Cottonwood (Apache County) is a community in Apache County, Arizona, home to about 149 people across 0.1 square miles. It has no ZIP code of its own: it’s part of 86503.
Mostly Chinle; part is in Cottonwood (Apache County)
We’re writing up Cottonwood (Apache County)’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ)184 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Gallup Municipal Airport (GUP)63 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Albuquerque, NM180 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Phoenix, AZ226 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Cottonwood (Apache County); driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Cottonwood (Apache County) had 167 residents in the 2020 census, down 26% since 2010.
It’s the 373rd largest of 441 towns in Arizona by population.
Apache County grew from 8,297 residents in 1900 to 66,021 in 2020.
Apache County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 93°F in summer, and winter lows average 19°F. About 8.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year, with about 5 inches of snow.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Canyon De Chelly, AZ weather station (4 miles away).
6,112 jobs at 442 businesses in Apache County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
133 doctors and other health care providers list an office in Cottonwood (Apache County).
Nearest hospitals
Providers with an office here
| Primary care doctors | 38 |
|---|---|
| Specialist doctors | 22 |
| Dentists | 12 |
| Nurse practitioners and physician assistants | 14 |
| Mental health providers | 20 |
| Physical and occupational therapists | 16 |
| Optometrists | 11 |
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances; providers from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), by practice address and primary specialty.
Grocery stores
Theaters and performance venues
Counts are within about 1 mile of the center of town.
Source: Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (openstreetmap.org/copyright), as mapped by volunteers; it can miss places or include closed ones.
Public schools here are run by Chinle Unified District (4158), Cottonwood Day School, Rough Rock Community School and others. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canyon De Chelly Elementary SchoolChinle | Pre-K–6 | 252 | Public | 1.9 mi |
| Chinle Elementary SchoolChinle | Pre-K–6 | 489 | Public | 1.6 mi |
| Mesa View ElementaryChinle | Pre-K–6 | 288 | Public | 1.9 mi |
| Cottonwood Day SchoolChinle | K–8 | 123 | Public | 16.5 mi |
| Hozho Online AcademyChinle | K–12 | — | Public | 1.8 mi |
| Rough Rock Community SchoolChinle | K–12 | 230 | Public | 24.6 mi |
| Chinle Junior High SchoolChinle | 7–8 | 373 | Public | 1.8 mi |
| Chinle High SchoolChinle | 9–12 | 956 | Public | 2.3 mi |
| NATIVE - Chinle High SchoolChinle | 9–12 | — | Career and Technical | 2.3 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Chinle, Rough Rock and Del Muerto.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.