Cottonwood is a census-designated place (CDP) in Shasta County, California, United States.

[4] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2), all of it land.

240 households (20.0%) were made up of individuals, and 80 (6.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 1,306 housing units at an average density of 564.4 per square mile (217.9/km2), of which 759 (63.3%) were owner-occupied, and 441 (36.8%) were occupied by renters.

[27] Federally, Cottonwood is in California's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa.

Not only would it allow the town to have stricter building codes, but it would stop the City of Anderson from further annexation of the surrounding areas.

[29] Cottonwood is one of five CDPs in Shasta County that have expressed interest in incorporating.

The other towns are Burney, Shingletown, Fall River Mills, and McArthur.

A suggestion for combining the new Sunset Hills and Sun City Tehama subdivisions across the Tehama County line with the current CDP would be currently unworkable since the California constitution prohibits incorporated cities and towns from crossing county lines.

West Valley High School (9–12), with an enrollment of approximately 900 students.

The single winning ticket for the 5th biggest Mega Millions jackpot ever was sold in Cottonwood.

[31] In the spring of 1997 Hollywood came to this small, quiet town to film Almost Heroes starring Matthew Perry and Chris Farley.

In the summer of 1961, parts of Hell Is for Heroes, starring Steve McQueen, were shot in and around Cottonwood.