Cutler Bay, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cutler Bay, Florida
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| Motto(s):
"An Excellent Place to Live, Work and Play."
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Location in Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida
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| Country |  United States of America |
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| State |  Florida |
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| County |  Miami-Dade |
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| Settled (Cutler Ridge) |
c. 1825-1880 | ||
| Incorporated (Town of Culter Bay) | November 9, 2005 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Council-Manager | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 10.29 sq mi (26.64 km2) | ||
| • Land | 9.89 sq mi (25.61 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.40 sq mi (1.03 km2) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 45,425 | ||
| • Density | 4,594.42/sq mi (1,773.99/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP Codes |
33157, 33189, 33190
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| Area code(s) | 305, 786, 645 | ||
| FIPS code | 12-15968 | ||
Cutler Bay is a town in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. It was officially created in 2005. As of the 2020 US census, about 45,425 people live there. Cutler Bay is part of the larger Miami metropolitan area in South Florida. It is one of the most populated towns in Miami's urban core.
Contents
History of Cutler Bay
The town gets its name from Dr. William Cutler. He was from Massachusetts and visited the area around 1880. He encouraged others to settle there, and it became known as Cutler.
The Charles Deering Estate, which is nearby, has a special place called the Cutler Fossil Site. Here, scientists have found fossils of amazing ancient animals like mammoths, saber-toothed tigers, and large California condors. This area also shows signs that Native American people lived here as far back as 10,000 years ago. You can even find ancient burial mounds built by the Tequesta tribe. Early settlers in the 1800s called this area the "Hunting Ground."
In the early 1900s, the Florida East Coast Railway was built south to Cutler. This made Cutler an important place where people settling in the Homestead area could get their supplies.
In 1992, a very powerful storm called Hurricane Andrew hit the area that is now Cutler Bay. The storm caused widespread damage. Almost every building was badly affected by the strong winds. The total damage in Florida was estimated to be around $25 billion, making it the most expensive natural disaster in US history at that time.
After Hurricane Andrew, people wanted to rebuild and improve the area. In 2002, a group met to discuss making Cutler Ridge an official town. They hoped this would help with recovery efforts. The proposed town boundaries included Southwest 184th Street to the north and Southwest 216th and 224th streets to the south. The western boundary would be Florida's Turnpike, and Biscayne Bay would be the eastern boundary.
In 2005, people voted on a name for the new town. They chose "Cutler Bay" over "Cutler Ridge" by a vote of 1,920 to 1,403. On November 9, 2005, Cutler Bay officially became the 35th town in Miami-Dade County.
Geography of Cutler Bay
Cutler Bay is located at 25°34′58″N 80°20′48″W / 25.582684°N 80.346799°W. It is just west of Biscayne Bay and about 18 miles (29 km) southwest of downtown Miami.
The town's northern edge is near SW 184th Street. Its southern edge is near SW 232nd Street, close to Black Point Marina. Cutler Bay includes parts of Biscayne National Park. It also covers areas once known as Cutler Ridge and Lakes by the Bay. To the north, it borders Palmetto Bay. To the west, it borders South Miami Heights and Goulds.
The United States Census Bureau says Cutler Bay covers about 10.3 square miles (26.6 km2). Most of this area, about 9.9 square miles (25.6 km2), is land. The rest, about 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2), is water.
Cutler Ridge is an old coral formation that runs through the area. It rises about 14 feet (4.3 m) above sea level in Cutler Bay. This ridge is important for hurricane safety. Areas to the west of the ridge are generally more protected from storm surges.
Because Cutler Bay is in a flat, low-lying area near Biscayne Bay, it can sometimes flood. During the rainy season, the many canals and lakes are full. The ground also holds a lot of water close to the surface. Heavy rains from tropical storms and hurricanes can cause flooding.
Neighboring Areas
- Palmetto Bay
- West Perrine
Palmetto Bay - Unincorporated Miami-Dade County, South Miami Heights, Goulds
Biscayne Bay - Goulds, Princeton
Lakes by the Bay - Unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Lakes by the Bay
Climate
Cutler Bay has a tropical climate. This means it has warm temperatures all year round, similar to many places in the Caribbean. It is one of the few places in the United States with this type of climate.
People of Cutler Bay (Demographics)
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1960 | 7,005 | — | |
| 1970 | 17,441 | 149.0% | |
| 1980 | 20,886 | 19.8% | |
| 1990 | 21,268 | 1.8% | |
| 2000 | 24,781 | 16.5% | |
| 2010 | 40,286 | 62.6% | |
| 2020 | 45,425 | 12.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 45,425 people living in Cutler Bay. There were about 13,000 households and 10,305 families.
In 2010, about 25.8% of the population was under 18 years old. About 10.6% were 65 years or older. More than half of the population (51.7%) were female. The average household income was $61,370.
Most people in Cutler Bay speak either English or Spanish. In 2012, about 44.1% of people spoke English as their main language. About 50.4% of people spoke Spanish as their main language. A small number of people spoke other languages.
Education in Cutler Bay
Miami-Dade County Public Schools manages the public schools in Cutler Bay.
Elementary Schools
Several elementary schools are located within the town:
- Bel-Aire Elementary School
- Cutler Ridge Elementary School
- Dr. Edward L. Whigham Elementary School
- Gulfstream Elementary School
- Whispering Pines Elementary School
Middle and High Schools
Cutler Ridge Middle School and Cutler Bay Senior High School are both in Cutler Bay. Before 2012, there were two middle schools, and students went to Miami Southridge High School. Then, Centennial Middle School became Cutler Bay High School, and Cutler Ridge Middle School became the only middle school for the town.
There is also a charter school called Mater Academy Cutler Bay.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami operates Catholic schools. Our Lady of the Holy Rosary-St. Richard School, which teaches students from kindergarten to 8th grade, is in Cutler Bay.
Colleges and Universities
- College of Business and Technology (Cutler Bay Campus)
Media
The Miami Herald newspaper covers news for Cutler Bay. You can find it in their "Miami-Dade Communities" section.
