  
Introducing North Port: - Located In: Sarasota County
- Population: 47,770 (Source: Bureau of Economic and Business Research, University of Florida, 2006)
- Community Type: Residential and business
- Size: 103 square miles
- Zip Codes: 34286-34289
- Government: Commission/city manager elected to a four year staggered terms with a limit of two consecutive terms.
History of North Port:The city of North Port was incorporated in 1959 and is situated in southeast Sarasota County near the Gulf of Mexico. The city, originally known as North Port Charlotte, began with a population of 178 Things To Do In North Port:The North Port Performing Arts Center, located at North Port High School, 6400 West Price Blvd., plays host to a number of musical productions and plays. Myakka State Forest is located within the city limits and offers recreational opportunities including camping, hiking, off-road bicycling, horseback riding, wildlife viewing and small game hunting as well as fishing, boating, canoeing and kayaking. Kidstar Park, An outside amusement park which offers fun for the whole family and includes go-kart rides, a 32 foot rock climbing mountain, children's rides, the best soft-serve ice cream shop in tow, a huge four story inside play gym, and a large arcade.Port Charlotte Beach Park, Choose from a wide range of recreational activities while at this large park that features basketball courts, Bocce ball, horseshoe pits, a children's playground, a recreation building, a swimming pool, tennis courts, a sand volleyball court, a beach, a boat ramp, a fishing pier, and canoeing. Fish Cove Adventure Golf, Overlooking the beautiful Charlotte Harbor, children and adults of all ages will enjoy 36 holes of challenging miniature golf while at this adventure golf park that also features an arcade and a snack bar. Cultural Center of Charlotte County, A wide range of educational, cultural, recreational, and social activities are available at this cultural center which houses a 418 seat theater that offers a full schedule of concerts, plays, musical productions, and lectures. The center also features the Port Charlotte Public Library and a Senior Lounge which offers a full schedule of social activities, health services, weekly dances, informal concerts, lectures, a monthly dinner theater, and leisure and academic classes including language, art, piano, literature, dance music, fishing, and all types of exercise. Dining In North Port:What Makes North Port Special:Situated at the midway point between Sarasota and Fort Myers, North Port is conveniently located near a community college, three four-year institutions, two international airports and a variety of businesses. North Port happens to be one of the largest cities in Florida in land area, but it is only 10 percent populated affording residents and visitors plenty of elbow room – a rare find in the Tampa Bay area. It is, however, one of the fastest growing cities in Florida, having burgeoned from 6,205 in 1980 to 40,000 in 2005. Wildlife flourishes in North Port’s unspoiled natural environment, including 95 miles of freshwater canals. North Port is the only city in Florida that contains a state forest (Myakka State Forest) within its corporate boundaries. North Port has two golf courses, and 144 miles of waterways for fishing and boating, some with direct access to the Myakka River—designated a Florida Wild and Scenic River by the state legislature in 1985. It is one of only two rivers in Florida to be recognized with this special status. |