Although there are no copyright records for Stephen C. Foster’s “Cora Dean,” Firth, Pond & Co. published the song as No. 47 in its “Foster’s Melodies” series. The following song in the series, “Under the Willow She's Sleeping,” was copyrighted on May 3, 1860. It can be inferred that “Cora Dean” was written and composed around the same time. The placement of drafts of the song’s lyrics in Foster’s sketchbook supports this inference.

According to Evelyn Foster Morneweck’s The Chronicles of Stephen Foster’s Family:

Before leaving for New York, he sent to Firth, Pond in 1860, “Poor Drooping Maiden,” “None Shall Weep a Tear for Me,” “The Wife; or He'll Come Home,” “Under the Willow She’s Sleeping,” probably “Cora Dean,” and one good song, “The Glendy Burk,” composed in his best old-time manner.