Cuyama, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cuyama
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Cuyama seen from the east, on SR-166
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Location of Cuyama in Santa Barbara County, California.
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 Cuyama, California
Location in California
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Santa Barbara |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.46 sq mi (1.19 km2) |
| • Land | 0.45 sq mi (1.17 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) 0.96% |
| Elevation | 2,293 ft (699 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 37 |
| • Density | 81.68/sq mi (31.51/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 2582989 |
Cuyama (say it: kwee-YAH-muh) is a small community in Santa Barbara County, California. It's called a "census-designated place" because it's a special area the government uses to collect information about people living there.
The name "Cuyama" comes from the Chumash Native American word Kuyam, which means "Clam."
Cuyama is located in the Cuyama Valley, close to the Carrizo Plain. The Cuyama River flows right next to the town, heading west towards the Pacific Ocean. You'll find lots of apricot, peach, and plum orchards around Cuyama.
In 2020, only 37 people lived in Cuyama, making it a very tiny place!
Contents
Where is Cuyama?
Cuyama is found along California State Route 166. It's about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) east of its slightly larger neighbor, New Cuyama.
South of the town, you'll see the Sierra Madre mountain range. Much of this area is part of the Los Padres National Forest. There has been some oil and gas exploration in the foothills of the Sierra Madre, just south of Cuyama.
History of Cuyama
Early Land Grant
The area known as Rancho Cuyama was a large piece of land, about 22,200 acres. In 1843, this land was given to a person named Jose Maria Rojo.
Oil Discovery
Later, in 1943, the Richfield Oil Company began looking for oil in the Cuyama area. Five years after that, the Norris Oil Company also started exploring for oil.
In 1952, another company, Atlantic Richfield, built a new town called New Cuyama. This new town was about four miles west of Cuyama and was built to house the oil company's workers.
Geography and Climate
Land and Water
Cuyama covers a small area, about 0.5 square miles (1.2 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a tiny bit being water.
What's the Weather Like?
Cuyama has a type of weather called a "hot-summer Mediterranean climate." This means that the summers are very hot and dry. The warmest month usually has an average daily temperature of about 75°F (24°C).
| Climate data for Cuyuma, California (New Cuyuma) | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 16 (61) |
17 (62) |
18 (65) |
22 (71) |
27 (80) |
31 (88) |
34 (94) |
34 (93) |
31 (87) |
26 (78) |
19 (66) |
16 (61) |
24 (75) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 0 (32) |
1 (34) |
2 (36) |
3 (38) |
7 (44) |
11 (51) |
13 (56) |
13 (55) |
11 (51) |
6 (43) |
2 (35) |
0 (32) |
6 (42) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 38 (1.5) |
43 (1.7) |
41 (1.6) |
13 (0.5) |
5.1 (0.2) |
0 (0) |
2.5 (0.1) |
2.5 (0.1) |
10 (0.4) |
7.6 (0.3) |
15 (0.6) |
28 (1.1) |
200 (8) |
| Source: Weatherbase | |||||||||||||
Who Lives in Cuyama?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 37 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the 2020 United States Census, Cuyama had a population of 37 people. It's a very small community!
See also
In Spanish: Cuyama para niños
