Port Charlotte is in Charlotte County, Florida and it was largely planned 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 is, however, the most-populated area in Charlotte County.
It is home to the Port Charlotte Town Center Mall, the Charlotte County Administration Center, and Charlotte Sports Park which is the current spring training home of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Port Charlotte was hit hard by Hurricane Charley on August 13, 2004. The hurricane, predicted to hit Tampa, took a last-minute right hand turn into Charlotte Harbor and caused severe damage in the city of Punta Gorda and in the Port Charlotte area.