Sedona - Cottonwood

Located in Arizona's high desert under the towering southwestern rim of the vast Colorado Plateau, the city of Sedona is blessed with four mild seasons marked by abundant sunshine and clean air. Characterized by massive red-rock formations, as well as the contrasting natural beauties of Oak Creek Canyon, the area surrounding Sedona is considered at least as beautiful as many national parks.

The city of Sedona, one of Arizona's premier tourism, recreation, resort, retirement and art centers, was incorporated in 1988. Historically, it was a rural ranching community located far off the beaten path, but its unsurpassed natural beauty became nationally known through the motion picture industry. Today, commercials and television shows still are filmed in the unsettled areas surrounding this city, which annually attracts more than 4 million tourists from around the world. A wide variety of shops, restaurants, and historical attractions can be found in Sedona, as well as seasonal events and performances.

The collection of Sedona's impressive, natural endowments includes the 1.8 million-acre Coconino National Forest, which essentially engulfs the city and encompasses seven intriguing wilderness areas. The list of sightseeing and recreational amenities, including state parks and national monuments, is extensive. In fact, it hardly is a surprise that the winding road through Oak Creek Canyon not only is Arizona's first officially designated scenic highway, it is the first leg of a day trip to one of the world's great wonders, the nearby Grand Canyon.

The city of Sedona covers 19-square-miles, and is split between Coconino and Yavapai counties. Only 51 percent of its area is privately owned - the rest is part of the Coconino National Forest. The average age of Sedona's population, which totals approximately 10,000 within its incorporated limits, is 50.