San Benito County (/ˌsæn bəˈniːtoʊ/ ; San Benito, Spanish for "St. Benedict"), officially the County of San Benito, is a county located in the Central Coast region of California. Situated in the California Coast Ranges, the county had a population of 64,209, as of the 2020 census. The county seat is the city of Hollister.
San Benito County | |
---|---|
County of San Benito | |
Images, from top down, left to right: San Benito County Courthouse, Mission San Juan Bautista, New Idria grounds | |
Country | United States |
State | California |
Region | Central Coast |
CSA | San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland |
Metro | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara |
Incorporated | February 12, 1874 |
Named for | San Benito River |
County seat | Hollister |
Largest city | Hollister |
Government | |
• Type | Council–CEO |
• Body | Board of Supervisors |
• Chair | Kollin Kosmicki |
• Vice Chair | Dom Zanger |
• Board of Supervisors | Supervisors
|
• County Administrative Officer | Ray Espinosa |
Area | |
• Total | 1,390 sq mi (3,600 km2) |
• Land | 1,389 sq mi (3,600 km2) |
• Water | 1.8 sq mi (5 km2) |
Highest elevation | 5,245 ft (1,599 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 64,209 |
• Density | 46/sq mi (18/km2) |
GDP | |
• Total | $2.736 billion (2022) |
Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific Time Zone) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (Pacific Daylight Time) |
Area code | 831 |
FIPS code | 06-069 |
GNIS feature ID | 277299 |
Congressional district | 18th |
Website | www |
San Benito County is included in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA Combined Statistical Area. El Camino Real passes through the county and includes one mission in San Juan Bautista.
History
Before the arrival of the first European settlers, the San Benito County area was inhabited by the Mutsun sub-group of the Ohlone Native Americans. In 1772 Father Juan Crespí conducted a brief expedition into the area and named a small river which he found in honor of San Benito de Nursia (Saint Benedict), the patron saint of monasticism. The county was later named after the San Benito Valley, the valley surrounding this river. Thus it was from the Spanish version of the saint's name that the county eventually took its name.
In 1797 Spanish missionaries founded the first European settlement in the county as the San Juan Bautista mission. In 1848 the United States government gained control over what would soon become the state of California, which included the area now known as San Benito county. The town of New Idria was the next town to develop in the area and was founded ca. 1857. New Idria was centered around the New Idria Mercury Mine. When the mine played out fairly recently in 1972, New Idria was abandoned, and the town is now one of California's many ghost-towns.
The town of Hollister was next founded on November 19, 1868, by William Welles Hollister on the grounds of the former Mexican land-grant Rancho San Justo. In 1874 the California legislature formed San Benito County from a section of Monterey County while naming Hollister as the new county seat. Sections of Merced and Fresno Counties were also later reassigned to San Benito County in 1887 as a result of the growth of the New Idria community. Other towns in the county which were founded early in the county's history include Tres Pinos and Paicines.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,390 square miles (3,600 km2), of which 1,388 square miles (3,595 km2) is land and 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2) is water (0.1%).
Sharing a border with Santa Clara County, San Benito County lies adjacent to the San Francisco Bay Area and is sometimes considered a part of that region. Frequently, the county is associated with the Monterey Bay Area through governmental organizations such as the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments as well as the Pajaro River, which flows from northern San Benito County into the Monterey Bay. The United States Census Bureau includes the county in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara MSA and the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland CSA, which the Census uses as a statistical definition of the San Francisco Bay Area.
The county also borders Merced County and Fresno County on the east, which extend into California's San Joaquin Valley. It borders Santa Cruz County on the west and Monterey County on the southwest border.
The county is also the location of the Mount Harlan and San Benito American Viticultural Areas. The latter contains the Cienega Valley, Lime Kiln Valley, and Paicines AVAs.
Flora
Due to the varied topography, diverse geology, and varied climate from near-coastal to inland, San Benito County contains a high diversity of vegetation types. Common vegetation types include annual grasslands, coastal scrub, chaparral, and oak woodland.
In the extreme southeastern portion of San Benito County at Panoche Valley, Panoche Hills, Tumey Hills, and Vallecitos, the climate is arid and part of the recently recognized San Joaquin Desert biome. The flora there includes saltbush scrub, San Joaquin Desert scrub, and California juniper woodland. Panoche Hills navarretia (Navarretia panochensis) is nearly endemic to this small portion of the San Joaquin Desert in San Benito County.
At the highest elevations of San Benito County at Fremont Peak and San Benito Mountain, the average annual precipitation is high enough and the average annual temperature is cool enough to support mixed conifer forest. At San Benito Mountain, the high elevation climate and extreme geology of the New Idria serpentine, supports a unique mixed-conifer forest that includes foothill pine, Coulter pine, Jeffrey pine, and incense cedar. The extreme conditions of the serpentine soils of the New Idria serpentine mass support many rare local endemic plant species including San Benito evening primrose (Camissonia benitensis), rayless layia (Layia discoidea), Guirado's goldenrod (Solidago guiradonis), and San Benito fritillary (Fritillaria viridea).
The plant species Benitoa occidentalis was named for San Benito County.Camissonia benitensis,Monardella antonina subsp. benitensis, and Arctostaphylos benitoensis were named in recognition of their being endemic or near-endemic to San Benito County. The species Hollisteria lanata was named after William Welles Hollister, namesake of the city of Hollister.
Fauna
Illacme plenipes, a millipede having more legs than any other millipede species, was discovered in the county in 1926.
A California condor was found shot to death in the county on July 22, 2022, leading to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service posting a $5,000 reward for information on the killer.
National protected area
- Pinnacles National Park
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1880 | 5,584 | — | |
1890 | 6,412 | 14.8% | |
1900 | 6,633 | 3.4% | |
1910 | 8,041 | 21.2% | |
1920 | 8,995 | 11.9% | |
1930 | 11,311 | 25.7% | |
1940 | 11,392 | 0.7% | |
1950 | 14,370 | 26.1% | |
1960 | 15,396 | 7.1% | |
1970 | 18,226 | 18.4% | |
1980 | 25,005 | 37.2% | |
1990 | 36,697 | 46.8% | |
2000 | 53,234 | 45.1% | |
2010 | 55,269 | 3.8% | |
2020 | 64,209 | 16.2% | |
2023 (est.) | 68,175 | 6.2% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 |
2020 census
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH) | 24,513 | 21,154 | 19,785 | 46.05% | 38.27% | 30.81% |
Black or African American alone (NH) | 475 | 355 | 479 | 0.89% | 0.64% | 0.75% |
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 279 | 231 | 221 | 0.52% | 0.42% | 0.34% |
Asian alone (NH) | 1,173 | 1,298 | 2,189 | 2.20% | 2.35% | 3.41% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 68 | 65 | 127 | 0.13% | 0.12% | 0.20% |
Other Race alone (NH) | 53 | 67 | 332 | 0.10% | 0.12% | 0.52% |
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 1,157 | 913 | 1,835 | 2.17% | 1.65% | 2.86% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 25,516 | 31,186 | 39,241 | 47.93% | 56.43% | 61.11% |
Total | 53,234 | 55,269 | 64,209 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2011
Population, race, and income | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total population | 54,873 | ||||
White | 41,820 | 76.2% | |||
Black or African American | 728 | 1.3% | |||
American Indian or Alaska Native | 693 | 1.3% | |||
Asian | 1,336 | 2.4% | |||
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander | 0 | 0.0% | |||
Some other race | 7,903 | 14.4% | |||
Two or more races | 2,393 | 4.4% | |||
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 30,497 | 55.6% | |||
Per capita income | $26,300 | ||||
Median household income | $65,570 | ||||
Median family income | $73,150 |
Places by population, race, and income
Place | Type | Population | White | Other | Asian | Black or African American | Native American | Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aromas ‡ | CDP | 1,175 | 77.9% | 19.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3.0% | 18.6% |
Hollister | City | 34,733 | 71.2% | 23.2% | 2.7% | 1.6% | 1.4% | 65.7% |
Ridgemark | CDP | 3,370 | 86.3% | 7.9% | 2.8% | 2.2% | 0.8% | 21.5% |
San Juan Bautista | City | 1,619 | 83.8% | 6.4% | 4.1% | 4.4% | 1.4% | 37.6% |
Tres Pinos | CDP | 313 | 97.8% | 2.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 32.6% |
‡ Data for San Benito County area of this CDP |
Place | Type | Population | Per capita income | Median household income | Median family income |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aromas ‡ | CDP | 1,175 | $49,556 | $121,964 | $163,906 |
Hollister | City | 34,733 | $22,433 | $62,570 | $64,123 |
Ridgemark | CDP | 3,370 | $38,800 | $90,833 | $101,776 |
San Juan Bautista | City | 1,619 | $24,527 | $56,897 | $65,526 |
Tres Pinos | CDP | 313 | $41,294 | $83,500 | $88,929 |
‡ Data for San Benito County area of this CDP |
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that San Benito County had a population of 55,269. The racial makeup of San Benito County was 35,181 (63.7%) White, 483 (0.9%) African American, 895 (1.6%) Native American, 1,443 (2.6%) Asian, 94 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 14,471 (26.2%) from other races, and 2,702 (4.9%) from two or more races. There were 31,186 people of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race (56.4%).
Population reported at 2010 United States Census | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The County | Total Population | White | African American | Native American | Asian | Pacific Islander | other races | two or more races | Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
San Benito County | 55,269 | 35,181 | 483 | 895 | 1443 | 94 | 14,471 | 2,702 | 31,186 |
Incorporated cities | Total Population | White | African American | Native American | Asian | Pacific Islander | other races | two or more races | Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
Hollister | 34,928 | 20,761 | 341 | 617 | 929 | 63 | 10,437 | 1,780 | 22,965 |
San Juan Bautista | 1,862 | 1,125 | 12 | 58 | 52 | 2 | 494 | 119 | 907 |
Total Population | White | African American | Native American | Asian | Pacific Islander | other races | two or more races | Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | |
Aromas ‡ | 1,292 | 961 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 3 | 207 | 85 | 413 |
Ridgemark | 3,016 | 2,520 | 23 | 14 | 105 | 3 | 248 | 103 | 623 |
Tres Pinos | 476 | 390 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 57 | 12 | 112 |
Other unincorporated areas | Total Population | White | African American | Native American | Asian | Pacific Islander | other races | two or more races | Hispanic or Latino (of any race) |
All others not CDPs (combined) | 13,695 | 9,424 | 95 | 185 | 337 | 23 | 3,028 | 603 | 6,166 |
‡ Note: these numbers reflect only the portion of this CDP in San Benito County |
2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 53,234 people, 15,885 households, and 12,898 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 16,499 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county in 2010 was 38.3% non-Hispanic White, 0.6% non-Hispanic Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 2.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.1% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. 56.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 7.6% were of German, 6.3% Irish and 5.4% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000. 62.8% spoke only English at home, while 35.3% spoke Spanish. As of the 2010 census, San Benito County was the only county in the greater San Francisco Bay Area with a Hispanic majority.
There were 15,885 households, out of which 46.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.8% were non-families. 14.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.32 and the average family size was 3.64.
In the county 32.2% of the population was under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 102.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $57,469, and the median income for a family was $60,665. Males had a median income of $44,158 versus $29,524 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,932. About 6.7% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
Government and policing
County government is overseen by a five-member elected Board of Supervisors, who serve four-year terms of office. Other elected county leaders include:
- Assessor
- Clerk-Auditor-Recorder
- District Attorney
- Sheriff-Coroner
- Treasurer-Tax Collector-Public Administrator
San Benito County had the last elected Marshal in California until 2010 when the office closed. Shasta and Trinity Counties still have appointed Marshals.
State and federal representation
In the United States House of Representatives, San Benito County is part of California's 18th congressional district, represented by Democrat Zoe Lofgren.
In the California State Legislature, San Benito County is in the 17th Senate District, represented by Democrat John Laird, and in the 29th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Robert Rivas.
Policing
Eric S. Taylor is the 16th elected Sheriff-Coroner-Marshal of San Benito County. He was appointed on June 25, 2021, and was elected in June 2022. His term began on January 2, 2023. The San Benito County Sheriff provides law enforcement services, search and rescue, court security, marshal services, correctional facility operations and coroner service for the entire county. It provides patrol and detective services for the unincorporated areas of the county. Hollister (the County Seat) has a municipal police department. The Sheriff is contracted to provide law enforcement service to the incorporated City of San Juan Bautista.
Politics
San Benito is a Democratic-leaning county in Presidential and congressional elections. The last Republican to win a majority in the county was George H. W. Bush in 1988. San Benito is also considered a bellwether county for California in presidential elections; since 1904 the only candidates to carry the state without winning this county have been Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944 and Harry S. Truman in 1948. The county's bellwether status goes beyond presidential politics to ballot initiatives and statewide candidates, as its election results mirror those of the state as a whole, as it straddles the major political fault lines of the state. Before 1904, however, it was a solidly Democratic county whilst the state leaned Republican, voting Democratic in every election from its creation in 1876 up to and including 1900, although California only voted Democratic in 1880 and 1892.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 11,702 | 42.32% | 15,179 | 54.89% | 771 | 2.79% |
2020 | 10,590 | 36.73% | 17,628 | 61.14% | 612 | 2.12% |
2016 | 7,841 | 35.44% | 12,521 | 56.60% | 1,760 | 7.96% |
2012 | 7,343 | 38.48% | 11,276 | 59.10% | 462 | 2.42% |
2008 | 7,425 | 37.52% | 11,917 | 60.22% | 446 | 2.25% |
2004 | 8,698 | 46.45% | 9,851 | 52.61% | 176 | 0.94% |
2000 | 7,015 | 41.68% | 9,131 | 54.25% | 685 | 4.07% |
1996 | 5,384 | 38.72% | 7,030 | 50.55% | 1,492 | 10.73% |
1992 | 4,112 | 32.28% | 5,354 | 42.03% | 3,273 | 25.69% |
1988 | 5,578 | 54.11% | 4,559 | 44.23% | 171 | 1.66% |
1984 | 5,695 | 60.71% | 3,554 | 37.89% | 131 | 1.40% |
1980 | 4,054 | 53.33% | 2,749 | 36.16% | 799 | 10.51% |
1976 | 3,398 | 50.87% | 3,122 | 46.74% | 160 | 2.40% |
1972 | 3,961 | 57.56% | 2,582 | 37.52% | 338 | 4.91% |
1968 | 2,961 | 47.54% | 2,809 | 45.10% | 459 | 7.37% |
1964 | 2,444 | 39.19% | 3,779 | 60.59% | 14 | 0.22% |
1960 | 3,056 | 51.40% | 2,876 | 48.38% | 13 | 0.22% |
1956 | 3,252 | 59.53% | 2,201 | 40.29% | 10 | 0.18% |
1952 | 3,733 | 65.23% | 1,968 | 34.39% | 22 | 0.38% |
1948 | 2,775 | 55.64% | 2,096 | 42.03% | 116 | 2.33% |
1944 | 2,253 | 52.80% | 1,998 | 46.82% | 16 | 0.37% |
1940 | 2,407 | 49.29% | 2,441 | 49.99% | 35 | 0.72% |
1936 | 1,515 | 36.58% | 2,565 | 61.93% | 62 | 1.50% |
1932 | 1,269 | 33.89% | 2,283 | 60.98% | 192 | 5.13% |
1928 | 1,971 | 58.87% | 1,366 | 40.80% | 11 | 0.33% |
1924 | 1,443 | 53.54% | 361 | 13.40% | 891 | 33.06% |
1920 | 1,965 | 65.00% | 900 | 29.77% | 158 | 5.23% |
1916 | 1,440 | 44.19% | 1,688 | 51.80% | 131 | 4.02% |
1912 | 13 | 0.51% | 1,253 | 48.70% | 1,307 | 50.80% |
1908 | 937 | 53.57% | 684 | 39.11% | 128 | 7.32% |
1904 | 888 | 54.51% | 645 | 39.59% | 96 | 5.89% |
1900 | 724 | 46.71% | 786 | 50.71% | 40 | 2.58% |
1896 | 729 | 42.48% | 956 | 55.71% | 31 | 1.81% |
1892 | 616 | 36.97% | 759 | 45.56% | 291 | 17.47% |
As of May 2010, the California Secretary of State reports that San Benito County has 34,562 eligible voters.[citation needed] Of those 24,736 (71.57%) are registered voters. Of those, 11,959 (48.35%) are registered Democratic, 7,477 (30.23%) are registered Republican, 565 (2.28%)are registered American Independent, and 116 (0.47%) are Green Party. The two incorporated municipalities of Hollister and San Juan Bautista have Democratic majorities on their voter rolls, whereas the unincorporated areas of San Benito County have a small Republican plurality in voter registration.
Voter registration
Population and registered voters | ||
---|---|---|
Total population | 54,873 | |
Registered voters | 26,694 | 48.6% |
Democratic | 12,643 | 47.4% |
Republican | 7,847 | 29.4% |
Democratic–Republican spread | +4,796 | +18.0% |
Independent | 679 | 2.5% |
Green | 144 | 0.5% |
Libertarian | 143 | 0.5% |
Peace and Freedom | 73 | 0.3% |
Americans Elect | 1 | 0.0% |
Other | 46 | 0.2% |
No party preference | 5,118 | 19.2% |
Cities by population and voter registration
Cities by population and voter registration | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
City | Population | Registered voters | Democratic | Republican | D–R spread | Other | No party preference |
Hollister | 34,733 | 43.8% | 53.6% | 23.2% | +30.4% | 6.3% | 19.4% |
San Juan Bautista | 1,619 | 59.8% | 50.8% | 23.0% | +27.8% | 9.8% | 20.4% |
Crime
The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.
Population and crime rates | ||
---|---|---|
Population | 54,873 | |
Violent crime | 246 | 4.48 |
Homicide | 0 | 0.00 |
Forcible rape | 9 | 0.16 |
Robbery | 54 | 0.98 |
Aggravated assault | 183 | 3.33 |
Property crime | 748 | 13.63 |
Burglary | 445 | 8.11 |
Larceny-theft | 535 | 9.75 |
Motor vehicle theft | 129 | 2.35 |
Arson | 8 | 0.15 |
Cities by population and crime ratable
Cities by population and crime rates | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
City | Population | Violent crimes | Violent crime rate per 1,000 persons | Property crimes | Property crime rate per 1,000 persons | |||
Hollister | 35,766 | 162 | 4.53 | 724 | 20.24 |
Economy
The economy is statistically included in metro San Jose, though the dominant activity is agriculture. Agritourism is growing as the county has destination wineries, organic farms and quaint inns with views of cattle grazing. With concerns about how oil and gas operations could impact this sector of the economy and agriculture in general, the county voters approved a measure in 2014 that bans well stimulation techniques such as fracking, acidizing and steam injection, along with conventional drilling in some areas. In the 1950s, the oil drilling industry had many wells and the county is over the Monterey Shale formation but there is very little activity now.
Top employers
According to the San Benito County Economic Development Corporation of San Benito County, the top employers in the county are:
# | Employer | # of Employees |
---|---|---|
1 | Earthbound Farm | 1,000+ |
2 | R&R Labor | 500–999 |
3 | Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital | 250–499 |
4 | Mcelectronics Inc. | 250–499 |
5 | San Benito High School | 250–499 |
6 | True Leaf Farms | 250–499 |
7 | Corbin Sparrow | 100–249 |
8 | Denise & Filice Packing Co | 100–249 |
9 | Nob Hill Foods | 100–249 |
10 | San Benito Foods | 100–249 |
11 | San Benito County Sheriff | 100–249 |
12 | Target | 100–249 |
13 | Trical Inc. | 100–249 |
14 | West Marine | 100–249 |
Media
San Benito County receives media in Monterey County, including the major Monterey County TV and radio stations.
The county also has several media outlets that serve the local community:
Television
CMAP TV - Community Media Access Partnership, based in Gilroy, operates Channels 17, 18, 19 & 20 on Charter/Spectrum Cable as well as streaming online, offering public access and educational programming to Gilroy and San Benito County as well as offering live civic meetings, including county government.
Radio
- KMPG, at 1520 AM daytime, plays regional Mexican music;
- KQKE, at 97.5 FM, "The Quake" San Benito County Community Radio provides a low power signal.
- KHRI, at 90.7 FM, is an affiliate of Air 1 playing contemporary Christian music;
- KXSM, at 93.1 FM, broadcasts a regional Mexican format.
- K206BQ, at 89.1 FM, rebroadcasts KLVM.
- K265DG, at 100.9 FM, rebroadcasts KPRC-FM.
- The Hollister Free Lance, founded in 1873, is published weekly on Thursdays. The Freelance is now owned by New SV Media, Inc.and its main office is in Gilroy. New SV Media owns Good Times, Metro Silicon Valley, Pajaroan, Gilroy Dispatch, SantaCruz.com, King City Rustler and California Wheelin'.
- Mission Village Voice is a monthly paper based in San Juan Bautista. It is oriented toward arts, culture and community-wide events.
Online
- BenitoLink is a nonprofit news website covering San Benito County, run by local and regional residents.
- San Benito Live is a local news website, primarily focused on culture-related media.
Transportation
Major highways
- U.S. Route 101 to San Francisco
- State Route 25
- State Route 129 to Santa Cruz
- State Route 146
- State Route 156
Public transportation
San Benito County Express provides fixed route service in the city of Hollister, and intercity service in the northern portion of the county. Service operates as far north as Gilroy, in Santa Clara County.
Airports
Hollister Municipal Airport is a general aviation airport located just north of Hollister.
Communities
Cities
- Hollister (county seat)
- San Juan Bautista
Census-designated places
- Aromas
- Ridgemark
- Tres Pinos
Unincorporated communities
- Bitterwater
- Dunneville
- Paicines
- Panoche
- River Oaks
- San Benito
- Tres Pinos
Ghost town
- New Idria
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of San Benito County.
† county seat
Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2010 Census) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | † Hollister | City | 34,928 |
2 | Ridgemark | CDP | 3,016 |
3 | Aromas (partially in Monterey County) | CDP | 2,650 |
4 | San Juan Bautista | City | 1,862 |
5 | Tres Pinos | CDP | 476 |
See also
- List of museums in the California Central Coast
- National Register of Historic Places listings in San Benito County, California
- George H. Moore, San Benito County district attorney
Notes
- Other = Some other race + Two or more races
- Native American = Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander + American Indian or Alaska Native
- This total comprised 1,054 votes for Progressive Theodore Roosevelt (who was official Republican nominee in California), 179 votes for Socialist Eugene V. Debs and 74 votes for Prohibition Party nominee Eugene W. Chafin.
- Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.
References
- "County of San Benito Board of Supervisors (BOS) | San Benito County, CA".
- "San Benito Mountain". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
- "Gross Domestic Product: All Industries in San Benito County, CA". Federal Reserve Economic Data. Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
- "San Benito County, California". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
- "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
- Germano, David J.; Rathbun, Galen B.; Saslaw, Lawrence R.; Cypher, Brian L.; Cypher, Ellen A.; Vredenburgh, Larry M. (2011). "The San Joaquin Desert of California: Ecologically Misunderstood and Overlooked". Natural Areas Journal. 31 (2): 138–147. doi:10.3375/043.031.0206. S2CID 85723011.
- "Navarretia panochensis Calflora". www.calflora.org. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- "Camissonia benitensis Calflora". www.calflora.org. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- "Observation Search - Calflora". www.calflora.org. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- "Solidago guiradonis Calflora". www.calflora.org. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- "Fritillaria viridea Calflora". www.calflora.org. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- "Benitoa occidentalis Calflora".
- "Benitoa in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
- "Monardella antonina SSP. Benitensis Calflora".
- "Arctostaphylos Xbenitoensis Calflora".
- "Hollisteria lanata Calflora".
- Sara Goudarzi (June 7, 2006). "666-Legged Creature Rediscovered". LiveScience.
- Jess Thomson (9 Sep 2023) Reward Offered to Find Who Killed Endangered California Condor
- "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
- "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
- Forstall, Richard L., ed. (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
- "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
- "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – San Benito County, California". United States Census Bureau.
- "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – San Benito County, California". United States Census Bureau.
- "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – San Benito County, California". United States Census Bureau.
- U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
- U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B03003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
- U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19301. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19013. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B19113. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B01003. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
- "2010 Census P.L. 94-171 Summary File Data". United States Census Bureau.
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- "California's 18th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
- "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
- Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004, pp. 152-155 ISBN 0786422173
- Rosenhall, Laurel (September 7, 2023). "Robert Rivas wants to use small-town charm to wield big political power in California. Will it work?". Los Angeles Times.
- Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
- California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration Archived July 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
- Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009 Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.
- United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California). Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- Cart, Julie (November 29, 2014). "Election win puts rural San Benito County on anti-fracking map". Los Angeles Times.
- "San Benito County Data from Hollister General Plan Update Market Demand Analysis Report" (Memorandum). bae urban economics. January 20, 2021.
- CNMP, US Census Bureau. "This site has been redesigned and relocated. - U.S. Census Bureau". www.census.gov.
External links
- Official website
- History of San Benito County
San Benito County ˌ s ae n b e ˈ n iː t oʊ San Benito Spanish for St Benedict officially the County of San Benito is a county located in the Central Coast region of California Situated in the California Coast Ranges the county had a population of 64 209 as of the 2020 census The county seat is the city of Hollister San Benito CountyCountyCounty of San BenitoImages from top down left to right San Benito County Courthouse Mission San Juan Bautista New Idria groundsFlagSealInteractive map of San Benito CountyLocation in the state of CaliforniaCountryUnited StatesStateCaliforniaRegionCentral CoastCSASan Jose San Francisco OaklandMetroSan Jose Sunnyvale Santa ClaraIncorporatedFebruary 12 1874Named forSan Benito RiverCounty seatHollisterLargest cityHollisterGovernment TypeCouncil CEO BodyBoard of Supervisors ChairKollin Kosmicki Vice ChairDom Zanger Board of SupervisorsSupervisors Dom ZangerKollin KosmickiMindy SoteloAngela CurroIgnacio Velazquez County Administrative OfficerRay EspinosaArea Total1 390 sq mi 3 600 km2 Land1 389 sq mi 3 600 km2 Water1 8 sq mi 5 km2 Highest elevation5 245 ft 1 599 m Population 2020 Total64 209 Density46 sq mi 18 km2 GDP Total 2 736 billion 2022 Time zoneUTC 8 Pacific Time Zone Summer DST UTC 7 Pacific Daylight Time Area code831FIPS code06 069GNIS feature ID277299Congressional district18thWebsitewww wbr cosb wbr us San Benito County is included in the San Jose Sunnyvale Santa Clara CA Metropolitan Statistical Area which is also included in the San Jose San Francisco Oakland CA Combined Statistical Area El Camino Real passes through the county and includes one mission in San Juan Bautista HistoryBefore the arrival of the first European settlers the San Benito County area was inhabited by the Mutsun sub group of the Ohlone Native Americans In 1772 Father Juan Crespi conducted a brief expedition into the area and named a small river which he found in honor of San Benito de Nursia Saint Benedict the patron saint of monasticism The county was later named after the San Benito Valley the valley surrounding this river Thus it was from the Spanish version of the saint s name that the county eventually took its name In 1797 Spanish missionaries founded the first European settlement in the county as the San Juan Bautista mission In 1848 the United States government gained control over what would soon become the state of California which included the area now known as San Benito county The town of New Idria was the next town to develop in the area and was founded ca 1857 New Idria was centered around the New Idria Mercury Mine When the mine played out fairly recently in 1972 New Idria was abandoned and the town is now one of California s many ghost towns The town of Hollister was next founded on November 19 1868 by William Welles Hollister on the grounds of the former Mexican land grant Rancho San Justo In 1874 the California legislature formed San Benito County from a section of Monterey County while naming Hollister as the new county seat Sections of Merced and Fresno Counties were also later reassigned to San Benito County in 1887 as a result of the growth of the New Idria community Other towns in the county which were founded early in the county s history include Tres Pinos and Paicines GeographyTumey Hills BLM recreation area near Interstate 5 According to the U S Census Bureau the county has a total area of 1 390 square miles 3 600 km2 of which 1 388 square miles 3 595 km2 is land and 1 8 square miles 4 7 km2 is water 0 1 Sharing a border with Santa Clara County San Benito County lies adjacent to the San Francisco Bay Area and is sometimes considered a part of that region Frequently the county is associated with the Monterey Bay Area through governmental organizations such as the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments as well as the Pajaro River which flows from northern San Benito County into the Monterey Bay The United States Census Bureau includes the county in the San Jose Sunnyvale Santa Clara MSA and the San Jose San Francisco Oakland CSA which the Census uses as a statistical definition of the San Francisco Bay Area The county also borders Merced County and Fresno County on the east which extend into California s San Joaquin Valley It borders Santa Cruz County on the west and Monterey County on the southwest border The county is also the location of the Mount Harlan and San Benito American Viticultural Areas The latter contains the Cienega Valley Lime Kiln Valley and Paicines AVAs Flora Due to the varied topography diverse geology and varied climate from near coastal to inland San Benito County contains a high diversity of vegetation types Common vegetation types include annual grasslands coastal scrub chaparral and oak woodland In the extreme southeastern portion of San Benito County at Panoche Valley Panoche Hills Tumey Hills and Vallecitos the climate is arid and part of the recently recognized San Joaquin Desert biome The flora there includes saltbush scrub San Joaquin Desert scrub and California juniper woodland Panoche Hills navarretia Navarretia panochensis is nearly endemic to this small portion of the San Joaquin Desert in San Benito County At the highest elevations of San Benito County at Fremont Peak and San Benito Mountain the average annual precipitation is high enough and the average annual temperature is cool enough to support mixed conifer forest At San Benito Mountain the high elevation climate and extreme geology of the New Idria serpentine supports a unique mixed conifer forest that includes foothill pine Coulter pine Jeffrey pine and incense cedar The extreme conditions of the serpentine soils of the New Idria serpentine mass support many rare local endemic plant species including San Benito evening primrose Camissonia benitensis rayless layia Layia discoidea Guirado s goldenrod Solidago guiradonis and San Benito fritillary Fritillaria viridea The plant species Benitoa occidentalis was named for San Benito County Camissonia benitensis Monardella antonina subsp benitensis and Arctostaphylos benitoensis were named in recognition of their being endemic or near endemic to San Benito County The species Hollisteria lanata was named after William Welles Hollister namesake of the city of Hollister Fauna Illacme plenipes a millipede having more legs than any other millipede species was discovered in the county in 1926 A California condor was found shot to death in the county on July 22 2022 leading to the U S Fish and Wildlife Service posting a 5 000 reward for information on the killer National protected area Pinnacles National ParkDemographicsHistorical population CensusPop Note 18805 584 18906 41214 8 19006 6333 4 19108 04121 2 19208 99511 9 193011 31125 7 194011 3920 7 195014 37026 1 196015 3967 1 197018 22618 4 198025 00537 2 199036 69746 8 200053 23445 1 201055 2693 8 202064 20916 2 2023 est 68 1756 2 U S Decennial Census 1790 1960 1900 1990 1990 2000 2010 20202020 census San Benito County California Racial and ethnic composition Note the US Census treats Hispanic Latino as an ethnic category This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category Hispanics Latinos may be of any race Race Ethnicity NH Non Hispanic Pop 2000 Pop 2010 Pop 2020 2000 2010 2020White alone NH 24 513 21 154 19 785 46 05 38 27 30 81 Black or African American alone NH 475 355 479 0 89 0 64 0 75 Native American or Alaska Native alone NH 279 231 221 0 52 0 42 0 34 Asian alone NH 1 173 1 298 2 189 2 20 2 35 3 41 Pacific Islander alone NH 68 65 127 0 13 0 12 0 20 Other Race alone NH 53 67 332 0 10 0 12 0 52 Mixed Race or Multi Racial NH 1 157 913 1 835 2 17 1 65 2 86 Hispanic or Latino any race 25 516 31 186 39 241 47 93 56 43 61 11 Total 53 234 55 269 64 209 100 00 100 00 100 00 2011 Population race and incomeTotal population 54 873 White 41 820 76 2 Black or African American 728 1 3 American Indian or Alaska Native 693 1 3 Asian 1 336 2 4 Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 0 0 0 Some other race 7 903 14 4 Two or more races 2 393 4 4 Hispanic or Latino of any race 30 497 55 6 Per capita income 26 300Median household income 65 570Median family income 73 150Places by population race and income Places by population and race Place Type Population White Other Asian Black or African American Native American Hispanic or Latino of any race Aromas CDP 1 175 77 9 19 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 18 6 Hollister City 34 733 71 2 23 2 2 7 1 6 1 4 65 7 Ridgemark CDP 3 370 86 3 7 9 2 8 2 2 0 8 21 5 San Juan Bautista City 1 619 83 8 6 4 4 1 4 4 1 4 37 6 Tres Pinos CDP 313 97 8 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 32 6 Data for San Benito County area of this CDPPlaces by population and income Place Type Population Per capita income Median household income Median family incomeAromas CDP 1 175 49 556 121 964 163 906Hollister City 34 733 22 433 62 570 64 123Ridgemark CDP 3 370 38 800 90 833 101 776San Juan Bautista City 1 619 24 527 56 897 65 526Tres Pinos CDP 313 41 294 83 500 88 929 Data for San Benito County area of this CDP2010 The 2010 United States Census reported that San Benito County had a population of 55 269 The racial makeup of San Benito County was 35 181 63 7 White 483 0 9 African American 895 1 6 Native American 1 443 2 6 Asian 94 0 2 Pacific Islander 14 471 26 2 from other races and 2 702 4 9 from two or more races There were 31 186 people of Hispanic or Latino origin of any race 56 4 Population reported at 2010 United States CensusThe County Total Population White African American Native American Asian Pacific Islander other races two or more races Hispanic or Latino of any race San Benito County 55 269 35 181 483 895 1443 94 14 471 2 702 31 186Incorporated cities Total Population White African American Native American Asian Pacific Islander other races two or more races Hispanic or Latino of any race Hollister 34 928 20 761 341 617 929 63 10 437 1 780 22 965San Juan Bautista 1 862 1 125 12 58 52 2 494 119 907Census designated places Total Population White African American Native American Asian Pacific Islander other races two or more races Hispanic or Latino of any race Aromas 1 292 961 9 13 14 3 207 85 413Ridgemark 3 016 2 520 23 14 105 3 248 103 623Tres Pinos 476 390 3 8 6 0 57 12 112Other unincorporated areas Total Population White African American Native American Asian Pacific Islander other races two or more races Hispanic or Latino of any race All others not CDPs combined 13 695 9 424 95 185 337 23 3 028 603 6 166 Note these numbers reflect only the portion of this CDP in San Benito County2000 As of the census of 2000 there were 53 234 people 15 885 households and 12 898 families residing in the county The population density was 38 people per square mile 15 people km2 There were 16 499 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile 4 6 units km2 The racial makeup of the county in 2010 was 38 3 non Hispanic White 0 6 non Hispanic Black or African American 0 4 Native American 2 3 Asian 0 1 Pacific Islander 0 1 from other races and 1 7 from two or more races 56 4 of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race 7 6 were of German 6 3 Irish and 5 4 Italian ancestry according to Census 2000 62 8 spoke only English at home while 35 3 spoke Spanish As of the 2010 census San Benito County was the only county in the greater San Francisco Bay Area with a Hispanic majority There were 15 885 households out of which 46 3 had children under the age of 18 living with them 65 7 were married couples living together 10 5 had a female householder with no husband present and 18 8 were non families 14 1 of all households were made up of individuals and 5 4 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older The average household size was 3 32 and the average family size was 3 64 In the county 32 2 of the population was under the age of 18 8 8 from 18 to 24 31 5 from 25 to 44 19 3 from 45 to 64 and 8 1 was 65 years of age or older The median age was 31 years For every 100 females there were 102 5 males For every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99 6 males The median income for a household in the county was 57 469 and the median income for a family was 60 665 Males had a median income of 44 158 versus 29 524 for females The per capita income for the county was 20 932 About 6 7 of families and 10 0 of the population were below the poverty line including 11 4 of those under age 18 and 8 5 of those age 65 or over Government and policingSan Benito County Administration Building in Hollister California County government is overseen by a five member elected Board of Supervisors who serve four year terms of office Other elected county leaders include Assessor Clerk Auditor Recorder District Attorney Sheriff Coroner Treasurer Tax Collector Public Administrator San Benito County had the last elected Marshal in California until 2010 when the office closed Shasta and Trinity Counties still have appointed Marshals State and federal representation In the United States House of Representatives San Benito County is part of California s 18th congressional district represented by Democrat Zoe Lofgren In the California State Legislature San Benito County is in the 17th Senate District represented by Democrat John Laird and in the 29th Assembly District represented by Democrat Robert Rivas Policing Eric S Taylor is the 16th elected Sheriff Coroner Marshal of San Benito County He was appointed on June 25 2021 and was elected in June 2022 His term began on January 2 2023 The San Benito County Sheriff provides law enforcement services search and rescue court security marshal services correctional facility operations and coroner service for the entire county It provides patrol and detective services for the unincorporated areas of the county Hollister the County Seat has a municipal police department The Sheriff is contracted to provide law enforcement service to the incorporated City of San Juan Bautista PoliticsSan Benito is a Democratic leaning county in Presidential and congressional elections The last Republican to win a majority in the county was George H W Bush in 1988 San Benito is also considered a bellwether county for California in presidential elections since 1904 the only candidates to carry the state without winning this county have been Franklin D Roosevelt in 1944 and Harry S Truman in 1948 The county s bellwether status goes beyond presidential politics to ballot initiatives and statewide candidates as its election results mirror those of the state as a whole as it straddles the major political fault lines of the state Before 1904 however it was a solidly Democratic county whilst the state leaned Republican voting Democratic in every election from its creation in 1876 up to and including 1900 although California only voted Democratic in 1880 and 1892 United States presidential election results for San Benito County California Year Republican Democratic Third party ies No No No 2024 11 702 42 32 15 179 54 89 771 2 79 2020 10 590 36 73 17 628 61 14 612 2 12 2016 7 841 35 44 12 521 56 60 1 760 7 96 2012 7 343 38 48 11 276 59 10 462 2 42 2008 7 425 37 52 11 917 60 22 446 2 25 2004 8 698 46 45 9 851 52 61 176 0 94 2000 7 015 41 68 9 131 54 25 685 4 07 1996 5 384 38 72 7 030 50 55 1 492 10 73 1992 4 112 32 28 5 354 42 03 3 273 25 69 1988 5 578 54 11 4 559 44 23 171 1 66 1984 5 695 60 71 3 554 37 89 131 1 40 1980 4 054 53 33 2 749 36 16 799 10 51 1976 3 398 50 87 3 122 46 74 160 2 40 1972 3 961 57 56 2 582 37 52 338 4 91 1968 2 961 47 54 2 809 45 10 459 7 37 1964 2 444 39 19 3 779 60 59 14 0 22 1960 3 056 51 40 2 876 48 38 13 0 22 1956 3 252 59 53 2 201 40 29 10 0 18 1952 3 733 65 23 1 968 34 39 22 0 38 1948 2 775 55 64 2 096 42 03 116 2 33 1944 2 253 52 80 1 998 46 82 16 0 37 1940 2 407 49 29 2 441 49 99 35 0 72 1936 1 515 36 58 2 565 61 93 62 1 50 1932 1 269 33 89 2 283 60 98 192 5 13 1928 1 971 58 87 1 366 40 80 11 0 33 1924 1 443 53 54 361 13 40 891 33 06 1920 1 965 65 00 900 29 77 158 5 23 1916 1 440 44 19 1 688 51 80 131 4 02 1912 13 0 51 1 253 48 70 1 307 50 80 1908 937 53 57 684 39 11 128 7 32 1904 888 54 51 645 39 59 96 5 89 1900 724 46 71 786 50 71 40 2 58 1896 729 42 48 956 55 71 31 1 81 1892 616 36 97 759 45 56 291 17 47 As of May 2010 the California Secretary of State reports that San Benito County has 34 562 eligible voters citation needed Of those 24 736 71 57 are registered voters Of those 11 959 48 35 are registered Democratic 7 477 30 23 are registered Republican 565 2 28 are registered American Independent and 116 0 47 are Green Party The two incorporated municipalities of Hollister and San Juan Bautista have Democratic majorities on their voter rolls whereas the unincorporated areas of San Benito County have a small Republican plurality in voter registration Voter registration Population and registered votersTotal population 54 873 Registered voters 26 694 48 6 Democratic 12 643 47 4 Republican 7 847 29 4 Democratic Republican spread 4 796 18 0 Independent 679 2 5 Green 144 0 5 Libertarian 143 0 5 Peace and Freedom 73 0 3 Americans Elect 1 0 0 Other 46 0 2 No party preference 5 118 19 2 Cities by population and voter registration Cities by population and voter registrationCity Population Registered voters Democratic Republican D R spread Other No party preferenceHollister 34 733 43 8 53 6 23 2 30 4 6 3 19 4 San Juan Bautista 1 619 59 8 50 8 23 0 27 8 9 8 20 4 CrimeThe following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1 000 persons for each type of offense Population and crime ratesPopulation 54 873Violent crime 246 4 48 Homicide 0 0 00 Forcible rape 9 0 16 Robbery 54 0 98 Aggravated assault 183 3 33Property crime 748 13 63 Burglary 445 8 11 Larceny theft 535 9 75 Motor vehicle theft 129 2 35Arson 8 0 15Cities by population and crime ratable Cities by population and crime ratesCity Population Violent crimes Violent crime rate per 1 000 persons Property crimes Property crime rate per 1 000 personsHollister 35 766 162 4 53 724 20 24EconomyThe economy is statistically included in metro San Jose though the dominant activity is agriculture Agritourism is growing as the county has destination wineries organic farms and quaint inns with views of cattle grazing With concerns about how oil and gas operations could impact this sector of the economy and agriculture in general the county voters approved a measure in 2014 that bans well stimulation techniques such as fracking acidizing and steam injection along with conventional drilling in some areas In the 1950s the oil drilling industry had many wells and the county is over the Monterey Shale formation but there is very little activity now Top employers According to the San Benito County Economic Development Corporation of San Benito County the top employers in the county are Employer of Employees1 Earthbound Farm 1 000 2 R amp R Labor 500 9993 Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital 250 4994 Mcelectronics Inc 250 4995 San Benito High School 250 4996 True Leaf Farms 250 4997 Corbin Sparrow 100 2498 Denise amp Filice Packing Co 100 2499 Nob Hill Foods 100 24910 San Benito Foods 100 24911 San Benito County Sheriff 100 24912 Target 100 24913 Trical Inc 100 24914 West Marine 100 249MediaSan Benito County receives media in Monterey County including the major Monterey County TV and radio stations The county also has several media outlets that serve the local community Television CMAP TV Community Media Access Partnership based in Gilroy operates Channels 17 18 19 amp 20 on Charter Spectrum Cable as well as streaming online offering public access and educational programming to Gilroy and San Benito County as well as offering live civic meetings including county government Radio KMPG at 1520 AM daytime plays regional Mexican music KQKE at 97 5 FM The Quake San Benito County Community Radio provides a low power signal KHRI at 90 7 FM is an affiliate of Air 1 playing contemporary Christian music KXSM at 93 1 FM broadcasts a regional Mexican format K206BQ at 89 1 FM rebroadcasts KLVM K265DG at 100 9 FM rebroadcasts KPRC FM Print The Hollister Free Lance founded in 1873 is published weekly on Thursdays The Freelance is now owned by New SV Media Inc and its main office is in Gilroy New SV Media owns Good Times Metro Silicon Valley Pajaroan Gilroy Dispatch SantaCruz com King City Rustler and California Wheelin Mission Village Voice is a monthly paper based in San Juan Bautista It is oriented toward arts culture and community wide events Online BenitoLink is a nonprofit news website covering San Benito County run by local and regional residents San Benito Live is a local news website primarily focused on culture related media TransportationMajor highways U S Route 101 to San Francisco State Route 25 State Route 129 to Santa Cruz State Route 146 State Route 156Public transportation San Benito County Express provides fixed route service in the city of Hollister and intercity service in the northern portion of the county Service operates as far north as Gilroy in Santa Clara County Airports Hollister Municipal Airport Hollister Municipal Airport is a general aviation airport located just north of Hollister CommunitiesCities Hollister county seat San Juan BautistaCensus designated places Aromas Ridgemark Tres PinosUnincorporated communities Bitterwater Dunneville Paicines Panoche River Oaks San Benito Tres Pinos Ghost town New IdriaPopulation ranking The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of San Benito County county seat Rank City Town etc Municipal type Population 2010 Census 1 Hollister City 34 9282 Ridgemark CDP 3 0163 Aromas partially in Monterey County CDP 2 6504 San Juan Bautista City 1 8625 Tres Pinos CDP 476See alsoList of museums in the California Central Coast National Register of Historic Places listings in San Benito County California George H Moore San Benito County district attorneyNotesOther Some other race Two or more races Native American Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander American Indian or Alaska Native This total comprised 1 054 votes for Progressive Theodore Roosevelt who was official Republican nominee in California 179 votes for Socialist Eugene V Debs and 74 votes for Prohibition Party nominee Eugene W Chafin Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow References County of San Benito Board of Supervisors BOS San Benito County CA San Benito Mountain Peakbagger com Retrieved April 11 2015 Gross Domestic Product All Industries in San Benito County CA Federal Reserve Economic Data Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis San Benito County California United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 30 2022 Find a County National Association of Counties Retrieved June 7 2011 2010 Census Gazetteer Files United States Census Bureau August 22 2012 Retrieved October 4 2015 Germano David J Rathbun Galen B Saslaw Lawrence R Cypher Brian L Cypher Ellen A Vredenburgh Larry M 2011 The San Joaquin Desert of California Ecologically Misunderstood and Overlooked Natural Areas Journal 31 2 138 147 doi 10 3375 043 031 0206 S2CID 85723011 Navarretia panochensis Calflora www calflora org Retrieved March 16 2023 Camissonia benitensis Calflora www calflora org Retrieved March 16 2023 Observation Search Calflora www calflora org Retrieved March 16 2023 Solidago guiradonis Calflora www calflora org Retrieved March 16 2023 Fritillaria viridea Calflora www calflora org Retrieved March 16 2023 Benitoa occidentalis Calflora Benitoa in Flora of North America efloras org www efloras org Retrieved March 16 2023 Monardella antonina SSP Benitensis Calflora Arctostaphylos Xbenitoensis Calflora Hollisteria lanata Calflora Sara Goudarzi June 7 2006 666 Legged Creature Rediscovered LiveScience Jess Thomson 9 Sep 2023 Reward Offered to Find Who Killed Endangered California Condor Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties April 1 2020 to July 1 2023 United States Census Bureau Retrieved March 26 2024 Census of Population and Housing from 1790 2000 US Census Bureau Retrieved January 24 2022 Historical Census Browser University of Virginia Library Retrieved October 4 2015 Forstall Richard L ed March 27 1995 Population of Counties by Decennial Census 1900 to 1990 United States Census Bureau Retrieved October 4 2015 Census 2000 PHC T 4 Ranking Tables for Counties 1990 and 2000 PDF United States Census Bureau April 2 2001 Retrieved October 4 2015 P2 Hispanic or Latino and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race 2010 DEC Redistricting Data PL 94 171 San Benito County California United States Census Bureau P2 Hispanic or Latino and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race 2020 DEC Redistricting Data PL 94 171 San Benito County California United States Census Bureau P004 Hispanic or Latino and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race 2000 DEC Summary File 1 San Benito County California United States Census Bureau U S Census Bureau American Community Survey 2011 American Community Survey 5 Year Estimates Table B02001 U S Census website Retrieved October 26 2013 U S Census Bureau American Community Survey 2011 American Community Survey 5 Year Estimates Table B03003 U S Census website Retrieved October 26 2013 U S Census Bureau American Community Survey 2011 American Community Survey 5 Year Estimates Table B19301 U S Census website Retrieved October 21 2013 U S Census Bureau American Community Survey 2011 American Community Survey 5 Year Estimates Table B19013 U S Census website Retrieved October 21 2013 U S Census Bureau American Community Survey 2011 American Community Survey 5 Year Estimates Table B19113 U S Census website Retrieved October 21 2013 U S Census Bureau American Community Survey 2011 American Community Survey 5 Year Estimates U S Census website Retrieved October 21 2013 U S Census Bureau American Community Survey 2011 American Community Survey 5 Year Estimates Table B01003 U S Census website Retrieved October 21 2013 2010 Census P L 94 171 Summary File Data United States Census Bureau U S Census website United States Census Bureau Retrieved May 14 2011 California s 18th Congressional District Representatives amp District Map Civic Impulse LLC Retrieved September 24 2014 Statewide Database UC Regents Retrieved September 7 2023 Menendez Albert J The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States 1868 2004 pp 152 155 ISBN 0786422173 Rosenhall Laurel September 7 2023 Robert Rivas wants to use small town charm to wield big political power in California Will it work Los Angeles Times Leip David Dave Leip s Atlas of U S Presidential Elections uselectionatlas org Retrieved September 1 2018 California Secretary of State February 10 2013 Report of Registration Archived July 27 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved October 31 2013 Office of the Attorney General Department of Justice State of California Table 11 Crimes 2009 Archived December 2 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved November 14 2013 Only larceny theft cases involving property over 400 in value are reported as property crimes United States Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation Crime in the United States 2012 Table 8 California Retrieved November 14 2013 Cart Julie November 29 2014 Election win puts rural San Benito County on anti fracking map Los Angeles Times San Benito County Data from Hollister General Plan Update Market Demand Analysis Report Memorandum bae urban economics January 20 2021 CNMP US Census Bureau This site has been redesigned and relocated U S Census Bureau www census gov External linksWikimedia Commons has media related to San Benito County California Wikisource has the text of the 1879 American Cyclopaedia article San Benito Official website History of San Benito County 36 37 N 121 05 W 36 61 N 121 08 W 36 61 121 08