Verdi ( ) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Washoe County, Nevada, United States. Prior to 2010, the community was listed by the U.S. Census Bureau as part of the Verdi-Mogul CDP.
History
It was originally known as O'Neil's Crossing, named for the man who built a bridge there in 1860.
Name
The town of Verdi was named after Giuseppe Verdi by Charles Crocker, founder of the Central Pacific Railroad, when he pulled a slip of paper from a hat and read the name of the Italian opera composer in 1868. The name is pronounced by the local population as VUR-dye.
1870 train robbery
On November 4, 1870, five men robbed a train travelling from San Francisco to Virginia City near Verdi after blocking the track. The train was carrying approximately $60,000 of gold and silver, and the robbers were able to get away with approximately $41,000. The same train was robbed for a second time near Pequop, Nevada, in Elko County.
Geography
thumb|left|Third Street, which City of Reno's Fourth Street becomes, ([[Nevada State Route 425|Old U.S. Route 40) passes over the Truckee River, as seen from Crystal Peak Park in Verdi.]]
Verdi is located at on the western border of Nevada, adjacent to the California state line.
The CDP has a total area of , of which is land and , or 3.35%, is water.
As of the 2010 census, there were 1,415 people in the CDP. The population density was . There were 686 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.5% White, 0.2% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.8% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, 0.5% some other race, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.6% of the population.
There were 641 households, out of which 20.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were headed by married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21, and the average family size was 2.66.
Education
The Verdi area is served by the Washoe County School District.
Economy
Verdi is home to two of the closest Nevada casinos and RV parks to California on I-80: Terrible's Gold Ranch Casino, now known simply as Gold Ranch Casino, at Exit 2 and the Boomtown Reno at Exit 4. Nearby is the closest Cabela's to California.