Venus, Texas


Venus is a city in Johnson and Ellis Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. Its population was 4,361 in 2020.

History

[Image:Venus downtown park.jpg|thumb|left|Venus City Park, 2007]
The town was originally named "Gossip" until its development in the late 1880s. J.C. Smythe purchased of abandoned cornfields in the northeastern corner of Johnson County and began to plan a townsite. He named his new town "Venus" after the daughter of a local doctor. By 1888, the new town had a post office and a population around 10 residents. Being at the junction of two major railroads, Venus prospered and for a time was one of the fastest-growing communities in Johnson County. By the 1920s, Venus had its own schools, several businesses, a weekly newspaper, and a population that exceeded 800.
The Great Depression had massive negative impact, however, and in the 1930s, the town began to decline. Growth of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex just to the north hastened its decline, with many of its residents relocating to the growing urban area in search of work. By 1940, its population had fallen to 200, and the only remaining operating business was the drug store.
Venus began to recover somewhat in the late 1940s, and the population soon increased back to over 300. Growth was slow but steady throughout the remainder of the 20th century; by 1990, 977 people lived there, and the town had spread into neighboring Ellis County. The 2000 census listed the population as 910, but the population more than tripled to 2,960 in 2010, due largely to the southward expansion of the DFW Metroplex.

Geography

Venus is located in northeastern Johnson County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, all land.
U.S. Route 67 passes through the town north of its center; the highway leads northeast to the center of Midlothian and west to Alvarado. Downtown Dallas and Fort Worth are each away, Dallas to the northeast and Fort Worth to the northwest.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, Venus has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps.

Demographics

RaceNumberPercentage
White 1,94444.58%
Black or African American 80318.41%
Native American or Alaska Native 80.18%
Asian 651.49%
Pacific Islander 30.07%
Some Other Race 240.55%
Multiracial 1323.03%
Hispanic or Latino1,38231.69%
Total4,361

As of the 2020 United States census, 4,361 people, 909 households, and 740 families resided in the town.

Education

Venus is served by Venus Independent School District, with kindergarten and first grade attending Venus Primary School, grades 2-5 attending Venus Elementary, grades 6–8 attending Venus Middle School, and grades 9–12 attending Venus High School. The small portion of Venus that lies in Ellis County is served by the Midlothian Independent School District or Maypearl Independent School District.

Notable person