In the heart of Arizona wine country, Cottonwood is the cultural, industrial, retail, medical and services center for the picturesque Verde Valley. The city is located an hour and a half north of Phoenix and one hour south of Flagstaff. In 1874, soldiers were stationed at an adobe house where Cottonwood stands today. Settlers began moving in and developing a community that took its name from a circle of 16 cottonwood trees near the Verde River. Cottonwood is near the geographic center of Arizona, just off interstate 17 on State Highways 89A and 260. From Phoenix to Cottonwood, visitors drive north to exit 287, then northwest on State Highway 260. From Flagstaff, they would drive south through the magnificent Oak Creek Canyon on State Highway 89A.

Principal Economic Activities

Cottonwood serves as the trading center for the Verde Valley, with a wide variety of retail, professional services and manufacturing establishments. The Verde Valley is the premiere destination to experience the burgeoning wine industry through the many tasting rooms and restaurants in Old Town. The Verde Valley Medical Center is one of the finest diagnostic and treatment centers in Arizona. The travel and tourism industry are also important to Cottonwood’s economy. Nearby national forests, state parks, national monuments and wilderness areas attract hundreds of thousands of tourists each year. Cottonwood was recognized by Lonely Planet as one of the top 10 U.S. travel destinations in 2013 and is the "Arizona Sustainable Growth City of the Decade" award-winner.

Scenic Attractions

The Verde River supports one of the state’s best riparian habitats. Riverfront Park and Dead Horse Ranch State Park provide access to the Verde River Greenway. Historic Old Town features many wine tasting rooms that showcase incredible Arizona wines. Main Street in Old Town also provides many choices for fine dining, hospitality and arts and cultural experiences. In the immediate vicinity of Cottonwood are many diverse attractions. Tuzigoot National Monument, a 550-year-old Sinaguan Native American ruin, and Montezuma Castle National Monument, an 11th-century cliff dwelling, give insight into the area’s pre-Columbian past. The Verde Canyon Railroad offers spectacular views into the remote Sycamore Canyon Wilderness. Natural attractions include the red rocks of Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon to the north and Prescott National Forest to the west, where the 7,700-foot Mingus Mountain is a mecca for hang gliding enthusiasts.

Community Facilities

Cottonwood has a library, a civic center, a new world-class recreation center, four parks, a swimming pool, multi-complex softball and baseball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, a skate board park, an inline hockey facility, basketball courts, a disk golf course and two golf courses. The community also offers senior facilities such as skilled health care, supervisory care and retirement centers. Yavapai College provides exceptional higher education opportunities including its emerging viticulture and oenology programs at the Southwest Wine Center.