VERDIGRE WEATHER

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Village · Knox County · Population 554 (2020 census) · ZIP 68783 · Founded 1887 · Peak population 618 (1930)

About Verdigre

Verdigre is a village of 554 on Verdigre Creek in western Knox County, where NE 84 begins at NE 14. Settled by Czech (Bohemian) families, it calls itself the Kolach Capital of the World and holds Kolach Days every June. It has an Avera clinic, a K-12 school, a bakery, cafes and camping at Wildwood Acres.

History

George W. Quimby, Creighton's first postmaster, bought land here in the spring of 1887 and platted Verdigre on July 12, 1887; "within a month there was a town." Bohemian settlers built it, and "Old Jules" Sandoz, father of the writer Mari Sandoz, was an early settler nearby. The Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad arrived by 1888, and in 1890 Verdigre was the end of its Norfolk branch. The town is named for Verdigre Creek; the name is said to come from the green color of the creek banks.

Lodge Bila Hora No. 5 of the Z.C.B.J., a Czech fraternal society, built the Z.C.B.J. Opera House in 1903, and it is still a community hall. The first school opened in 1888–89 and the fire department in 1912. The population peaked at 618 in 1930.

Highways and trails through Verdigre

RouteOne wayOther way
NE 14Along the east side of town; Spur 54A leads inNorth to Niobrara (about 12 mi)South to NE 59 (about 9 mi) and US 20 (about 17 mi)
NE 84Begins at NE 14 in VerdigreEast to Center (about 10 mi)On to Bloomfield (about 22 mi)

Nearby towns

Centerabout 10 mi eastNE 84
Niobraraabout 12 mi northNE 14
Winnetoonabout 10 mi southeastCounty roads; about 16 mi by highway
Pishelville (former town)about 15 mi northwestCounty roads
Creightonabout 16 mi southeastNE 14 south, then NE 59 east
Royalabout 21 mi southNE 14 and US 20

Things to see

Z.C.B.J. Opera House, 4th Ave. and Main St. (National Register) · Commercial Hotel (National Register) · Verdigre Heritage Museum (open during Kolach Days and by appointment) · Wildwood Acres park and campground · Verdigre Public Library

Events in Verdigre

  • Kolach Days
    Annual Czech heritage festival in Verdigre, Knox County.

More about this event: Verdigre Kolach Days

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Schools and health care

Schools: Verdigre Public Schools: Verdigre Elementary School and Verdigre High School, 201 S. 3rd St.

Health care: Avera Medical Group Verdigre, 401 James St. (Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–4 p.m.); nearest hospital Avera Creighton Hospital (about 16 mi)

Sources: U.S. Census; Wikipedia; History Nebraska; Andreas, History of the State of Nebraska (1882); Knox County; Nebraska Department of Transportation route mileposts. Distances marked "about" are estimates.

Verdigre Businesses & Places

65 listings in Verdigre.

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