Verden specializes in a slow-paced lifestyle, near bigger cities
Verden is a quiet, rural town in Grady County that’s halfway between Anadarko and Chickasha. “People that live in Verden, they get that small-town feel but work in Anadarko or Chickasha,” says Renee Stallings, an experienced Realtor with Century 21 Mosley Real Estate. “People like living in the Chickasha area. We have a lot of people from Lawton who work on the base there but don’t want to live in a big city. Verden is on the cusp of that.”
Before it was called Verden, it was a community called Cottonwood Grove in the late 1800s. During the Civil War, representatives of local Native American tribes met in Verden to discuss a peace compact with the federal government, called the Camp Napoleon conference. Later, railroads brought more people to the area, and the community turned into the town of Verden. The area is full of farmland, a few oil rig sites and homes that primarily sit near schools. Verden offers a quiet place to live among stretches of Oklahoma farmland while still having a short drive to big city amenities.
Kids attend the Verden Public School district
“One of the biggest selling points is that it has a school system on its own,” Stallings says. “They have a very good reputation.” The Verden Public School district receives a B-minus from Niche. The B-rated Verden Elementary School offers prekindergarten through eighth-grade classes and shares a campus with Verden High School, which gets a C-plus. The high school has less than 150 students, and classes have an 18-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio.
Homes are close together in this country town
Unlike many rural Oklahoma towns, most homes in Verden are close together. Residents get a quiet, rural setting while still being within walking distance of their neighbors. “I will say home prices are a little cheaper than in Chickasha, and sometimes that drives people,” Stalling says. Bungalows and ranch-style homes that recently sold have prices that range between $60,000 and $165,000. There are also manufactured homes. Estimated prices for homes throughout Verden start around $50,000 and reach the high $300,000s.
Some homes have attached garages, but many residents park on paved driveways or under carports. While neighbors are near each other, homes have large front and back yards. Also unique, Verden has public sewer and water access, so although the area is rural, homes don’t require septic tanks or well water systems.
Grabbing breakfast at Vivian's or visiting Chickasha to shop
Vivian's Cafe is a restaurant that’s open from Tuesday to Thursday, and there’s an RV park in the back. Residents stop by the small diner to sit at the counter or in a booth before ordering a hot breakfast or lunch. “People from Chickasha go to Verden to eat at Vivian’s," Stallings says. "It’s been there a long time, and people really love it. It's on Highway 62 before you leave Verden, and my best friend’s father-in-law has a weekly lunch meeting with his friend there. If you drive by, there are always line trucks out front.”
Hillcrest Growers is a locally owned greenhouse and garden center that is open seasonally and sells locally grown plants. There’s a Dollar General off Highway 62, though most residents drive into Chickasha to pick up groceries at the Walmart Supercenter or Aldi. When Vivian’s is closed for dinner, Chickasha has local favorites like Mama Carol’s Kitchen, and Anadarko has the Soda Fountain Eatery.
Highway 62 is a major commuter route
Highway 62 is the main commuter route for anyone who works east in Chickasha or west in Anadarko. The town has its own police department that keeps a sharp eye out for speeding cars, because Highway 62 may be a highway, but it also includes a school zone in Verden. Drivers can reach either city in about 10 minutes. Being halfway between two larger cities also means being a short drive to The Physician’s Hospital in Anadarko and Grady Memorial Hospital in Chickasha. There are three churches in town, including First Baptist Church.
Relaxing at Lake Chickasha and other nearby recreation spots
Parents who want to let their kids run around might visit Verden Elementary’s playground or baseball fields when school is out. “It’s also a good turning place to go to Chickasha Lake," Stallings says. "You turn down Main Street and head up to the lake.” Lake Chickasha is open to camping, boating and fishing, 30 minutes north of Verden. Fishing enthusiasts can participate in Lake Chickasha’s weekly Wednesday night fishing tournament in the summer.
Anadarko and Chickasha have libraries that issue library cards to anyone who lives in Grady County, so Verden residents can check out books and sign up for classes. Chickasha hosts the Festival of Light every winter at Shannon Springs Park. Visitors can walk across the bridge under a tunnel of lights, go ice skating and take pictures with Santa.
Verden has low crime and a risk of tornadoes
Verden has a 1 out of 10 CAP Index Crime Score, lower than the national average of 4. Living anywhere in Oklahoma means keeping an eye out for severe weather. Spring is usually tornado season, and spring storms might come with hail. Verden has a tornado siren to warn anyone outside of impending weather, but most residents rely on warnings from phone, TV and radio announcements. Winters usually come with below-freezing temperatures and snow.
