Welcome to Cottonwood
Business hub of
the Verde Valley
The city of Cottonwood is surrounded
by a beautiful natural habitat, but it is also the commercial hub of the
Verde Valley.
Located about 50 miles south
of Flagstaff, the city thrives on retail and service industries as well
as tourism.
Cottonwood's population
has grown immensely over the recent years as retirees have discovered
its many assets. The city is also the most racially and ethnically diverse
community in the Verde Valley.
In 1874, soldiers
were stationed at an adobe house about 15-miles from Fort Verde, in an
area originally inhabited for hundreds of years earlier by Sinaguan, Apache
and Yavapai Indians. Settlers moved in, and developed a community that
they named for a copse of 16 cottonwood trees near the Verde River.
Cottonwood was established
in 1879 and became incorporated in 1960.
The city is near the geographic
center of Arizona. It lies on the east side of the Mingus Mountain and
the Black Hills in Yavapai County at the 3,300-foot elevation. Its location
between Phoenix and Flagstaff makes it a thriving community.
Many retail establishments
-- both national chains and local businesses -- call Cottonwood home.
The city serves as a center
for professional services and manufacturing.
Verde Valley Medical Center
is one of the finest diagnostic and treatment centers in Northern Arizona.
The hospital is continually expanding in size and services.
Other major employers in the
area include Cottonwood-Oak Creek and Mingus Union High school districts,
as well as Mold-in-Graphics and Salt River Materials Group in nearby Clarkdale
and Cliff Castle Casino near Camp Verde.
The travel and tourism industry
is a significant factor in Cottonwood's economic profile, and it's not
strictly retail business. National forests, state parks, national monuments
and wilderness areas closed at hand attract hundreds of thousands of tourists
each year. The Verde River, supporting one of the state's prime riparian
habitats, flows through the center of Cottonwood. Riverfront Park and
Dead Horse Ranch State Park provide access to the Verde River greenway
on opposite sides of the waterway.
Dead Horse Ranch State Park
has undergone expansion during the past year. New lagoons have been created
for increased water recreation. The park is home of the Verde Valley Birding
and Nature Festival, one of many annual events that incorporates nature
and fun for the residents and visitors of the Verde Valley.
Mingus Mountain, at 7,700 feet,
is a world-class mecca for hang gliding enthusiasts with regular weekend
launches. The area is also popular for balloonists and skydivers. Of course,
the spectacular Red Rocks of Sedona are a visual lure.
Old Town Cottonwood has gone
through a renewal and revival and is now alive with restaurants, art galleries
and shops.
Cottonwood has a library, civic
center, recreation center, four parks, a movie theater, swimming pool,
softball and Little League fields, soccer fields and tennis courts.
There are also senior citizen
facilities and retirement centers.
Cottonwood has two local newspapers.
Several radio stations broadcast from Cottonwood, Flagstaff and Sedona
as well as receiving broadcast and cable television programming.
The Verde Campus of Yavapai
College is a growing member of the community, offering day and evening
classes and vocational education. For four-year higher education, Northern
Arizona University is in Flagstaff.
The city is governed by a mayor,
council and city manager. A professional police and fire department is
staffed with full-time and reserve personnel.
Cottonwood is near Interstate
17, accessible from Arizona State Route 89A and SR 260. From Phoenix,
drive north to exit 287, then northwest on Arizona 260. From Flagstaff,
drive south to exit 287 or drive through the magnificent Oak Creek Canyon
on Arizona 89A, which travels south through Sedona and on to Cottonwood.
Courtesy of The Verde Independent
Thursday, June 19, 2008
For more information,
see Cottonwood Community Profile, prepared
by the Arizona Department of Commerce.
