Venus is a city in Johnson County, Texas, with a small portion extending into Ellis County, located about 30 miles south of Dallas on the North Texas prairie. The town was founded in 1888 when the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway built through the area, and it was named for the Roman goddess of love. By the mid-1890s Venus ranked among the most prosperous towns in Johnson County, with a cluster of businesses, churches, a grade school, and Burnetta College, an early local institution. The city kept a small, agricultural character for much of the twentieth century, serving the surrounding blackland farming country. In recent years, however, Venus has experienced rapid growth as residential construction spreads outward from the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, particularly as nearby Midlothian has built out. The city's population was about 4,400 at the 2020 census and has grown substantially since, with new subdivisions joining an older, more established core. Venus retains a rural feel despite its growth, and most residents own their homes. The community's school system, Venus Independent School District, serves the Johnson County portion of the city, while the small Ellis County section falls within the Midlothian or Maypearl districts. Neighborhoods range from the older in-town streets to newer developments such as Patriot Estates and Heritage Hills Estates. The city's location keeps Dallas and Fort Worth within commuting range by way of U.S. 67 and Interstate 35, while its blackland-prairie surroundings and small-town atmosphere set it apart from the denser suburbs closer in. Venus suits people seeking a more affordable, small-town setting within reach of the metroplex's employment centers, and its growth reflects the steady outward movement of the North Texas housing market.