Cordova

City of Cordova
Incorporated	1859
Population	2,423
Mayor	Craig Drummonds
School district	Walker County Schools
Government	Cordova City Council Cordova Fire Department Cordova Police Department
Web site	http://www.walkercounty.us/cordova/
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Cordova is a city of 2,423 on 5.9 square miles near the banks of the Mulberry Fork in Walker County. It was first settled around 1822 and was called "Dent" or "Dent's Place". Captain Benjamin Long renamed the settlement in 1859 for Cordova, Mexico, where he had been stationed during the Mexican War. He opened a mercantile in the community and took charge of recruiting other businesses.

The Nashua Manufacturing Company of New Hampshire built the Indian Head Textile Mills in Cordova in 1890, boosting its population as families came to the town for employment. The company constructed housing for its workers and provided many other facilities common to mill towns, including the Indian Head School (now the site of the Cordova Health and Rehabilitation Center). The Burlington Northern & Santa Fe and Norfolk Southern Railway subsequently connected Cordova to the outside world. The closing of the mill in the 1950s diminished the town's prospects, with hopes pinned on new development following the completion of I-22 through the county. Currently, Cordova's major employer is the military contractor BAE Systems.

Cordova was struck by an F3 tornado on April 24, 2010.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR 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 is situated firmly in the Bible Belt as is proven by no less than ten churches of multiple denominations within the Template:Convert of the city. This does not include the five to ten churches that are situated just outside the city limits.

Notable residents

• Jeran Akers, mayor of Plano, Texas
• Doyle Alexander, baseball player

External links

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• High School