Cotton Valley, with a population of about 1,200, is located in the rolling hills of North Louisiana in Webster Parish. The main north-south road through town is U.S. Highway 371; Cotton Valley lies mid-way between Minden and Springhill.
To the west are towns like Benton and Plain Dealing, and to the east is Haynesville and Homer. Other nearby towns include Sarepta and Shongaloo. The largest cities in the area are Shreveport and Ruston.
Nearby is the Bodcau State Wildlife Management Area, and to the south is Caney Lake.
