Cottonwood Creek is a long second-order tributary to Verdigre Creek in Knox County, Nebraska.
Cottonwood Creek rises on the East Branch Verdigre Creek divide about 3 miles northeast of Royal, Nebraska and then flows generally north-northwest to join Verdigre Creek about 5 miles east of Venus, Nebraska.
Cottonwood Creek drains of area, receives about 27.0 in/year of precipitation, has a wetness index of 538.56, and is about 1.31% forested.