Cordele is a city in and the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

Crisp County Crisp County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,128. The county seat is Cordele. The county was created on August 17, 1905, from Dooly County and named for G ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

. The population was 11,165 at the 2010 census, and 10,220 in 2020. Cordele calls itself the

watermelon The watermelon (''Citrullus lanatus'') is a species of flowering plant in the family Cucurbitaceae, that has a large, edible fruit. It is a Glossary of botanical terms#scandent, scrambling and trailing vine-like plant, and is plant breeding ...

capital of the world.

History

19th century

Cordele was incorporated on January 1, 1888, and named for Cordelia Hawkins, eldest daughter of Colonel Samuel Hawkins, the president of the

Savannah, Americus and Montgomery Railway The Savannah, Americus and Montgomery Railway (SA&M) was a historic railroad located in the U.S. states of Georgia and Alabama. SA&M was built in the 1880s running between Montgomery, Alabama and Lyons, Georgia. It would be completed to Savannah, ...

. In November 1864, the area that is now Cordele served as the temporary capital of Georgia. During the last days of the

Confederacy A confederation (also known as a confederacy or league) is a political union of sovereign states united for purposes of common action. Usually created by a treaty, confederations of states tend to be established for dealing with critical issu ...

, Georgia's war governor Joseph E. Brown used his rural farmhouse to escape Sherman's March to the Sea. During that time, the farmhouse, which Brown called "Dooly County Place," served as the official capital for only a few days. It was replaced in 1890 by the Suwanee Hotel, located in what became downtown Cordele. The hotel was destroyed by a fire in late 1994 and was rebuilt. Cordele was founded in 1888 by J.E.D. Shipp of Americus. The town was located at the junction of two major railroads – the Savannah, Americus & Montgomery line, and the

Georgia Southern & Florida The Georgia Southern and Florida Railway , also known as the ''Suwanee River Route'' from its crossing of the Suwanee River, was founded in 1885 as the Georgia Southern and Florida ''Railroad'' and began operations between Macon, GA and Valdosta ...

. As the railroads brought more people and business to the newly settled territory, Cordele experienced phenomenal growth. Before 1905 Cordele was located in southern Dooly County, from the county seat in

Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...

20th century

With Cordele's continued progress, many in the community felt the need for a seat of government to be closer than Vienna. Crisp County was formed in 1905 by taking a portion of southern Dooly County, and Cordele became its county seat. By 1915, Cordele was home to several industries including an ice-making plant, mills for processing cotton products into cloth and oil, a fertilizer factory, and other small manufacturing outfits. By August 1930, Cordele housed the Crisp County Hydroelectric System, the first county-owned electric system. Located on the

Flint River The Flint River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map, accessed April 15, 2011 river in the U.S. state of Georgia. The river drains of western Georgia, flowing south from th ...

, the

hydroelectric Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is Electricity generation, electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies 15% of the world's electricity, almost 4,210 TWh in 2023, which is more than all other Renewable energ ...

plant continues to operate, and the resulting Lake Blackshear has attracted residents to its waterfront properties. On April 2, 1936, a tornado struck Cordele, killing 23 people.

Geography

Cordele is located north of the center of Crisp County at (31.964178, -83.777277).

U.S. Route 41 U.S. Route 41, also U.S. Highway 41 (US 41), is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway that runs from Miami, Florida, to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Until 1949, the part in southern Florida, from Naples to Miam ...

passes through the city as Seventh Street and leads north to

and south to

Ashburn __NOTOC__ Ashburn may refer to: Places Canada * Ashburn, Ontario United States * Ashburn, Georgia *Ashburn, Chicago, Illinois, a community area ** Ashburn station (Illinois), a Metra station serving the area * Ashburn, Missouri *Ashburn, Virginia ...

U.S. Route 280 U.S. Route 280 (US 280) is a spur of U.S. Highway 80. It currently runs for 392 miles (631 km) from Blitchton, Georgia, at US 80 to Birmingham, Alabama at I-20/ I-59. For much of its route, US 280 travels through rural areas and smaller ...

(16th Avenue) crosses US 41 in the center of the city and leads east to

Abbeville Abbeville (; ; ) is a commune in the Somme department and in Hauts-de-France region in northern France. It is the of one of the arrondissements of Somme. Located on the river Somme, it was the capital of Ponthieu. Geography Location A ...

and west to Americus.

Interstate 75 Interstate 75 (I-75) is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. As with most Interstates that end in 5, it is a major cross-country, north–south route, traveling from S ...

passes through the east side of the city, with access from exits 99, 101, and 102, and leads north to Macon and south to the

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

state line. State Route 300 leads from the south side of the city southwest to Albany. According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The U.S. Census Bureau is part of the U ...

, Cordele has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.82%, is water.

Climate

Cordele has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...

(

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...

''Cfa''), with mild winters and hot, humid summers.

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 10,220 people, 3,874 households, and 2,453 families residing in the city.

Crime

Cordele has the unfortunate distinction of being one of the highest rated cities or towns with regards to crime, with a Total Crime Index of 1, making it safer than only 1% of US cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of any crime here is one in fifteen in any given year.

Cordele City Commissioners

Five citizens of Cordele are elected to serve as the City Commissioners. The current Cordele City Commissioners are: Jeanie Bartee, Wesley Rainey, Royce Reeves, Vesta Beal Shephard, and Chairman John Wiggins

Representation in the Georgia State Legislature

In the

Georgia State Senate The Georgia State Senate is the upper house of the Georgia General Assembly, in the U.S. state of Georgia. The Georgia State Senate and the lower house of the General Assembly, the Georgia House of Representatives, comprise the bicameral leg ...

, the City of Cordele is represented by Sen. Carden Summers. In the

Georgia House of Representatives The Georgia House of Representatives is the lower house of the Georgia General Assembly (the state legislature) of the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. There are currently 180 elected members. Republican Party (United States), Repu ...

, the City of Cordele is represented by Rep.

Noel Williams Jr. Noel Warren Williams (born January 23, 1972) is an American politician and insurance agent from Georgia. Williams is a Republican member of Georgia House of Representatives for District 148. Early life William was born in Georgia, U.S. Educ ...

Representation in the United States House of Representatives

In the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

, the City of Cordele is represented by Rep.

Sanford Bishop Sanford Dixon Bishop Jr. (born February 4, 1947) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the U.S. representative The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower ho ...

Georgia Veterans State Park

To the west of Cordele town centre and located on Route 280 is the large Georgia Veterans State Park, which lies on the eastern edge of Lake Blackshear. This facility includes campgrounds, a resort hotel, and a golf course. There are also interesting displays of preserved military aircraft and helicopters and army tanks and other fighting vehicles. These displays are open to public viewing during daylight hours

Arts and culture

Cordele was featured in the eighteenth episode of the Small Town News Podcast, an improv comedy podcast that takes listeners on a fun and silly virtual trip to a small town in America each week, in which the hosts improvise scenes inspired by local newspaper stories.

Annual cultural events

Cordele hosts an annual Watermelon Festival each June.

Museums and other points of interest

In 1968 a

Titan I The Martin Marietta SM-68A/HGM-25A Titan I was the United States' first multistage intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), in use from 1959 until 1962. Though the SM-68A was operational for only three years, it spawned numerous follow-on mode ...

missile was erected by the Rotary Club of Cordele at the intersection of I-75 and U.S. 280 East.

Sports

Cordele is home to Cordele Motor Speedway formerly known as Crisp Motorsports Park, a 3/8-mile asphalt oval. It is home to the race series known as Speed Fest, which is sanctioned by the UARA National Tour. The series features four 125-lap races for the UARA National Tour. The track also hosts the World Crown 300 for UARA.

Education

Crisp County School District

The Crisp County School District holds pre-school to grade twelve, and consists of four elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 266 full-time teachers and over 4,337 students. *Crisp County Primary *Crisp County pre-k *Crisp County Elementary School *Crisp County Middle School * Crisp County High School

Infrastructure

Major highways

/ SR 401 *

/ State Route 7 *

/ State Route 30 * State Route 33 * State Route 90 * State Route 257 * State Route 300 (Georgia-Florida Parkway) The Cordele Inland Port is operated by a private company, Cordele Intermodal Services, which offers rail service via the

Heart of Georgia Railroad The Heart of Georgia Railroad is a shortline railroad created in 1999 to lease and operate of track owned by the Georgia Department of Transportation between Mahrt, Alabama and Vidalia, Georgia, in the United States. The railroad has since expan ...

and

Georgia Central Railroad The Central of Georgia Railway started as the Central Rail Road and Canal Company in 1833. As a way to better attract investment capital, the railroad changed its name to Central Rail Road and Banking Company of Georgia. This railroad was constr ...

, from their rail ramp in Cordele to the

Georgia Ports Authority The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) is the port authority for the State of Georgia. It was founded by an act of the Georgia General Assembly in 1945 and chaired by Blake R. Van Leer. The GPA operates all seven of Georgia's rail and sea port fac ...

Savannah A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) biome and ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach th ...

. Two class I railroads

CSX CSX Transportation , known colloquially as simply CSX, is a Railroad classes, Class I freight railroad company operating in the Eastern United States and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Operating about 21,000 route miles () of trac ...

and

Norfolk Southern The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I freight railroad operating in the Eastern United States. Headquartered in Atlanta, the company was formed in 1982 with the merger of the Norfolk and Western Railway and Southern Railway. The comp ...

pass through Cordele. Shortline Railroad, Heart of Georgia currently interchanges with CSX in downtown Cordele.

Notable people

Buster Brown Buster Brown is a comic strip character created in 1902 by Richard F. Outcault that was adopted as the mascot of the Brown Shoe Company in 1904. The characters of Buster Brown, Mary Jane, and his dog Tige became well known to the American publ ...

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form that originated among African Americans in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues has incorporated spiritual (music), spirituals, work songs, field hollers, Ring shout, shouts, cha ...

and R&B singer born in Cordele * Preston Dennard, former wide receiver for the

Los Angeles Rams The Los Angeles Rams are a professional American football team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Rams compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West ...

* Janie Lou Gibbs, serial killer who poisoned her husband, three sons, and grandson. She was convicted in 1967. * Devokeyous Keyshawn Hamilton, rapper, singer, and songwriter known professionally as Lazer Dim 700; born in Cordele *

Mac Hyman Mac Hyman (born Mackenzie Hooks Hyman; August 25, 1923July 17, 1963), was an American fiction writer who is known for his best-selling novel ''No Time for Sergeants'', which was adapted into a popular Broadway play and a motion picture. Early ...

, fiction writer known for his best-selling novel ''

No Time for Sergeants ''No Time for Sergeants'' is a 1954 best-selling novel by Mac Hyman, which was adapted into a teleplay on '' The United States Steel Hour'', a popular Broadway play and 1958 motion picture, as well as a 1964 television series. The book chronic ...

'' and ''Take Now Thy Son''; born in Cordele and a lifelong resident * T. J. Jackson, Olympian and NFL wide receiver * Marcus Lamb, president of international Christian TV network Daystar *

Arthur Lucas Arthur Lucas (December 18, 1907 – December 11, 1962), originally from the U.S. state of Georgia, was one of the last two people to be executed in Canada, on December 11, 1962. Lucas had been convicted of the murder of 44-year-old Therland Crat ...

, convicted murderer and one of the last two people to be executed in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

Deworski Odom Deworski Odom (born April 11, 1977) is a former American sprinter who specialized in the 100 metres. As a 17-year-old, he won a bronze medal in the 100 metres at the 1994 World Junior Championships, surpassing Henry Thomas's World Youth Bes ...

, sprinter; born in Cordele *

Jody Powell Joseph Lester "Jody" Powell, Jr. (September 30, 1943 – September 14, 2009) was an American political advisor who served as a White House press secretary during the presidency of Jimmy Carter. Powell later co-founded a public relations firm. ...

, served as the

White House Press Secretary The White House press secretary is a senior White House official whose primary responsibility is to act as spokesperson for the executive branch of the United States federal government, especially with regard to the president, senior aides and ...

under President

Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (October 1, 1924December 29, 2024) was an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...

; born in Cordele * Andre Ramsey, offensive lineman for the

Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East div ...

Tree Rollins Wayne Monte "Tree" Rollins (born June 16, 1955) is an American former professional basketball player who played 18 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, ...

, former NBA basketball player and Cordele native who attended Crisp County High School *

Ken Spikes Kenneth "Ken" L. Spikes (born February 2, 1935, in Cordele, Georgia - died November 16, 2009, in Albany, Georgia) was a driver for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, Grand National Series who drove from 1964 to 1970 in NASCAR, 1970. Before he was in N ...

, racing driver * Quay Walker, linebacker for the

Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They ar ...

* Joe Williams, jazz singer and ''Cosby Show'' grandfather; born in Cordele *

- Insurance agent and politician. *

Jammie Robinson Jammie L. Robinson (born January 24, 2001) is an American professional American football, football Safety (gridiron football position), safety for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the S ...

, safety for the

Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The ...

* Landon Register, The 2025 Masters Golf Tournament Champion

Bibliography

*Ogden, Bob. Aviation Museums and Collections of North America. Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. Tonbridge, Kent. 2007. .

References

External links

City of Cordele official website

''Cordele Dispatch''
local newspaper
O'Neal Historic District

at City-Data.com {{authority control Cities in Georgia (U.S. state) Cities in Crisp County, Georgia Micropolitan areas of Georgia (U.S. state) County seats in Georgia (U.S. state) Populated places established in 1888 1888 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)