Cordova, Memphis
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Cordova is a community located on the east side in the City of Memphis, north of Germantown, Tennessee, and northwest of Collierville, Tennessee, in Shelby County .
Much of Cordova (and some of the surrounding area) was annexed by the City of Memphis. Some of the area to its southeast is currently still unincorporated.
The two major areas of Cordova are Old Cordova Area and Wolfchase Area. The Old Cordova Area is centered around Macon and Sanga Roads, 3 miles east of Germantown Road. It consists of the former town of Cordova, with some of the original structures still present. The Wolfchase Area is not actually a part of Cordova, but named so due to association. It contains major shopping centers, businesses and apartments.Project Pat is currently living in this neighborhood.
The boundaries of Cordova neighborhood (now called Northeast or Newly Conquered Memphis) are inexact but are generally regarded as the Wolf River on the south, Germantown Road on the west, Interstate 40 on the north, and Houston-Levee Road on the east. (While some consider Shelby Farms as a part of this community, it is 2-3 miles west of the community at large.)
The ZIP codes for delivery to physical addresses in Cordova is 38018 and 38016.
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[edit] Early History
Cordova was a farming village east of Memphis, Tennessee with less than a dozen farms when it was founded in 1835.
Cordova was originally named Marysville. Marysville, Tennessee was renown for the freshly cut flowers that were shipped to Memphis, Tennessee thus the town's motto was "Farms, Flowers and Fellowship" .
Marysville, Tennessee most likely changed its name to Cordova so not to be confused with another town in Blount County called Maryville, Tennessee (without the "s") located south of Knoxville, Tennessee in eastern Tennessee
[edit] Railroad Heritage
Cordova was one of the many small railroad stops along the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis railroad route to Memphis, Tennessee. A named train, the Memphian from Nashville to Memphis stopped at the former Cordova Railroad station. (this station is still standing and has been sold to an individual that is renovating it so it can be utilized as a retail business). An important ammunition plant was near Cordova and was served by the railroad during World War II.
Cordova has a railroad line running parallel to the main street (now Macon Road) that was served by P&M (Paducah & Memphis) division of the N. C. & St. L. Railroad (Nashville, Chattanooga & St Louis) that was chartered in Tennessee on December 11, 1845. In March 1957 NC&StL was taken over by the L & N Railroad (Louisville and Nashville). Because this rail line was considered redundant, the mileage between Cordova and Jackson, Tennessee was abandoned and later scrapped in 1968. The remaining section was therefore made a spur line for the L&N, and later the CSX until 2002. Now the line is completely out of service. The future of the line is being discussed. Proposals have included a trail, commuter rail or possible sale to a rail heritage society.§
[edit] Annexation
After a seven-year court challenge to the right of Memphis to annex, portions of Cordova were annexed into the Memphis City Council Second District in 1990's that included the subdivisions and land developments of Countrywood (1995), Berryhill (1997), and South Cordova (2001). The subdivision of Rockcreek after several court and legislative challenges completed Memphis's annexation of the Cordova region, alongside a stretch of U.S. 64 leading to the Fayette County line.
[edit] Today
Cordova grew from a quiet country farm hamlet with a population of 150 people in 1912 to one of Memphis' fastest growing neighborhoods. Retail growth exploded in the late 1990s thanks to the Wolfchase Galleria shopping mall, which at the time was the largest retail center in Shelby County outside of Memphis city limits. Today the majority of the growth is along Houston Levee Road and Macon Road as well as major retail and commercial centers on Germantown Road (popularly called Germantown Parkway). There are now over 1,226 businesses with over 19,400 employees working in Cordova.
Cordova continues to preserve its past with a historic downtown which each year celebrates with an annual crafts fair and having its own Fourth of July parade.
[edit] Subdivisions
- North Cordova - bound by Interstate 40 and Macon Road.
Subdivisions : Berryhill Farms, Carrollwood Lakes, Cordova Club, Cordova Grove, Cordova Pointe, Cordova Woods, Country Hills, Countrywood, Countrywood East, Countrywood South, Cross Creek, Dexter Ridge, Germantown Glen, Hunter’s Hollow, Morning Woods, North Hunter’s Hollow, Riverwood Farms
- Southwest Cordova - (annexed by the City of Memphis in 1991) bound by Macon Road, Wolf River, Germantown Road, and Sanga Road
Subdivisions : Ashley Glen, Cordova Station, Sunset Downs, Trinity Crossing, Walnut Creek, Walnut Grove Lake (http://wglha.com), Walnut Run, Sanga Point
- Southeast Cordova - bound by Sanga Road and Walnut Grove
Subdivisions : Buckstone, Sanga Trails, Walnut Ridge, Woodside
[edit] Renowned Residents
- Pate Carter, businessman born in Cordova in 1902. Carter owned and started a local Memphis grocery chain called Easy Way Store that had a total of 12 stores. Carter started his career by working for Clarence Saunders and helped Saunders open the world's first self-service grocery store named Piggly Wiggly. At one time there were more than 1,200 Piggly Wiggly grocery stores in 30-plus states.
[edit] Historic Places
- Cordova Community Center - 1017 Sanga Rd.
Cordova Community Center (also known as "Cordova School" or "Cordova Elementary School") is a former school, former Shelby county library with meeting rooms and one time where a church worshiped each Sunday . It was constructed about the time of World War I and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places
- Walter Granville Allen House - 8504 Macon Rd.
The Walter Granville Allen House is an early 1900 Colonial Revival private residence listed in the National Register of Historic Places
[edit] Community Center
- Bert Ferguson Community Center - 8505 Trinity Road
[edit] Library
Memphis Public Library operates the Cordova Branch Library, which is located at 8457 Trinity Road.
[edit] Academic Schools
Since the majority of Cordova was annexed by the city of Memphis, it is a part of the Memphis City Schools district.
Public schools in Memphis City Schools include:
- Cordova Elementary School - 750 North Sanga Road
- Cordova Middle School - 900 North Sanga Road
- Cordova High School - 1800 Berryhill Road
Public Schools still under Shelby County Schools district:
- Chimneyrock Elementary School - 8601 Chimneyrock Boulevard
- Macon-Hall Elementary School - 9800 Macon Road
- Dexter Middle School - 6998 Raleigh-LaGrange Road
- Mount Pisgah Middle School - 444 Pisgah Road
The Cordova areas within Shelby County Schools are zoned to SCS elementary and middle schools and Memphis City Schools' Cordova High School.
Private schools include:
- Evangelical Christian School - 7600 Macon Road
- Harding Academy - 8350 Macon Road
- Saint Benedict at Auburndale High School[1] - 8250 Varnavas Drive
- First Assembly Christian School - 8650 Walnut Grove Road
[edit] Parks
- Bert Ferguson Park - 8505 Trinity Road
A 48-acre park with two soccer fields, four tennis courts, a full basketball court, and two baseball fields. Plenty of play structures, swings, picnic tables and open spaces. Located on the park is Bert Ferguson Community Center that has two racquetball courts, a game room, and meeting rooms.
- Lucius E. Burch Jr. State Natural Area - Shelby Farms
Located south of the main Shelby Farms with 1,000 acres (4 km²) of bottomland hardwood forest and wetlands.
- Shelby Farms - 7171 Mullins Station Road
Located west of Cordova is the state's largest urban park that offers a variety of recreational activities with a sailing lake. The 4,500 acres (18 km²) Shelby Farms (compared to New York City's Central Park's 843 acres offers walking, running, hiking, biking, roller blading, fishing, sailing, and horseback riding. Shelby Farms also have an Agricenter and a Farmers Market.
[edit] Other Points of Interests
- Skate Park of Memphis (SPOM): This skate facility located off of Trinity Rd. is also a well-known venue for local music. It has also been a venue to nationally known acts such as Colour Revolt, Nights Like These, Allister, Kris Roe of the Ataris, Plain White T's, Jenoah, Fear Before the March of Flames, Norma Jean, Audio Karate, Paulson, The Rocket Summer, Kaddisfly, Chase Pagan, The Pink Spiders, Scouts Honor, mewithoutYou, Say Anything, Piebald, Chiodos,and many others.
- Bellevue Baptist Church - 2000 Appling Road
A humble 1903 beginning in midtown of Memphis to its present Cordova campus in 1989. Today Bellevue Baptist Church has one of the larger church congregations in the United States with more than 25,000 members.
- Hope Presbyterian Church - 8500 Walnut Grove Road
A growing church that is home to over 7,000 young adults every weekend. It's home to a fresh, new and fun way to church. Home to many ex-church goers[citation needed].
- Cordova Community Church- meets at Bert Ferguson Community Center, 8505 Trinity Road
A small group of Christians from various religious backgrounds. This non-denominational church meets in a community center on Sundays. Community life continues in small groups meeting in homes throughout the week. CCC
- Colonial Country Club - 2736 Countrywood Pkwy.
Colonial Country Club's 36 holes golf course with 3 large lakes used to be home of the Danny Thomas Classic and where former President Gerald Ford made his first and only hole-in-one.
- Cordova Cellars - 9050 Macon Road
A 4 1/2 acre Chardonnay and Vidal vineyard founded in 1989. Named as one of the best wineries of North America by Gault Millan in 1993.
- Cordova Golf Club - 7363 Crystal Lake Drive
In 1993 "Golf Digest" nominated Cordova Golf Club as one of the "Best New Public Courses"
- Cordova Grocery and Market - 8566 Macon Road
Cordova Grocery and Market in the "Old Cordova" area has been in business since 1919. It is currently owned by Mary Ann Vollmer
- Cordova Station - Macon Road
A one room train station for the Nashville Chattanooga and St. Louis railroad in downtown Cordova on Macon Road. Later it served as the Cordova Branch Library of the Memphis-Shelby County Library for more than 50 years until the library was moved to its current modern facilities.
- Cordova The Town - Macon Road
A new urbanism style neighborhood started in 1995 with early "1950" high density neotraditional nostalgic style of tree lined street porches, entries parks with gazebos, a bell tower with a Westminster chime and fountains.
- Sanga Cemetery - near Walnut Grove Baptist Church
The cemetery is very old, dating back to the early 1800's.
- Walnut Grove Lake
Subdivision neighborhood lake
- Wolfchase Galleria Mall - 2760 N. Germantown Road (between the intersection of N. Germantown Road/TN 177 and I-40, and N. Germantown Road/TN 177 and U.S. 64/Stage Road)
The largest shopping mall in the Memphis metropolitan region. Wolfchase Galleria features four anchors and 130 additional stores with a food court, restaurants, movie theatre and a carousel ride
- The Life Church - 1800 N. Germantown Parkway
A non-denominational Christian church located in a building that was once a grocery store.
[edit] Geography
The center of Cordova is located at 35.2° North, 89.8° West GR1.
