It was established as a rest stop for travelers and a military outpost as it lies on the edge of the mountain pass that separates the provinces of Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya.

[6] It is bordered by Santiago City to the north and east, Diffun, Quirino to the south, and Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya to the west.

The present area of Cordon is totally different from its previous area as defined in its charter, the law creating this town, much of the previous Carig town (Modern day Santiago City) territories were annexed to Modern Cordon including the Magat Reservoir Territories (Barangay Taliktik and Barangay Dallao) and the diadi region barangays (San Juan, Aguinaldo, Villamarzo, Camarao, and Rizaluna).

Toyota Isabela, the first branch of Japan-based car company in the province, has opened an outlet in Cordon.

Recently, the Primark Town Center in Cordon has opened its doors to the public.

As a municipality in the province of Isabela, government officials in the provincial level are voted by the electorates of the town.

Cordon, belonging to the fourth legislative district of the province of Isabela, currently represented by Hon.