Uniquely Us

Venice is a small unincorporated village approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of Richfield, Utah. It lies southeast of State Route 118 (formerly U.S. Route 89) and north of State Route 119. The area considered Venice is bisected by the Sevier River, which runs roughly northeast through the community. Directly east is a rocky hill on the edge of the Sevier Plateau known as the Black Knoll and it has a marked hillside letter “V”.

Residents of Venice have no city services such as water or sewer. They depend on individual underground wells for culinary household and yard water. Private septic tanks are used for sewer. Most residents of Venice have employment in other communities, home base employment or are retired. The majority of the homes are located on two streets, Main & Center with the Sevier River dividing the community physically.
 

History

In 1875 Francis George Wall left Logan, Utah to a barren grey rabbit brush and scraggly bullberry bush ground with a vision of relocating his family. He had the tenacity to transform the land into a fertile rich soil producing grains, alfalfa and corn. The village was originally named Wallsville after the Wall family. Other families began to settle in the area resulting in a request to change the name. In the year 1900, Joseph Curtis Cowley owner of the local mercantile, liked the name Venice. A vote for a name change was requested and all persons young and old were allowed to vote. Mr. Cowley, enticed the children if the majority of the votes were for Venice they would be given a piece of candy. The majority voted for Venice.

Founding Families

The original founder was Francis George Wall and his family. Later other families settled in the area naming William Wall, William Michael Cowley, Charles Caesar Cowley, Joseph Curtis Cowley, Gottfried Brugger, William Wallace Buchanan, William H. Avery, John H. Jackson, Lorenzo D. Buchanan, Henry P. Buchanan, Eugene Buchanan, Fred Heppler, Fred Shaw, Thomas Shaw, Hans P. Miller, James L. Despain, Isaac W. Oldroyd, Mahonri W. Breinholt, Robert Poole, David D. Anderson, John Stewart, James M. Chidester, Edward Erickson, Chris Hendrickson, Orlando Jackson, Frank Wall, Abraham Shaw, Russell Hougaard, Chris Johnson, and John Hendrickson families. Founders and settlers of Venice built canal systems to divert water for irrigation, a pumping station to transport water to other farms; roads, a bridge, a school house, store, church and a post office.

Compiled by Bart Cowley, Venice Historian, October 3, 2024