Venus, Texas

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Venus, Texas
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Downtown Venus


image_

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Venus, Texas

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mapsize1 = 250px
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Texas
subdivision_type2 = Counties
subdivision_name2 = Johnson, Ellis

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 5.9
area_land_km2 = 5.9
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 2.3
area_land_sq_mi = 2.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2006
population_footnotes =
population_total = 2,426
population_density_km2 = 411.2
population_density_sq_mi = 1054.8

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 203
elevation_ft = 666
latd = 32 |latm = 25 |lats = 46 |latNS = N
longd = 97 |longm = 6 |longs = 25 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 76084
area_code = 972
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 48-75236GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1349239GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Venus is a town in Ellis and Johnson Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 2,426 in 2006.

Geography

Venus is located at coor dms|32|25|46|N|97|6|25|W|city (32.429383, -97.107022)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.3 square miles (5.9 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 910 people, 332 households, and 246 families residing in the town. The population density was 398.6 people per square mile (154.1/km²). There were 344 housing units at an average density of 150.7/sq mi (58.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 84.84% White, 1.54% African American, 0.44% Native American, 5.82% Asian, 4.51% from other races, and 2.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.19% of the population.

There were 332 households out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.1% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the town the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $37,917, and the median income for a family was $48,906. Males had a median income of $31,731 versus $24,375 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,213. About 6.7% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.4% of those under age 18 and 29.6% of those age 65 or over.

History

It was originally named Gossip, until it's development in the late 1880's. A man by the name of J.C. Smythe purchased 80 acres of abandoned cornfields in the northwestern corner of Johnson County and began to plat 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 of around ten 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 1920's, Venus had its own schools (including a small college), several businesses, a weekly newspaper (Venus Express), and a population which exceeded 800.

The Great Depression had massive negative impact, however, and in the 1930's the town began to decline. Growth of the D/FW 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 the population had fallen to 200 and the only remaining operating business was the drug store.

Venus began to recover somewhat in the late 1940's, however, and the population soon increased back to over 300. Growth was slow but steady throughout the remainder of the twentieth century and by 1990, there were 977 residents and the town had spread into neighboring Ellis County. The 2000 census listed the population at 910, but recent estimates suggest that this figure has more than doubled and Venus now has a population of over 2,100; due largely to the southward expansion of the Metroplex. [ [http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/VV/hlv8.html TSHA Online - Texas State Historical Association ] ]

Education

Most of Venus is served by the Venus Independent School District. The small portion of Venus that lies in Ellis County is served by the Midlothian Independent School District.

References

External links