Cottonwood Arizona

July 21, 2008 by Carl Chapman
Filed under Arizona Homes

Cottonwood is in Northern Arizona . It is in Yavapai County. Cottonwood is in the center of the Verde Valley. The Verde River flows through the town. The town is bordered on the south, east and west by high mountains and on the north by mesas and buttes. The town is located on State Highway 89A between Prescott and Sedona. You can get to Cottonwood from Phoenix or Tucson by taking Interstate 17 north out of town. When you reach the town of Camp Verde take exit 287. Then take State Highway 260, west out of Camp Verde. You will end up at Cottonwood. It is were State Highway 260 and State Highway 89A meet. The town is approximately 100 miles from Phoenix. If you are coming from Flagstaff, take 89A southwest out of town. Follow the highway through Sedona and on into Cottonwood. Cottonwood is approximately 50 miles from Flagstaff.

Showing properties 1 - 1 of 1. See more city of Kirkland real estate.
(all data current as of 3/15/2010)

$829,000 : 16561 W Monte Cristo Road, Kirkland

3 beds, 3 full baths

Size: 2,853 sq ft

Lot size: 10.00 ac

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

Cottonwood is an ideal place to base your travels to terrific attractions and outdoor spots. It is a small town that began as a farming town. Today Cottonwood has a population of 5,900. The town sits at an elevation of 3,314 feet. The climate is mild all year round. The low temperature in the winter is 30 degrees and the high temperature in the summer is 97 degrees. Cottonwood receives approximately 11 inches of rain a year and 4 inches of snow. Cottonwood is a trading center for the Verde Valley. There are numerous services and manufacturing facilities in town, along with a quaint Historic Old Town area. It is a pleasant, quiet little community serving a rich agricultural, livestock and mining district.

There are some terrific attractions near Cottonwood. The Verde Canyon Railroad is a wonderful experience. Visitors will travel down the railroad lines viewing scenic spots and wildlife. This is a very popular attraction. Tuzigoot National Monument is an old Indian dwelling. There are two hiking trails that give visitors an up close look at the culture from long ago. The Clemenceau Heritage Museum is a neat place to visit to see a room of working model trains and to discover more about the Verde Valley’s past.

Cottonwood has so many outdoor activities. Dead Horse Ranch State Park is so close to town. This park has a variety of things to offer its visitors. The park has camping, picnicking, fishing and horseback riding. The Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Area is a 26-mile canyon perfect for hiking. This canyon is one of the most breathtaking spots in the area.

James Oliver Bristow arrived in the area in 1875. He was the first permanent settler in Cottonwood. He built a dugout for his family to live in, until he could build a more comfortable house. Eventually more settlers were drawn to the land’s fertile soil.

Then in 1879, several soldiers from Fort Whipple in Prescott were sent to the area. They were charged with protecting the settlers in Verde Valley. The soldiers build their headquarters alongside the Verde River. During the same year, a post office was established.

As time passed and the settlement grew, the name Cottonwood was given to the town. The name came from a circle of sixteen cottonwoods near the Verde River. The town was incorporated in 1960. The soldier headquarters was eventually converted to the first schoolhouse.
Cottonwood continued to grow and develop, along with the nearby mining town of Jerome. Eventually, Cottonwood became Verde Valley’s trade and population center.

The Clemenceau Heritage Museum is the place to go, if you are a railroad buff. This museum has historical displays, including model trains. You will want to spend some time in the area with model trains in operation. The museum does have portion dedicated to the Verde Valley’s past.

The museum is located in the historic Clemenceau School. The school was in operation during 1924 through 1986. The school was named after the French Premier Georges Clemenceau.

There is a gift shop and guided tours are available. The museum is open everyday from 9:00 to 12:00 on Wednesdays and 11:00 to 3:00 Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There is no admission charge. The hours sometimes change during the summer months, so it is advisable to call in advance. The number is 602-634-2868.

You can get to the museum from Cottonwood by traveling north on State Highway 89A, until you come to Willard Street. It is at the corner of Willard and Mingus. The address is 1 North Willard Street.

Events:

Old Time Fiddlers’ Association Campout and Steak Fry March

520-7963

Annual Gem and Mineral Show

520-634-7715

Verde Mingus Blow-out 10K run April

520-639-3200

Annual Antique Auto, Cycle and Aeroplane Show May

520-634-7593

Cinco de Mayo Sizzlin’ Salsa Sunday

520-634-9468

Verde Valley Fair