Punta Gorda - We currently have 4 Punta Gorda vacation homes, condos and villas listed on this page!

Punta Gorda: History and Water Sports in Charlotte County

Punta Gorda means "Fat Point" in Spanish and refers to a city located in Charlotte County, Florida. Although it only has a population of around 20,000 permanent residents, Punta Gorda serves as the county seat and is in fact the only official city in the entire county. This makes it a major city for its region, which explains why Punta Gorda vacation rentals are available in such numbers. Because Punta Gorda sits alongside the large harbor that makes up so much of Charlotte County, boating, swimming, fishing, and other water sports activities are highly popular with vacationers and locals alike.



History buffs will also find much to amuse them in Punta Gorda. For a relatively small city, it has a remarkable number of places that have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Among the ten important sites listed are the Punta Gorda Ice Plant, the A.C. Freeman House, the H.W. Smith Building, and the Old First National Bank of Punta Gorda, which is also known as the Old Merchants Bank of Punta Gorda.



Local history is interpreted for visitors at the Blanchard House and Museum of African American History and Culture of Charlotte County. This museum highlights the thriving African American community that existed in Punta Gorda from the beginning of the town's history right. The museum also functions as a community center and features a library of works produced by African-American writers, along with periodic seminars on topics of interest to the African American community.