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Cottonwood, AZ

"Biggest Little Town In Arizona”

Cottonwood, Arizona is a city in Yavapai County. According to the 2014 census, the population of the city is 11,297. The city of Cottonwood is located adjacent to the Verde River at an elevation of 3,314 ft. Cottonwood is surrounded by the red rocks of Sedona, Mingus Mountain elevating to 7,818 ft to the west, and the Mogollon Rim stretching north and east.

Named for the beautiful Cottonwood trees that grow along the Verde River, the town grew from a small farming community to the Verde Valley’s population center, called “The Biggest Little Town in Arizona” by the late 1920s.

Nearly 80% of the land in the Verde Valley is National Forest. The Coconino National Forest is generally located north and east of the Verde River while the Prescott National Forest is south and west of the River. Only about 17% of the Verde Valley is privately owned.

Cottonwood was founded in 1879. Charles D. Willard settled in the area, bringing with him a mechanic by the name of Neff. As with other communities in the Verde Valley, Cottonwood shares a rich and lengthy history. The region has long been a home to Native Americans, particularly the Sinaugua and later the Yavapai and Apache. Cottonwood is one of the few prohibition-era towns left in the west.

Old Town Cottonwood

Located in the “Heart of the Verde Valley Wine Country”. Old Town Cottonwood became a haven for those seeking to be free from the prejudice and regulation of nearby company towns. Old Town Cottonwood is known for its Main Street with over 60 businesses that attract visitors and support local residents. Main Street was created in 1908 when Charles Stemmer and Alonzo Mason used a mule team to pull and drag through brush.

Old Town Cottonwood is ideally situated near the Verde River offering a variety of recreational activities that include camping, picnicking, horseback riding and fishing. With nearby RV Parks, and a multitude of wineries and vineyards. Visiting Old Town Cottonwood provides a huge spectrum of activities to please everyone.

Discover the wonderful outdoors at Dead Horse Ranch State Park. The remains of the original lime kiln are located here. Dead Horse Ranch State Park offers camping and RV facilities, trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, and 20 acres of lagoons stocked with rainbow trout through the months of November-March.

Go take a look into the past at Clemenceau Heritage Museum. Clemenceau Heritage Museum is maintained and operated by volunteers, the museum preserves and displays the artifacts and heritage of the Verde Valley.

Check out the Tuzigoot National Monument. Tuzigoot is an ancient village or pueblo built by a culture known as the Sinagua. The first buildings were built around A.D. 1000. The site also includes hiking trails and a complete museum.

There are a variety of schools to choose from in Cottonwood.

Elementary Schools in Cottonwood include: Cottonwood Elementary, Dr. Daniel Bright Elementary, and Oak Creek Elementary.

Mingus Union High School and Mingus Online Academy are in the Mingus Union School District.

Charter Schools include: Accelerated Learning Charter School, American Heritage Academy, Center For Creative Education Charter School, and Edwards Hall Charter School.