Historic Old Town Cottonwood - Cottonwood, AZ - a historic city named for cottonwood trees

Historic Old Town Cottonwood is found in the Verde Valley and has over sixty businesses located in it. There is a variety of restaurants offering a variety of food to tourists and residents in addition to a hotel, shops and galleries in the area. Historic Old Town Cottonwood is also the location of the city's government, a clock shop, and various offices in addition to the Historic Jail Trail. It is a separate town all its own within Cottonwood, Arizona.

The east and south sides of Cottonwood are surrounded by mountains while buttes and mesas surround the east and north sides of the town. The Verde River has Cottonwood trees growing along it that the town is named for. It began as a farming community and became the population center of the Verde Valley during the last portion of the 1920's.

Historic Old Town Cottonwood is minutes away from Clarksdale, Jerome and Sedona. There are a number of recreational activities in Cottonwood including camping, fishing, riding horses and picnicking. There are RV parks and vineyards in addition to wineries near the town as well. There is something for everyone to enjoy when visiting Historic Old Town Cottonwood in Cottonwood, Arizona.

Next to the visitor center in Old Town Cottonwood is the Jail Trail which was named for the jail that was originally in the building that now houses the visitor center. It is a trail that is one mile trail that leads to the Verde River that has a variety of wildlife. The end of the trail is connected to the Verde Greenway with rare willows and cottonwoods providing access to Dead Horse Ranch State Park which offers several recreational amenities. Jail Trail is located on a flood plain which is normally dry. There are flood deposits and river rock covering parts of the trail.

Taking a walking tour of Historic Old Town Cottonwood is the best way to see the town itself. There are almost three dozen buildings in the town that date as far back as the 1920's and 1930's. The National Register of Historic Places lists the center area from 712 North Main Street all the way down to 1124 North Main Street. The visitor's center begins the tour of the town which lasts for four blocks. You can even see the two cells that are left from the original jail.

The Cottonwood Bridge past the jail was built during the 1930's and the Del Monte Wash Bridge is to the south of North Main Street. The mercantile was built during 1917 and is the oldest building made out of concrete in Cottonwood. There are still underground shelves and tunnels below the building.

Entering Historic Old Town Cottonwood is like going back in time. It is a place to enjoy historic sites, hiking or any of the restaurants and cafy's available in the area. The town also offers an athletic club and dance studio for those visiting the area. Anyone with an interest in historical settings should visit Historic Old Town Cottonwood.