Cordova is a city in Walker County, Alabama, United States. It was formerly a textile mill town. It was incorporated in 1897. As of the 2020 census, Cordova had a population of 1,728.
History
Cordova was originally a settlement on the Mulberry Fork of the Black 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 where he was stationed during the Mexican–American 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, New Hampshire, 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,
The city has completed the following recovery projects since the 2011 tornadoes; $1.5 million Piggly Wiggly grocery store, $3.7 million city hall & police station, $2.4 million sewer treatment plant, $1.5 million utility line replacement, and are currently completing a $250,000 fire-station remodel.
2012 Cordova rock burst
On November 19, 2012, Cordova was hit by a minor rock burst that had a body wave magnitude of 2.6. The Mercalli intensity was estimated at II–III (Weak) in Cordova. It was felt throughout Alabama and the Southern United States, up to from the epicenter. By comparison, a magnitude 3.6 event on the West Coast would not be felt from the epicenter.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (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.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Cordova has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
Demographics
2020 census
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Racial composition as of the 2020 census
! Race !! Number !! Percent
|-
| White || 1,442 || 83.4%
|-
| Black or African American || 195 || 11.3%
|-
| American Indian and Alaska Native || 4 || 0.2%
|-
| Asian || 0 || 0.0%
|-
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander || 0 || 0.0%
|-
| Some other race || 4 || 0.2%
|-
| Two or more races || 83 || 4.8%
|-
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) || 20 || 1.2%
|}
As of the 2020 census, Cordova had a population of 1,728 and 506 families. The median age was 45.6 years. 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.3% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 84.9 males age 18 and over.
There were 737 households in Cordova, of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 30.5% were married-couple households, 22.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 41.4% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 842 households, 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.2% were married couples living together, 21.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 33.0% of households were one person and 14.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.95.
The age distribution was 22.1% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% 65 or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.
The median household income was $23,472 and the median family income was $39,185. Males had a median income of $40,868 versus $35,147 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,016. About 21.3% of families and 29.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 20.2% of those age 65 or over.
2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 2,423 people in 1,009 households, including 665 families, in the city. The population density was . There were 1,180 housing units at an average density of . 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, 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 households were one person and 17.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.29, and the average family size was 2.84.
The age distribution was 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% 65 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 household income was $17,389 and the median family income 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 Kindergarten through fourth. Bankhead Middle School serves students in pre-k and grades five through eight. The school is named for Senator John H. Bankhead, who was also the namesake of the previous high school that was located in the Benchfield community of the city. Cordova High School was built by the Works Progress Administration in 1938, and the building served the city through the 2007 school year. The current facility was an estimated $14 million project that offers the students of Cordova High a state-of-the-art education experience. The school serves students in grades nine through twelve, and is the proud home of a rich athletic tradition. The football program reached State Championships in 1963 (unofficially), 1995, and 2007. The softball team won three State titles in 1994, 1995, and 1997. The boys' basketball team won the Class 4A State championship in 2018, becoming the first team in Walker County ever to do so. In 2019, the cheerleaders won a state title, and in 2020 came in second place at the national competition. The marching band hit a steep decline until 2016, when under the direction of Sara Lipscomb (now under Ryan Perkins). The band has received numerous awards for their playing. The school has received honors in cheer leading, volleyball, golf, band, and most recently track and field/Cross Country where the team qualified for the state championship in 2022 and 2023. The city is within of the University of Alabama, University of Alabama Birmingham, and within of the University of North Alabama. The city is within close proximity of several junior colleges.
Notable people
- Doyle Alexander, born in Cordova, major league baseball player
- Jim O'Rear, actor, screenwriter, and director.
- P. W. Underwood, professional football player and coach.
- James S. Voss, astronaut who flew in space five times on board the Space Shuttle and International Space Station.