Dederick, Missouri facts for kids

Dederick is a small, quiet place located in eastern Vernon County, in the U.S. state of Missouri. It's known as an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and buildings that doesn't have its own local government, like a city or town.

Dederick is situated right along US Route 54, a major road. It's about 11.5 miles (18.5 km) east of the city of Nevada. You can also find it about three miles (4.8 km) west of the border between Vernon and Cedar counties. A stream called Clear Creek flows past the east side of the community, adding to its natural setting.

The Story of Dederick

Dederick has had a few different names over the years. At one point, it was called "Dedrick," and even "Goodrick."

A post office, which is where people send and receive mail, was first opened in the area in 1883. It was named "Goodrick" at that time. However, this first post office closed down in 1890.

Later, in 1909, the post office reopened. This time, it was given the name "Dederick." It continued to serve the community until it was finally closed for good in 1957.

The name "Dederick" comes from a person named P. K. Dedrick. He was important because he gave land to the railroad company. In return for his donation, the community was named after him. This was a common way for places to get their names during the time when railroads were expanding across the country.