Venice

About Venice

Venice is a small city on the western coast of Florida, located just north of the city of Englewood. It has been ranked among the happiest seaside towns, and it's known as a popular home for retirees. Venice is also known as a major source of fossilized shark teeth, holding an annual Shark's Tooth Festival to celebrate.

The History of Venice

Like many of Florida's cities, Venice got its start as a farming community that grew citrus fruits, primarily oranges. The area began attracting more businesses in the 1880s, after Frank Higel built a company that canned citrus jams, juices and orange peels. Higel came up with many creative uses for the citrus, even making orange wine. Development started to boom when the railroad was completed in 1911, though the city didn't get its first official street until 1926.

Living in Venice

Venice's population has been growing steadily for at least three decades, attracting primarily retirees who are drawn to the warm weather and scenic location. Many tourists also visit during the spring and summer months. Venice includes the nearby Venice Island, which is actually a portion of mainland separated by the man-made Intracoastal Waterway.

Cycling is a major part of the Venice lifestyle, and the city has been recognized as an extremely bicycle-friendly city. A number of bike trails crisscross the city, including the Legacy Trail and the Venetian Waterway Park trails. You'll also find more than 30 different parks and public beaches throughout Venice. These parks include dog-friendly beaches and a five-mile stretch of biking and walking trails along the Intracoastal Waterway.

Venice Schools

The Sarasota County Public School District manages the public schools in Venice and many of its neighboring communities. The school system also operates a dozen charter schools and three alternative schools.

Resources for Moving to Venice

Here's some handy information for planning your move to Venice:

• Utilities: Florida Power & Light and the city utilities department provide major utilities to the area.
• Garbage and Recycling: The city provides curbside collection of trash and recycling, as well as bulky item pick-up by request.
• Transportation: The Sarasota County Area Transit system facilitates public bus transportation throughout Venice and several nearby cities.

Venice Housing

Considering that Venice offers easy access to beaches and recreational facilities, home prices are fairly affordable. The median home price is above the national average, but still ower than that in many beachfront cities in other areas of the United States. Venice's housing market provides a wide variety of options, including town houses and single-family homes.