The northern Arizona community of Cottonwood sits between the cities of Prescott and Sedona. Named after 16 Cottonwood trees that stood in a circle near the Verde River, Cottonwood has grown from being a small farming town to the population center of the Verde Valley.
Cottonwood was founded in 1879 and had somewhat of a reputation of lawlessness in the early days. Bootlegging was common, and some residents had been banned from other towns. Today, Historic Old Town gives visitors a glimpse into the Old West atmosphere, with its high sidewalks and false-fronted buildings. To give more of the Old West feel, the Blazin' M Ranch in Cottonwood offers a chuckwagon supper and live western stage show.
Cottonwood sits on 10.7 square miles, and is the trading center for the local agricultural, livestock, and mining district. Visitors to Cottonwood enjoy its shopping, hotels, and restaurants and also its proximity to attractions and outdoor sports. The Verde River runs through Cottonwood, and the town is close to the Oak Creek Canyon area, which has been described as a "smaller cousin of the Grand Canyon." Visitors can hike in the 21-mile Sycamore Canyon or choose a variety of ways to explore the 423 acres of Dead Horse Ranch State Park, such as mountain biking, canoeing, and fishing.
Visitors can take a ride on the Verde Canyon Railroad, a four-hour journey from the old mining town of Clarkdale to the Perkinsville ghost ranch and back. They also can visit the remains of dwellings of the 12th century Sinagua Indians at the Tuzigoot National Monument. The museum celebrates its Grand Reopening and 75th anniversary on the weekend of June 3-5. Anyone who wants to learn more about the history of Valley Verde can visit the Clemenceau Heritage Museum. The museum is known for its elaborate model railroad, which depicts the seven railroads that operated in the valley between 1895-1953.
Cottonwood has a population of 11,171, according to the 2006 Census Bureau. Residents and visitors enjoy a mild winter in Cottonwood, with the normal high temperature in January of 55 °F and a low of 26 °F. Summers are warm; the normal high temperature in July is 97 °F and the low is 68 °F. Cottonwood gets about 13 inches of precipitation a year.
Goldberg & Osborne, a personal injury law firm in Cottonwood, has provided this article for informational purposes only, written by an independent author, and has not reviewed or edited this article and is not responsible for its content or accuracy.
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