Cottonwood Arizona Map

About Cottonwood, Arizona

Cottonwood is a locality in Apache County, Arizona, United States. It has a population of 12,029. The population density is 279.8 people per km². Cottonwood is located at 34.7195°N, 112.0016°W. It observes the Mountain Standard Time — no DST (America/Phoenix) timezone. Cottonwood is an incorporated locality. ZIP codes: 86503, 85147, 86326.

Cottonwood stretches across a sun-bleached expanse where the seasonal flow of Cottonwood Wash carves a shallow, gravelly path through the earth. It lies 74.6 miles west-northwest of Gallup, NM (from Gallup, NM: bearing 301°T), and is situated 19.8 miles west-southwest of Chinle. The landscape is defined by the stark clarity of the high desert, where the air holds a dry, brittle heat that softens only as the shadows lengthen toward the distant, jagged silhouette of Salt Water Ridge. Two miles from the town center, the still waters of Be Akeghalchee mirror the shifting violet hues of the sky, providing a quiet respite from the aridity that dominates the surrounding plains. Five miles away, the broad, open basin of Ghaaghaztail captures the shifting light of midday, its expansive floor creating a sense of immense, unhindered space that defines the visual horizon.

Cottonwood emerged from the necessity of early settlers who recognized the potential of the fertile riparian corridors for agriculture and trade. The economy has transitioned from those foundational roots into a modern blend of local commerce and tourism, drawing visitors who seek the authentic character of the high desert. Life in Cottonwood moves with a measured, deliberate pace, dictated by the intensity of the sun and the seasonal cycles of the landscape. The architecture reflects a history of practical adaptation, with buildings that sit low against the ground, absorbing the warmth of the day and releasing it slowly into the cool, star-bright stillness of the night.

About This Cottonwood Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Cottonwood, Arizona. Coordinates: 34.719526, -112.001611. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service. Real-time local and world news feeds keep the page current.

Detailed location data for Cottonwood includes the ZIP code (86503, 85147, 86326), telephone area code (480, 928), county seat of Apache County (St. Johns), and school district assignment (Mingus Union High School District).

Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.