Venice is the beautiful “City on the Gulf” and has a population of around 23,00.
In 1910, Bertha Honoré Palmer acquired 140,000 acres (including most of current Venice) in what was then known as South Manatee County. In 1925, Dr. Fred Albee, a well-known orthopedic surgeon, purchased 2,916 acres of land from the Palmer family’s Venice-Sarasota Company. Earlier, he developed Nokomis and built its first luxury hotel, the Pollyanna Inn. Albee retained John Nolen, a world-renowned city planner, to design a walkable city on his land. The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers eventually purchased land from Albee, and in 1926 Nolen revised his Venice city plan for the BLE. In 1927, the City of Venice was incorporated by the Florida Legislature. The Venice Train Depot was completed and the first airport constructed that same year. The Kentucky Military Institute moved its winter headquarters to Venice in 1932, which would be open to cadets for nearly 40 years. The Venice Army Air Base began operations here in 1942, which ran for 3 years. The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus relocated winter headquarters to Venice in 1960, holding their last circus performance in 1991.
Today, Venice has a thriving downtown of unique shops and restaurants, theatre, museum and performing arts center, as well as hundreds of events throughout the year, ranging from downtown wine walks and Gazebo musical performances to the annual Sun Fiesta, BBQ Bash and Shark’s Tooth Festival that attract thousands every year. It also boasts 3.5 miles of beaches, an iconic Fishing Pier and rock Jetties, over 40 parks, and a Paw Park beach for dogs.
