Cottonwood

Cottonwood is a town in Yavapai County in the state of Arizona in the Verde Valley at roughly 1010 meters elevation. The town spreads over about 43 square kilometers and sits between vineyards and dry hills.

Settlement began in the 1880s when copper mines in the area attracted workers. Over the following decades the place developed into a trading center for farms and orchards in the valley.

The name comes from the cottonwood trees that grow along the Verde River and provided shade for early settlers. Today the town is known for its wine cellars, where visitors can sample local grape varieties.

A small airstrip to the north serves general aviation and lies outside the town center. The public bus system connects neighborhoods with shops and wineries in the surrounding area.

The Verde River flows east of town and forms one of the few permanently flowing river sections in this dry region of Arizona. Along its banks old cottonwood trees still grow, which gave the settlement its name.

Location: Yavapai County

Elevation above the sea: 1,010 m

Website: http://cottonwoodaz.gov

GPS coordinates: 34.73222,-112.01861

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:49