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Cottonwood CDP (Kern County), CA
Full City Profile · California · Kern County County
1.8
/5.0
D
Poor
3,102
Population
7,954/sq mi density
$40,339
Median Income
$12,419 per capita
$256,400
Home Value
$1,177,902 Zillow
$947
Median Rent
31.0% income on rent
65°F
Avg Temperature
330 sunny days/yr
209
Violent Crime/100K
1,360 property/100K
D
Overall
1.8 / 5.0
Below average overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
D
Economy
1.6 / 5.0
$40,339 median income, 8.7% unemployment
B
Affordability
3.1 / 5.0
$256,400 home value, $947/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
209 violent crimes/100K
F
Education
1.5 / 5.0
6.2% bachelor's degree or higher
Cottonwood CDP (Kern County) enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 65°F (18°C). Winters average 49°F in January while summers reach 84°F in July. The area gets 330 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 6.7 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48.
Temperature
49°F Jan (9°C)
84°F Jul (29°C)
| Annual Average | 65.1°F |
| 21% above US avg | |
| January Average | 49°F (9°C) |
| July Average | 84°F (29°C) |
| Sunny Days | 330 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 385 ft (117 m) |
| Area | 0.4 sq mi (1.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 7,954/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 35.3456°N, 118.9859°W |
| Timezone | America/Los_Angeles |
| County | Kern County County |
| Nearest Airport | Santa Barbara Municipal (SBA) 80 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 48.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)
| Ozone (O₃) | 0.0483 ppm |
| NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide) | 15.9 ppb |
| CO (Carbon Monoxide) | 0.25 ppm |
| PM2.5 (Fine Particles) | 8.9 μg/m³ |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 98.9 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 61.1 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 6.5 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Very Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively High |
| Wildfire | Relatively High |
| Flood | Relatively High |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Drought | Relatively High |
| Cold Wave | Very Low |
| Landslide | Relatively High |
| Volcano | Very Low |
| Avalanche | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Tsunami History
2 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.1 m (10 ft).
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1930 | S. CALIFORNIA | Eruption + Earthquake | 3.1 m | 1 | 150 km |
| 1994 | WEST COAST, USA | Earthquake | 0.1 m | 57 | 132 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.
Nearby Volcanoes
1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Golden Trout Creek (128 km).
| Name | Type | Elevation | Last Eruption | Distance |
| Golden Trout Creek | Volcanic field | 2,886 m (9,469 ft) | -5550 | 128 km |
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP). Sorted by distance.
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 49°F (9°C) | 1.2 in | |
| February | 53°F (12°C) | 1.3 in | |
| March | 57°F (14°C) | 1.5 in | Wettest |
| April | 63°F (17°C) | 0.7 in | |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 0.2 in | |
| June | 78°F (26°C) | 0.1 in | |
| July | 84°F (29°C) | 0.0 in | Warmest, Driest |
| August | 83°F (28°C) | 0.1 in | |
| September | 77°F (25°C) | 0.2 in | |
| October | 68°F (20°C) | 0.4 in | |
| November | 56°F (13°C) | 0.9 in | |
| December | 48°F (9°C) | 0.9 in | Coldest |
Cottonwood CDP (Kern County) has a seasonal temperature swing of 36°F / from 48°F in December to 84°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 7.4 inches, with March being the wettest month (1.5") and July the driest (0.0").