Cotton Tree is a rural village in the Cayo District. It lies near mile 44 on the Road 7, approximately 5 km northeast of Settlement 14.
Cotton Tree was founded sometime before 1980, probably a result of the Road 7 passing through and the proximity to Settlement 14 which was constructed in the late 1960s.
Cotton Tree functions as a primarily agricultural community situated in the fertile Cayo District, where residents engage in small-scale farming on the surrounding arable land. Santander Sugar provides seasonal employment opportunities during the harvest season, offering hundreds of jobs that benefit local residents.[1]
In addition to agriculture, Cotton Tree has increasingly developed as a commuter community due to its strategic location close to Settlement 14. Many residents commute daily to Settlement 14 for employment in government offices, services, education, retail, and other urban opportunities in the capital city.
(no recorded visits)
Cotton Tree is named after the massive Cotton Tree (Ceiba pentandra) that sheds cotton in autumn.[2]
The nearest airport is the Hector Silva Airport in Belmopan.
Cotton Tree was built along the Western Highway and by 1980 it had one street paralleling the highway with four streets connecting to the highway.[3]
The main road to Settlement 174 used to come from Cotton Tree, but in 2003 the Road 24 was built to Settlement 174, further east, where Settlement 116 stands today.
(never had any)
Three acres of land were donated to the Catholic Mission for a school that was never built; villagers cleared alternative land, constructed a community centre, and taught children there before building another structure. The Women’s Group secured Social Investment Fund (SIF) assistance for a new school building. The school compound also contains the community centre and clinic. In 2013 the Catholic Mission sought full title transfer to expand and fence the campus; villagers opposed it to retain community access.[4]