It is situated along the Venta River, Kuršėnai-Mažeikiai highway, and a railroad connecting Mažeikiai with Šiauliai (the train station is called Akmenė).

Venta is also one kilometre (0.62 mi) from the small villages of Žerkščiai and Pašilė (Akmenė) [lt].

The name of the city derives from the Venta River, which flows near the southern and western parts of the settlement.

The town grew after World War II together with a lime factory which later produced bricks.

[3] After the 1990 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union, the factory faced severe financial difficulties while shifting from planned economy to free market.

In 1999 a public company, "Naujasis kalcitas" (English: The New Calcite; the only manufacturer of quicklime in Lithuania, supplying 50-55% of the domestic market) purchased and reconstructed a remaining lime burning technology line with rotary kiln.

The building belonged to a railroad company and was not fitted for school, but the war prevented the reconstruction.

In 1996 it won the second place in "Biblioteka - kultūros centras" (English: Library - cultural center) contest organized by the Open Society Fund Lithuania.

A club, "Ventos mūzų malūnas", was established by the library and gathers people interested in art and poetry.

In 2004 it became famous after appearing in a popular song contest Nacionalinė Muzikos Lyga (commonly abbreviated as NML; English: National Music League) on LNK, one of the biggest TV stations in Lithuania.