The Charlotte County area was recently chosen "the #1 place to live in the South" by Money magazine for the second year in a row! Factors taken into consideration were economy, health, crime, housing, education, weather, transportation, leisure, and arts. We were given high marks in weather, low crime, and a perfect score on Economy. This was primarily due to a projected job growth of 16.3 percent between now and 1999. The cost of living is 5% below the national average, and our violent crime is 59% below the national average. There are 11 churches to every nightclub and it's sunny 2 out of every 3 days.

Punta Gorda was featured in the February 1998 Money magazine newsletter, Retire With Money. The newsletter called the city “America’s retirement capital.” “One hundred eight miles of canals meander through Punta Gorda’s residential neighborhoods ... 28 local marinas and 13 boat ramps,” the article reads. A local resident was quoted as saying, “I think its going to ruin a good thing,” he said jokingly, “Everybody’s going to know about (Punta Gorda) and come down.” Also mentioned in the article are golf courses; Charlotte County Stadium, home of the Texas Rangers; Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area; and the Port Charlotte Cultural Center.