In 2019 the City of Cottonwood became a designated location of the International Dark-Sky Places Program, as an International Dark Sky Community.
Since 2016 it has been the City of Cottonwood's mission to obtain the designation of a Dark-Sky Community to continue to promote and protect our dark skies. Working with the community as a whole, the City of Cottonwood has become the 23rd designated dark sky community in the world. The State of Arizona now accounts for 6 of those dark sky communities, with 4 of the 6 communities located in the Verde Valley.
Light pollution effects the world as a whole. Excess light disrupts the natural day-night pattern and has negative impacts on the ecosystem, wildlife, and human health. The City of Cottonwood is committed to protecting the night skies for present and future generations.
A lot of community effort went into this designation along with their support. The City would like to thank all who helped make this possible.