CRIME & ECONOMY

  • Crime Map of Charlotte Harbor

    Crime in the Area

    According to Sperling’s Best Places, on a scale of 1 to 100 (with 1 being low crime) the United States national average for violent crime is 31.1. These violent crimes include murder, rape, assault, and robbery. Port Charlotte is listed at 44, which is well above the national average.

    The map to the right displays recent crime data. As you can see, a higher concentration of criminal activity takes place near Charlotte Harbor (noted by the orange shading) compared to other areas on the map.

  • Not much shopping in Port Charlotte

    Economy

    The annual household income in 2015 for Port Charlotte was $40,049, according to Sperling’s Best Places. Per capita income was listed as $22,681.

    Port Charlotte’s unemployment rate is on par with the national average of 5.2%. At the same time, due to the high population of retirees, many local businesses have difficulty finding working-age employees. This has been a problem on the rise.

    There is also a moderate homeless population in Charlotte County. But there are various organizations in the area that are comprised of selfless individuals who are dedicated to helping the less fortunate members of the community.

  • Winter traffic in Port Charlotte is too much

    Infrastructure

    The sewer system in Port Charlotte is outdated and constant repairs are needed to keep things in working order. The current system is struggling to keep up with the growing population. There is also a concern with waste polluting Charlotte Harbor. Efforts are in place to try to minimize the pollution.

    Although Port Charlotte's population numbers do not rival those of larger metropolitan areas in Florida, you would think otherwise while on the road in Winter. The amount of traffic is too much for the roadways to handle. This can cause dangerous situations for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. Traffic fatalities are reported every day in Florida.

    Efforts have been made to increase efficient movement of traffic, but many projects are not adequately planned and seem to be more cosmetic than practical. Traffic circles were recently installed on a road near the harbor to help with traffic flow. But these undersized, double-lane traffic circles look nothing like the ones in the northern United States. The small radius of Port Charlotte's traffic circles makes it difficult for sedans to pass through safely while remaining in their lane, and nearly impossible for oversized vehicles, trucks, or anything with a trailer. Also, the Winter residents come from all over the country and world. Many are not familiar with certain traffic laws or features, including traffic circles, and this creates a hazardous environment for anyone venturing on the roadways by foot or on wheels.