Cordova, Tennessee

Cordova was a farming village with fewer than a dozen farmers when it was founded in 1835. It was renowned for the freshly cut flowers that were shipped to Memphis thus the town’s motto was “Farms, Flowers and Fellowship”. It was originally named Allentown, but eventually became known as Marysville, and later Dexter. So as not to confuse it with another town named Dexter it became known as Cordova.

Cordova was one of the many small railroad stops along the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway route to Memphis. The one room train station is still standing and has been sold to an individual who is renovating it so it can be utilized as a retail business. It once served as the Cordova Branch Library for more than 50 years. An important ammunition plant was near Cordova and was served by the railroad during World War II.

Located in Shelby County, Tennessee it lays on Memphis’ northeast side, north of Germantown, and northwest of Collierville.

Cordova has grown from a quiet country farm hamlet with a population of 150 people in 1912 to one of the fastest growing neighborhoods of Memphis. Retail growth exploded in the late 1990s due to the Wolfchase Galleria shopping mall, which at the time was the largest retail center in Shelby County outside of Memphis city limits. Wolfchase Galleria features Dillard’s, JC Penny, Sears and Macy’s plus 130 of the most exciting stores in the Mid-South. Stores like American Eagle Outfitters, Hollister Co., Fossil, Brooks Brothers, Wet Seal, Guess, Banana Republic, Gap, Pottery Barn and The Disney Store to name just a few. A wide variety of food can be purchased in the Food Court and there are also a couple of restaurants located in the Galleria. To complete your day out you can take in the latest movie at the Malco Threatre or ride on the fantasy carousel.

The majority of Cordova has been annexed by the City of Memphis. The remainder is in unincorporated Shelby County, in the Memphis Annexation Reserve area. The Old Cordova Area is centered around Macon and Sanga Road, three miles east of Germantown Road. It consists of the former town of Cordova, with some of the original structures still present. It continues to preserve its past with a historic downtown which each year celebrates with an annual crafts fair and its own Fourth of July parade.

The Community Center was constructed about the time of World War I and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It was a former school, county library and at one time used as a church for Sunday worship. The Walter Granville Allen House is an early 1900s Colonial Revival private residence and is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The old Sangie Cemetery dates to the early 1800s and is located near the corner of Walnut Grove Road and Sanga Road, behind the Walnut Grove Baptist Church.

Cordova Community Center
1017 Sanga Road
Cordova, TN 38018
901-757-4400

The community center facilities were vacant for 12 years after serving as the Cordova School for 60 years. Eight Cordova citizens then formed a nonprofit corporation in 1986 to purchase the school for the community. It now includes the Cordova Branch of the Public Library, the Cordova Local Museum, a gym, ball fields and meeting rooms.

Education

Since the majority of Cordova was annexed by the city of Memphis, it is a part of the Memphis City Schools district. The Cordova areas within Shelby County Schools are zoned to SCS elementary and middle schools and Memphis City Schools’ Cordova High School. There are also several private schools in the area.

Recreation

Colonial Country Club in Cordova is a private golf club which formerly hosted the Memphis Open golf tournament (now known as the Stanford St. Jude Championship). It received national attention for tow occurrences during the 1977 event. First, President Gerald Ford hit a hole in one during the event’s Pro-Am. Later, professional golfer Al Geiberger shot a record 59.