Stock inside Cuyamaca Reservoir Inclosure, 1894
Cuyama’s story
84 years in pictures
The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 1894 and 3 maps from 1942 on.
- 1942Cuyama is settled
CuyamaCA
Home to 21 people, the town was settled in 1942.
Photo: JPxG · CC BY-SA 4.0
Is Cuyama a good place to live?
100% of households are owner-occupiers in Cuyama, above both California’s towns (64%) and U.S. towns (73%). Cuyama has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
21 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
Moving to Cuyama: who provides what
Cuyama is unincorporated, so Santa Barbara County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerPG&E37.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & county servicesSanta Barbara CountySanta Barbara County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn California you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereSanta Barbara County Clerk-ElectionsSanta Barbara County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code9325493254 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Cuyama.
Natural hazards
Cuyama stands out in California and nationally: the FEMA risk score there is higher
FEMA puts nearly half of Cuyama’s expected hazard losses down to landslides, and 44% to drought. Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 100% of U.S. communities.
100risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
LandslidesDrought
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Schools
The schools Cuyama’s kids attend
One of its 2 schools is below, with the reason it’s listed. Public schools: the Cuyama Joint Unified school district. Enrollment at the town’s public school: 107 students.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuyama ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–8 | Grades K–8 | 107 | D |
NCES · EDFacts
Climate
The climate in Cuyama brings four seasons and hot summers
Cuyama’s typical July afternoon high is recorded as 94°F.
94°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter34–60°
Spring41–71°
Summer55–92°
Fall45–77°
Nov 4
typical first frost
Apr 15
typical last frost
+1.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
94°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Cuyama is
21% of adults have been diagnosed with depression in Cuyama. Across all 32 CDC measures, Cuyama beats California on 1 and trails on 10. Two figures for adults locally: 16% report frequent physical distress, 14% have diabetes.
| Cuyama | Typical California town | Typical U.S. town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 26% | 22% | 19% |
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 9% | 8.1% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 14% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 12% | 12% |
32 measures vs. California
1 better21 too close to call10 worse
| What stands out | Cuyama | CA |
|---|---|---|
| More adults screened for colon cancer | 63.5% | 57.5% |
| More adults with COPD | 6.8% | 5.1% |
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital
35.2 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Cuyama
14pages on Cuyama
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Cuyama; the nearest are
Taft CollegeCommunity college · Public · Taft17.4 mi$1,108 in-state tuitionSanta Barbara City CollegeCommunity college · Public · Santa Barbara36.5 mi$1,240 in-state tuitionUniversity of California-Santa BarbaraUniversity or college · Public · Santa Barbara37.9 mi$16,414 in-state tuition
About 14 of every 100 Cuyama residents are enrolled in college, against 8 across California.
About Cuyama
Census-designated place in California, United States
Cuyama (; (Chumash: Kuyam, meaning "Clam")) is a census-designated place in Santa Barbara County. California. It is located in the Cuyama Valley, near the Carrizo Plain. The Cuyama River runs adjacent to the town, flowing west towards the Pacific Ocean. Cuyama is surrounded by many apricot, peach, and plum orchards. The ZIP Code is 93254, and the community is inside area code 805. The population was 37 at the 2020 census. The name "Cuyama" comes from an Indian village named Kuyam. Cuyama is located on California State Route 166 2.5 miles (4 km) east of its much larger neighbor New Cuyama. South of the town is the Sierra Madre mountain range, most of which is included in the Los Padres Natio…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2,293 ft
Questions about Cuyama
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Cuyama, CA a good place to live?
Cuyama has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.