Established in the early 1850's by Captain Robert Waterman and named for his wife, Cordelia, the town was later renamed Bridgeport after his home in Connecticut and then changed back to Cordelia. Intended as a major townsite serving the shipping trade on the Suisun Marsh, it was used primarily to ship cobblestones to San Francisco from the local rock quarry, its largest industry. In the town's prime it had three hotels, several general stores, and other commercial establishments that served local farmers as well as shippers. Cordelia is the second oldest town in Solano County.