October 16, 1969 - Punta Gorda Health Clinic Opens

Charlotte County was originally part of a three county health department composed of Hardee, Desoto and Charlotte counties that was based in Hardee County.  The dedication of both the Punta Gorda and Englewood site was October 11, 1969.  The 10,030 square foot building in Punta Gorda, cost $500,000. The 1800 square foot building known as the Englewood Health Center cost $35,000.  Initial public health services provided were environmental health programs, communicable disease investigation and treatment including food born illness, sexually transmitted diseases, tuberculosis surveillance and treatment, childhood immunizations. Added later were maternal and child health programs as well as family planning.

April 1, 1970 - Englewood Florida Herald

In 1988, the health department collaborated with St. Joseph Hospital to establish a clinic site on the grounds of St. Joseph Hospital.  It was here that the first Primary Care, Prenatal, and WIC (Women Infant and Children food supplement program) clinics were established.  WIC services had previously been provided by Lee and Desoto Counties.  Eventually these services were extended to both Englewood and Punta Gorda clinics.

In 1990, Environmental Health moved to the new county administration building in Murdock.  This   better coordinated health department services with the county public utilities and building departments.  The Englewood clinic relocated joined other county services in the new county administration building on San Casa Road.

Expansion to improve services continued.  In 1995, WIC moved to a trailer at Meadow Park Elementary School.  The Port Charlotte clinic and Vital Statistics department relocated to the corner of Peachland and Forrest Nelson Boulevards in 1998.  Primary Care services were increased from one day a week to five days a week, becoming the busiest location for medical services in 2003.  The Office of Healthy Lifestyles, then known as the Education Department was housed at county courthouse prior to its renovation before relocating to offices at the Sheriff Training facility at Airport Road.

Friday, August 13, 2004 saw the destruction of four of Charlotte County Health Department’s sites due to a direct hit from Hurricane Charley. Two buildings remained in tact, the Englewood clinic, and Environmental Health in Murdock.  Trailers served as temporary accommodations in Punta Gorda.  WIC moved temporarily in with Environmental health while the Port Charlotte clinic merged with the Punta Gorda and Englewood sites until premises at the Promenades Mall in Port Charlotte were leased in December of 2005.

Spring of 2006 saw Administration staff move to Taylor Road.  Environmental Health saw major renovations and upgrades in August of 2006.

January 2007 saw the Englewood location on San Casa event renovated and re-opening of the hurricane damaged Punta Gorda facility. WIC relocated to the Punta Gorda clinic in October 2007. The Port Charlotte clinic moved to a larger facility on Kings Highway in January 2008, along with the grand opening of a pediatric clinic, bring to a close the recovery phase from Hurricane Charley.