Port Charlotte was named to the "10 Best Places to Retire", in the United States for the year 2012 by U.S. News & World Report.

This would change when the post-World War II boom opened people's eyes to the possibility of developing land in Florida.

In the 1950s, the now defunct General Development Corporation led by the Mackle brothers decided to take advantage of the Florida land boom and developed land primarily on both of Florida's coastlines.

Port Charlotte was severely impacted by Hurricane Charley on August 13, 2004.

The hurricane, predicted to hit Tampa as a Category 2 hurricane, took a last-minute right hand turn and intensified into a Category 4 storm as it made landfall near Charlotte Harbor and caused severe damage in the city of Punta Gorda and in the Port Charlotte area.

[9] The storm's 145 miles per hour (233 km/h) maximum sustained winds destroyed almost half of the homes in the county and caused heavy ecological damage to sensitive wetlands in the area.

Ian made landfall as a Category 4 storm in Cayo Costa State Park before moving north-east into Charlotte Harbor, with south-eastern Port Charlotte going through the eye of the storm.

[11] Ian caused severe damage to Port Charlotte, mostly wind-related, and to the rest of the surrounding area.

The area of northwestern Port Charlotte where State Road 776 intersects US 41 is also known as Murdock.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 60,625 people, 25,925 households, and 16,077 families residing in the CDP.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 54,392 people, 24,501 households, and 15,658 families residing in the CDP.

[24] The Rays also hold extended spring training in Port Charlotte, and have a Florida Complex League team which began to play in June 2009.