta Gorda Airport. Today, it serves both commercial and private flights.
A big growth period for Punta Gorda started in 1959. Developers created new neighborhoods with canals, like Punta Gorda Isles. These canals allowed homes to have direct access to Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico. Other communities with golf courses were also built. These areas attracted many people, especially retirees.
In the early 1980s, a new shopping and marina complex called Fishermen's Village was built. It is still a popular place to visit in Southwest Florida.
21st Century and Rebuilding
In 2004, Hurricane Charley, a very strong storm, hit Punta Gorda. It caused a lot of damage. But this also gave the city a chance to rebuild and make improvements. Many buildings were repaired or built stronger. The city added a new Harborwalk and linear park. Many new restaurants and neighborhoods also appeared.
A special replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was opened in 2016. The city also has a public art sculpture called the Whispering Giant. It shows the faces of a Native American man and woman.
On September 28, 2022, another strong storm, Hurricane Ian, made landfall near Punta Gorda. It also caused a lot of damage throughout Florida.
Historic Places to Visit
Punta Gorda has many historic places. Ten of them are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:
- A. C. Freeman House
- Charlotte High School
- Clarence L. Babcock House
- H. W. Smith Building
- Old First National Bank of Punta Gorda
- Punta Gorda Atlantic Coast Line Depot
- Punta Gorda Ice Plant
- Punta Gorda Residential District
- Punta Gorda Woman's Club
- Villa Bianca
Geography and Climate
Punta Gorda is located on the south side of the Peace River. It is also on the eastern shore of Charlotte Harbor, which connects to the Gulf of Mexico.
The city has a total area of about 54.4 square kilometers (21.0 square miles). About 15.5 square kilometers (6.0 square miles) of this area is water.
Weather in Punta Gorda
Punta Gorda has a warm climate. Summers are hot and humid with a lot of rain. Winters are mild and dry.
| Climate data for Punta Gorda, Florida (Punta Gorda Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1914–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 89 (32) |
92 (33) |
95 (35) |
96 (36) |
101 (38) |
101 (38) |
103 (39) |
101 (38) |
98 (37) |
99 (37) |
94 (34) |
96 (36) |
103 (39) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 84.1 (28.9) |
85.9 (29.9) |
88.0 (31.1) |
91.2 (32.9) |
94.7 (34.8) |
96.0 (35.6) |
95.6 (35.3) |
95.6 (35.3) |
94.2 (34.6) |
91.6 (33.1) |
87.9 (31.1) |
85.4 (29.7) |
97.0 (36.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 75.3 (24.1) |
78.1 (25.6) |
81.3 (27.4) |
85.8 (29.9) |
90.1 (32.3) |
91.7 (33.2) |
92.5 (33.6) |
92.5 (33.6) |
90.7 (32.6) |
87.4 (30.8) |
81.7 (27.6) |
77.6 (25.3) |
85.4 (29.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 62.9 (17.2) |
65.5 (18.6) |
68.5 (20.3) |
73.1 (22.8) |
77.9 (25.5) |
81.7 (27.6) |
83.3 (28.5) |
83.5 (28.6) |
82.1 (27.8) |
77.2 (25.1) |
70.2 (21.2) |
65.8 (18.8) |
74.3 (23.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 50.5 (10.3) |
53.0 (11.7) |
55.7 (13.2) |
60.5 (15.8) |
65.6 (18.7) |
71.8 (22.1) |
74.1 (23.4) |
74.5 (23.6) |
73.4 (23.0) |
66.9 (19.4) |
58.8 (14.9) |
54.1 (12.3) |
63.2 (17.3) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 33.8 (1.0) |
36.2 (2.3) |
41.1 (5.1) |
48.6 (9.2) |
56.8 (13.8) |
67.2 (19.6) |
70.7 (21.5) |
71.2 (21.8) |
68.8 (20.4) |
54.6 (12.6) |
44.6 (7.0) |
38.1 (3.4) |
31.6 (−0.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 23 (−5) |
27 (−3) |
29 (−2) |
38 (3) |
48 (9) |
57 (14) |
63 (17) |
65 (18) |
61 (16) |
42 (6) |
28 (−2) |
22 (−6) |
22 (−6) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.32 (59) |
2.47 (63) |
2.28 (58) |
2.23 (57) |
3.26 (83) |
9.24 (235) |
8.06 (205) |
9.11 (231) |
6.87 (174) |
3.02 (77) |
2.12 (54) |
1.99 (51) |
52.97 (1,345) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.3 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 6.9 | 8.7 | 17.0 | 18.9 | 19.5 | 15.5 | 8.8 | 7.2 | 9.3 | 136.3 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: NWS Tampa Bay | |||||||||||||
People in Punta Gorda
Population Details
Punta Gorda's population has grown steadily over the years. In 2020, the city had 19,471 residents. Most people in Punta Gorda own their homes. The median value of a home was $377,100 in 2020.
Many households in Punta Gorda have computers and broadband internet. The median household income was $68,923. Most adults in the city have graduated from high school. Many also have a Bachelor's degree or higher.
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 14,972 | 17,113 | 89.97% | 87.89% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 523 | 504 | 3.14% | 2.59% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 22 | 39 | 0.13% | 0.20% |
| Asian (NH) | 190 | 204 | 1.14% | 1.05% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 2 | 4 | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| Some other race (NH) | 17 | 79 | 0.10% | 0.41% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 169 | 480 | 1.02% | 2.47% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 746 | 1,048 | 4.48% | 5.38% |
| Total | 16,641 | 19,471 |
Education in Punta Gorda
Punta Gorda has several public schools. They are part of Charlotte County Public Schools.
- Charlotte High School
- Punta Gorda Middle School
- Sallie Jones Elementary School
- East Elementary School
- Baker Pre-K Center
Good Shepherd Day School is the only private elementary school. Florida SouthWestern Collegiate High School is a charter school. For higher education, Florida SouthWestern State College has a campus in Punta Gorda.
Libraries
The Punta Gorda Public Library is part of the Charlotte County Library System. It is the oldest branch, started in 1908. The library first began in an Episcopal Church rectory. The vicar's wife, Theodosia Trout, was in charge.
The library moved several times as it grew. It was in the Masonic Lodge for a while. After a hurricane damaged the lodge, the books moved to the Women's Club building. In 1958, land was donated for a new library building.
The Paschal B. Nobles-Punta Gorda Public Library opened in 1974. In 2019, the library moved to a new, larger building on Shreve Street. This new library has study areas, meeting rooms, and an archive room.
Getting Around Punta Gorda
U.S. Route 41 (the Tamiami Trail) goes through the city. It connects Punta Gorda to Fort Myers to the south and Venice to the northwest. U.S. Route 17 starts in Punta Gorda and goes northeast to Arcadia.
Interstate 75 is east of Punta Gorda. You can get to it from U.S. 17. Most people in Punta Gorda travel by car.
The Punta Gorda Airport offers commercial flights. Allegiant Air and Sun Country Airlines fly from here.
Notable People
Many interesting people have connections to Punta Gorda:
- Mindi Abair – a jazz saxophonist
- Charles P. Bailey (pilot) – a Tuskegee Airman
- Roy Boehm – founder of the US Navy SEALS
- Amanda Carr – an Olympic BMX competitor
- Jeff Corsaletti – a baseball player
- Ellen Dawson – a Scottish-American trade union activist
- John Hall – an NFL player
- Matt LaPorta – a Major League Baseball player
- Burton Lawless – an NFL player
- Tommy Murphy – a Major League Baseball player
See also
In Spanish: Punta Gorda (Florida) para niños
