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.

[4] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 4.2 square miles (11 km2), 99.68% of it land and 0.32% of it water.

There were 89 housing units at an average density of 21.3 per square mile (8.2/km2), of which 68 (87.2%) were owner-occupied, and 10 (12.8%) were occupied by renters.

[8] Federally, Verdi is in California's 3rd congressional district, represented by Republican Kevin Kiley.

[11] Emergency Management Services (EMS) are also contractually provided by the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District in Washoe County, Nevada.