The short answer: Fidel Castro, bad boats, and a burning desire for freedom (and decent pizza). Starting in 1959, Cubans began fleeing the island in waves, turning Florida into a giant, humid extension of Havana. Today, the migration has slowed, but the cultural footprint is so massive that you can’t buy a house in Miami without being offered a side of ropa vieja.
Here’s a surprising fact: Cubans are the third-largest Hispanic group in the U.S., after Mexicans and Puerto Ricans. But if you ask a Cuban, they’ll tell you they’re number one in attitude and argumentative passion. There’s a reason the “Cuban American” identity is its own spicy genre of American culture.
Where do they all live? (Spoiler: It’s not Wyoming)
If you guessed Florida, congratulations—you’ve earned a pastelito. Over 70% of all Cuban-Americans live in the Sunshine State, mostly in Miami-Dade County. New Jersey and New York come in second and third, but let’s be honest: a Cuban in New Jersey is just someone who misses the Florida humidity while complaining about snow.
There’s even a small, heroic community in Texas and California, but they spend most of their time explaining that Cuban coffee is not a Starbucks drink. It’s a religious experience served in a tiny thimble that will make your heart palpitate and your soul speak Spanish.
