Venus, Texas
Venus is a town in Johnson and Ellis counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 2,960 in 2010 (2,895 in Johnson and 65 in Ellis County). History. The town was originally named "Gossip" until its development in the late 1880s. A man by the name of 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 of 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 (including a small college), several businesses, a weekly newspaper (the "Venus Express"), 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 the 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 there were 977 residents 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 Metroplex. Geography. Venus is located in northeastern Johnson County at (32.429383, –97.107022). According to the United  States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it 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 system, Venus has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. Demographics. At the 2000 census there were 910  people, 332 households, and 246 families in the town. The population density was 398.6 people per square mile (154.1/km). There were 344 housing units at an average density of 150.7 per square mile (58.3/km). 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 332 households 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 households were one person and 11.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.21. The age distribution was 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% 65 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 household income was $37,917 and the  median family income 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. Education. Venus is served by Venus Independent School District (www.venusisd.net), with grades K–1 attending Venus Primary School, 2–5 attending Venus Elementary, 6–8 attending Venus Middle School, and 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.