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venice information Horse and Chaise,
otherwise known as Venice
Human settlements on the Gulf Coast of Florida can be traced back for more than 10,000 years, and found nearly 100 miles offshore. Over thousands of years, the aboriginal people flourished, giving rise to the expansive Calusa Indian nation. By dominating most of South Florida, this civilization thrived for many generations. Evidence of Native American inhabitants remains in the Venice area today, including a 4,000-year-old shell midden (mound) which can be observed at Historic Spanish Point in Osprey (near Venice).

In the early 19th century, the complete lack of roadways into the area known today as Venice forced seafaring pioneers to become creative in locating access to the land. Soon, a small formation of trees resembling a horse and carriage became known as the best way to reach the area. Hence, the earliest known name for the Venice area was Horse and Chaise. With the passing of

the Homestead Act, which promised the sale of 160-acre land tracts, Horse and Chaise saw a new era of settlement. Some of the first takers were well-known families like John and Eliza Webb, the Reverend Jesse Knight, Dr. Fred Albee, and Robert Roberts. Another settler, Frank Higel, brought with him fond memories of Venice, Italy, and developed his property with hints of Italian Renaissance architecture, some of which is still evident today. Higel also submitted the name Venice for the 1888 post office in what is today the Nokomis area. In 1910, Bertha Honore Palmer purchased 140,000 acres of land, which facilitated the extension of the Seaboard Airline Railroad. By 1927, the city of Venice was incorporated, with Ned Worthington as the first mayor. In 1928, the first Tamiami Trail (then called the Velvet Highway,) which connected Tampa to Miami ran down the coast and through Venice. The Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus began to winter in the Venice area in 1960, and by 1962, the population had reached 27,000, a significant increase from 1957’s population of 10,000.

Today, Venice is a designated Florida MainStreet City and enjoys a rich and cultured heritage, including a professional symphony, theatres, museums, and close proximity to many of Florida’s most breathtaking beaches.
Courtesy of Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau
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