Cuba is a city in Crawford County, Missouri, United States. As of the 2020 census, Cuba had a population of 3,181. Cuba is the largest city situated entirely within Crawford County. (The city of Sullivan is larger, but most of its population resides in neighboring Franklin County.)

History

Cuba was platted in 1857 when it was certain the railroad would be extended to that point. It was named after the island of Cuba.

President Harry S. Truman visited Cuba during a tour of U.S. Route 66. He surveyed the property that would eventually become Indian Hills Lake. Indian Hills Lake was originally known as "Indian Head Lake" because the skull of a Native American was found during excavation.

Bette Davis and Amelia Earhart also visited the town. Their visits are commemorated in the Viva Cuba Mural Project.

Cuba was designated as the Route 66 Mural City by the Missouri legislature in recognition of Viva Cuba's Outdoor Mural Project. The beautification group consulted with Michelle Loughery, a Canadian muralist who helped create the vision and two of the murals. The group commissioned twelve outdoor murals along the Route 66 corridor.

Geography

Cuba is located on Missouri Route 19 approximately seven miles northeast of Steelville. I-44 passes the north side of the town.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Cuba had a population of 3,181. The median age was 40.2 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.4% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 88.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 87.1 males age 18 and over.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,370 households in Cuba, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 34.1% were married-couple households, 20.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 36.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. of 2010, there were 3,356 people, 1,385 households, and 816 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 1,542 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 95.95% White, 0.27% Black or African American, 0.66% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 1.49% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.40% of the population.

There were 1,385 households, of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.1% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.1% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.03.

The median age in the city was 35.5 years. 26.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.2% were from 25 to 44; 23.3% were from 45 to 64; and 16.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.7% male and 53.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census The guest cottages and old Wagon Wheel Cafe building underwent renovations beginning in 2009.

Cuba is home to the Crawford County History Museum. The Veterans Memorial, with almost 1000 names of veterans, sits in front of the museum on Smith Street.

Four miles west of Cuba on Route 66 is the World's Largest Rocking Chair (former). The chair is 42' high and draws many Route 66 travelers to take photos.

Education

It is in the Crawford County R-II School District<!--UNI 10410-->. The Crawford County R-II school district in 2000 had 1,426 students. The high school had 451 students, the middle school had 454, and the elementary school had 521. Renovation of the elementary and middle school facilities and the construction of a new high school, all of which cost more than $4 million, was recently completed. The school district has received full accreditation of the North Central Association of Secondary Schools and Colleges.

The Holy Cross Catholic School teaches grades PK through 8. In 2000 it had 54 students.

Cuba has a public library, a branch of the Crawford County Library District.

Notable people

  • Jake Collier-Former UFC Heavyweight Fighter
  • Jason Crow - Edward R. Murrow Award and Emmy winning photojournalist.

See also

  • List of municipalities in Missouri

References

  • Cuba Mural Project
  • Cuba along Route 66
  • Historic maps of Cuba in the Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection at the University of Missouri