Verden, Oklahoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Verden, Oklahoma
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Location of Verden, Oklahoma
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| County | Grady |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.39 sq mi (1.01 km2) |
| • Land | 0.39 sq mi (1.01 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,135 ft (346 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 508 |
| • Density | 1,305.91/sq mi (504.86/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
73092
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| Area code(s) | 405 |
| FIPS code | 40-77000 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2413428 |
Verden is a small town in Oklahoma, United States. It is located in the western part of Grady County, right next to the Caddo County border. Verden is known for being the place where the Camp Napoleon Council happened in 1865. In 2020, about 508 people lived in Verden. This was a small increase from 530 people in 2010.
Contents
Discovering Verden's Past
Verden has a long and interesting history. Before the Civil War, a small farming community called "Cottonwood Grove" started near where Verden is today.
Early Days: Cottonwood Grove
Cottonwood Grove was on the eastern edge of a special area for the Kiowa and Comanche Native American tribes. This area was set up by a deal with the U.S. government in 1867, called the Medicine Lodge Treaty. Cottonwood Grove became a stop for people traveling by stagecoach. They were going to places like the Kiowa Agency, Fort Sill, and Fort Cobb.
The land around Cottonwood Grove was owned by a large ranch called Half Moon Ranch. Later, in the early 1900s, Charles Campbell and E. B. Johnson bought the ranch.
Building the Railroad and a New Name
Around 1900, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (also known as the Rock Island Railroad) built train tracks through this area. The tracks connected towns like Chickasha and Mangum.
When Native American tribes were allowed to claim their own land, James N. Jones and his family claimed the land around Cottonwood Grove. A post office opened in Cottonwood Grove in 1899 but closed soon after. In 1902, a new post office opened and was named "Verden." This new name was chosen because there was another Cottonwood Grove post office in Oklahoma Territory.
The town of Verden was officially planned out in 1904. By 1907, Verden became an official town in Oklahoma Territory. It had a population of 312 people.
Growing as a Town
Since it started, farming has been the main way people in Verden make a living. The railroad helped Verden become an important place for shipping farm products.
Verden's public school opened in 1905. By 1910, the town's population had grown to 524. Verden had many businesses, including two banks, a newspaper called the Verden News, and a telephone service. It also had an electric company, a grain elevator, and places to process cotton. The town's business area survived a big fire in 1908 and several floods from the nearby Washita River.
Verden's Location and Landscape
Verden is located in the western part of Grady County. It sits along U.S. Route 62 and State Highway 9. It is about 9 miles (14 km) west of Chickasha, which is the main city of the county. Verden is also about 18 miles (29 km) east of Anadarko.
The western edge of Verden touches the border of Caddo County. The Washita River flows just north of the town. The United States Census Bureau says that Verden covers about 0.39 square miles (1.01 square kilometers) of land.
People of Verden
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 524 | — | |
| 1920 | 496 | −5.3% | |
| 1930 | 587 | 18.3% | |
| 1940 | 575 | −2.0% | |
| 1950 | 508 | −11.7% | |
| 1960 | 405 | −20.3% | |
| 1970 | 439 | 8.4% | |
| 1980 | 625 | 42.4% | |
| 1990 | 546 | −12.6% | |
| 2000 | 659 | 20.7% | |
| 2010 | 530 | −19.6% | |
| 2020 | 508 | −4.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 659 people living in Verden. Most people were White (90.44%), and some were Native American (6.07%). A small number of people were Asian or from other backgrounds. About 0.61% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
There were 246 households in Verden. About 38.6% of these households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (59.3%) were married couples. The average household had about 2.68 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 32.0% of the people were under 18. About 12.6% were 65 years old or older. The average age in Verden was 34 years.
The average income for a household in Verden was $23,667. For families, the average income was $26,833. About 13.4% of the people in Verden lived below the poverty line.
Learning in Verden
A man named Allen Toles, who was an African American farmer, owned land in Verden. In 1910, he built the Verden Separate School on his own property. This school was for Black children. The school was open until 1935.
Historians found the school building again in 2004. It was then fixed up and moved to nearby Chickasha. In 2005, the school building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical place.
Town Services
- Telephone, Internet, and Digital TV Services are provided by Hilliary Communications.
Images for kids
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Location of Verden, Oklahoma
See also
In Spanish: Verden (Oklahoma) para niños
