Downtown Cordova around 1950's
Our 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 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, 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, its own school, police force, and stores. The city was forever shaped by the impact of this mill, and was re-defined by an EF-3 and an EF-4 tornado on April 27th, 2011. The city is now hard at work defining the twenty-first century version of herself.
Schools in Cordova
Old Bankhead School
Old Cordova High School
Old Cordova High School
Bankhead High School, named after Senator John H. Bankhead was built in the Benchfield area. In the beginning of its time, Bankhead High School housed grades 7-12. But, after the completion of Cordova High School Bankhead became part of the elementary school, housing grades 4-6. After the completion of Cordova Elementary, Bankhead taught grades 5-7. This structure burned on September 21 (year:?) Students were then moved to a new brick building that was called Cordova Junior High, with black curtain partitions to separate 9 classrooms in its gym. Then 9 trailers were moved to relieve the crowded arrangement, which allowed for grade 8 to join in the junior high.
Old Cordova High School
Old Cordova High School
Old Cordova High School
Cordova High School was originally built in 1938 by the Works Progress Administration. This building served the city through the graduating class of 2008. The last football and softball state titles were achieved by students who attended in this building. The new and current high school was built in 2008, and the location of the old building is now home to Cordova's athletic facility.