Cordova, Alabama

Cordova
—  City  —
Location in Walker County and the state of Alabama
Coordinates: 33°45′36″N 87°11′13″W / 33.76°N 87.18694°W / 33.76; -87.18694Coordinates: 33°45′36″N 87°11′13″W / 33.76°N 87.18694°W / 33.76; -87.18694
Country	United States
State	Alabama
County	Walker
Area
– Total	6 sq mi (15.4 km2)
– Land	5.9 sq mi (15.3 km2)
– Water	0.1 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation	302 ft (92 m)
Population (2000)
– Total	2,423
– Density	403.8/sq mi (157.3/km2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
– Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	35550
Area code(s)	205
FIPS code	01-17368
GNIS feature ID	0116626

Cordova is a city in Walker County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,423.

History

Cordova was originally a settlement on the Warrior River Called "Dent" or "Dent's Place." The city was dubbed "Cordova" by Captain Benjamin M. Long in 1859. He named the city after a city in Mexico in which he was stationed during the Mexican War. Long himself opened a mercantile shop in the city and helped lure other industries into the city by providing the land necessary for their operations. The company that had the biggest impact on the City was Nashua Manufacturing Company out of Nashua, NH, who brought in the Indian Head Textile Mills. The mill brought with it many jobs, and as was customary of the day its own village. The company built over 100 houses in the city, many of which are still standing, and occupied today. The company even built the Indian Head school on the site of present day "Cordova Health and Rehabilitation Center." The mill helped to bring two major railways to the city, which at the time helped connect the city to much of the surrounding area. The mill eventually became its own "town" and even had its own separate police force. The same way the mill shaped the city around the turn of the 20th century it also shaped it upon its closing in the middle of the century. Population declined and industry slowed, while neighboring Jasper took a strong hold on the county seat as the largest city in the county.

Present-day Cordova

Street in Cordova, Spring, 1993

With access to the Gulf of Mexico via the Warrior and Alabama Rivers, two major railways (Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Norfolk Southern), Interstate 22, and the recent addition of BAE Systems, the city is hoping for economic growth.

Single-wide mobile homes are controversially banned in Cordova.^[1]

On April 27, 2011, an EF-4 tornado tore through Cordova. It destroyed approximately 90% of the town's infrastructure, including the city hall, police station, the old Tallulah Bankhead hotel, Piggly Wiggly, and both banks. Rebuilding efforts are in progress, and the town is hopeful it can overcome the disaster and have a bright future.

Geography

Cordova is located at 33°45′36″N 87°11′13″W / 33.760106°N 87.187083°W / 33.760106; -87.187083.^[2]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.9 square miles (15 km²), of which 5.9 square miles (15 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) (0.84%) is water. Cordova is located in the rolling foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, near the banks of the Mulberry Fork of the Warrior River.

Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 2,423 people, 1,009 households, and 665 families residing in the city. The population density was 411.0 people per square mile (158.6/km²). There were 1,180 housing units at an average density of 200.2 per square mile (77.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 85.60% White, 13.25% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,009 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 18.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 23.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 79.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $17,389, and the median income for a family was $24,896. Males had a median income of $32,353 versus $19,549 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,489. About 25.6% of families and 26.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.4% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The city is served by three schools, all members of the Walker County Board of Education. Cordova Elementary School serves grades pre-K through fourth. Bankhead Middle School serves students in grades five through eight. The school is named for Senator John H. Bankhead, which was the previous name of the High School. Cordova High School was built by the Works Progress Administration in 1938 . The current building is being replaced by a new $14 million (estimate) facility which is currently under construction. The school serves students in grades nine through twelve, and is the proud home of a rich athletic tradition. The football program boast State Championships in 1963 (unofficially) 1995, and 2007. The softball team won three State titles in 1994, 1995, and 1997. The school has received honors in Cheer leading, Volleyball, Golf, and most recently Track and Field. The city is within fifty miles of the University of Alabama, University of Alabama Birmingham, and within one hundred miles of the University of North Alabama. The city is within close proximity of several junior colleges.

Religion

The city has ten churches of multiple denominations within the 5.9 square miles (15 km²) of the city, as well five to ten churches situated just outside the city limits.

Famous residents

• Doyle Alexander, born in Cordova, major league baseball player^[4]

References

1. ^ http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2011/06/displaced-alabama-residents-stand-trailer-ban/38361/
2. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
3. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
4. ^ Reichler, Joseph L., ed (1979) [1969]. The Baseball Encyclopedia (4th edition ed.). New York: Macmillan Publishing. ISBN 0-02-578970-8. 

External links

• High School