This weekend marked the official start of spring, and recently daylight saving time has allowed local residents to enjoy an extra hour outside.

Longer day hours in Charlotte County typically means more activity, and lately the county has been buzzing with anticipation of warmer weather and longer days.

While there seems to be a surge in activity locally around the county, longer daylight hours provide an opportunity for various springtime activities such as outdoor sports, working in the garden, farming, exercising or simply allowing retail stores a wider range of time to stay open for consumers.

Although many rural locations such as Charlotte County do benefit from daylight saving time, the idea was originally created with urban areas of interest in mind.

According to history.com, “rather than rural interests, it has been urban entities such as retail outlets and recreational businesses that have championed daylight saving over the decades.”

The website said it was first believed that farmers spearheaded the fight for daylight saving time; however, that assumption is incorrect.

Regardless of whether rural or urban areas benefit most greatly from the time change, there are many local reasons why springing forward can be beneficial to residents of Charlotte County.

One of the most popular recreational activities in Charlotte County during the spring is baseball and softball.

Charlotte County has always been known for its rich baseball and softball culture, with each spring signifying the start of a new season.

Other popular activities for Charlotte County during the warmer months of the year include fishing and watersports, to name a couple.

For the youth, there are ample options to join an organized sport, visit Tower Park in Keysville or participate in the 4-H program.

This spring, spend that extra hour of sunlight outside.

As Helen Keller once said, “Keep your face to the sun and you will never see the shadows.”

Italia Gregory is a staff reporter for The Charlotte Gazette. She can be reached at italia.gregory@thecharlottegazette.com