1981 Map of Charlotte Harbor

About this map

Punta Gorda and the burgeoning developments of Port Charlotte anchor this topographic-bathymetric study of the southwest Florida coast in the early 1980s. The map illustrates a transitional era for the region, where the planned circular street pattern of Rotonda West and the residential expansion of Cape Coral contrast with the protected barrier islands. Extensive hydrographic data reveals the depths and shoals of Charlotte Harbor, Pine Island Sound, and the Myakka River. Significant conservation areas are clearly delineated, including the Cayo Costa State Preserve and several national wildlife refuges, preserving the character of the keys before modern intensification. The Seaboard Coast Line railroad provides a historical land-link across the landscape, connecting coastal settlements like El Jobean and Solana to the interior, while the bathymetric contours offer a precise view of the underwater topography critical to the local maritime economy.