| County of San Benito | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| — County — | |||
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| Location in the state of California | |||
| California's location in the United States | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | California | ||
| Region | Central California, San Francisco Bay Area Combined Statistical Area | ||
| Incorporated | 1874 | ||
| County seat | Hollister | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 3,602 km2 (1,390.73 sq mi) | ||
| • Land | 3,597.6 km2 (1,389.06 sq mi) | ||
| • Water | 4.4 km2 (1.68 sq mi) | ||
| Population (2010) | 55,269 | ||
| Time zone | Pacific Standard Time (UTC-8) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7) | ||
| Website | www.san-benito.ca.us | ||
San Benito County is a county located in the Coast Range Mountains of the U.S. state of California, south of San Jose. As of 2010 the population was 55,269. The county seat is Hollister, which includes nearly two-thirds of the county's population. El Camino Real passes through the county and includes one mission in San Juan Bautista.
San Benito is included in the U.S. government's 11-county designation of the San Francisco Bay Area Combined Statistical Area.
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San Benito County was formed from parts of Monterey County in 1874.
The county is named after the San Benito Valley. Father Juan Crespí, in his expedition in 1772, named a small river in honor of San Benedicto (Saint Benedict), the patron saint of the married, and it is from the contraction of this name that the county took its name.
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1,390.73 square miles (3,602.0 km2), of which 1,389.06 square miles (3,597.6 km2) (or 99.88%) is land and 1.68 square miles (4.4 km2) (or 0.12%) is water.[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. However, 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 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.
There are a number of plant communities that occur in San Benito County including grasslands and chaparral; however, one of the more unusual is the Sargent cypress forest.[2] Benitoite, the official gem of the State of California, was discovered in San Benito County.[3] The county is also home to the San Benito evening primrose (Camissonia benitensis);[4] and Illacme plenipes, a millipede having more legs than any other millipede species, discovered in the county in 1926.[5] The plant genus Benitoa was named for San Benito County.[6]
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.
Hollister Municipal Airport is a general aviation airport located just north of Hollister.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 5,584 |
|
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| 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% | |
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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31,186 persons (56.4%).[7]
| Population reported at 2010 United States Census | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Population |
|
American |
American |
|
Islander |
races |
more races |
or Latino (of any race) |
| San Benito County | 55,269 | 35,181 | 483 | 895 | 1443 | 94 | 14,471 | 2,702 | 31,186 |
|
cities |
Population |
|
American |
American |
|
Islander |
races |
more races |
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 |
|
places |
Population |
|
American |
American |
|
Islander |
races |
more races |
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 |
|
communities |
Population |
|
American |
American |
|
Islander |
races |
more races |
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 | |||||||||
As of the census[8] 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/km²). There were 16,499 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/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 English and 35.3% Spanish as their first language. As of the 2010 United States Census, San Benito County was the only county in the greater San Francisco Bay Area with a Hispanic majority and where a minority race formed the largest race composition.
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 the population was spread out with 32.2% 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% who were 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.
| Year | GOP | DEM | Others |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 37.7% 7,425 | 60.5% 11,917 | 2.3% 446 |
| 2004 | 46.5% 8,698 | 52.6% 9,851 | 0.9% 176 |
| 2000 | 41.7% 7,015 | 54.3% 9,131 | 4.1% 685 |
| 1996 | 38.7% 5,384 | 50.6% 7,030 | 10.7% 1,492 |
| 1992 | 32.3% 4,112 | 42.0% 5,354 | 25.7% 3,273 |
| 1988 | 54.1% 5,578 | 44.2% 4,559 | 1.7% 171 |
| 1984 | 60.7% 5,695 | 37.9% 3,554 | 1.4% 131 |
| 1980 | 53.3% 4,054 | 36.2% 2,749 | 10.5% 799 |
| 1976 | 50.9% 3,398 | 46.7% 3,122 | 2.4% 160 |
| 1972 | 57.6% 3,961 | 37.5% 2,582 | 4.9% 338 |
| 1968 | 47.5% 2,961 | 45.1% 2,809 | 7.4% 459 |
| 1964 | 39.2% 2,444 | 60.6% 3,779 | 0.2% 14 |
| 1960 | 51.4% 3,056 | 48.4% 2,876 | 0.2% 13 |
| 1956 | 59.5% 3,252 | 40.3% 2,201 | 0.2% 10 |
| 1952 | 65.2% 3,733 | 34.4% 1,968 | 0.4% 22 |
| 1948 | 55.6% 2,775 | 42.0% 2,096 | 2.3% 116 |
| 1944 | 52.8% 2,253 | 46.8% 1,998 | 0.4% 16 |
| 1940 | 49.3% 2,407 | 50.0% 2,441 | 0.7% 35 |
| 1936 | 36.6% 1,515 | 61.9% 2,565 | 1.5% 62 |
| 1932 | 33.9% 1,269 | 61.0% 2,283 | 5.1% 192 |
| 1928 | 58.9% 1,971 | 40.8% 1,366 | 0.3% 11 |
| 1924 | 53.5% 1,443 | 13.4% 361 | 33.1% 891 |
| 1920 | 65.0% 1,965 | 29.8% 900 | 5.2% 158 |
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. It is often considered the bellwether of California, as most of its election returns mirrored the state as a whole. San Benito is part of California's 17th congressional district, which is held by Democrat Sam Farr. In the state legislature San Benito is in the 28th Assembly district, which is held by Democrat Luis Alejo, and the 12th Senate district, which is held by Republican Anthony Cannella.
County government is overseen by a five-member elected Board of Supervisors, who serve four year terms of office. Other elected county leaders include:
San Benito County has the last elected Marshal in California. Shasta and Trinity Counties still have appointed Marshals.
As of May, 2010, the California Secretary of State reports that San Benito County has 34,562 eligible voters. 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.
According to the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce,[9] the top employers in the county are:
| # | Employer | # of employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Earthbound Farm | 1000+ |
| 2 | Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital | 250-499 |
| 3 | Milgard | 250-499 |
| 4 | Pacific Scientific | 250-499 |
| 5 | San Benito High School | 250-499 |
| 6 | True Leaf Farms | 250-499 |
| 7 | Nob Hill Foods | 100-249 |
| 8 | Target | 100-249 |
| 9 | Trical | 100-249 |
| 10 | Corbin | 100-249 |
| 11 | West Marine | 100-249 |
| 12 | Ridgemark | 100-249 |
| 13 | Casa de Fruita | 100-249 |
| 14 | Cedar Valley Shingle Systems | 100-249 |
| 15 | Tanimura & Antle | 100-249 |
| 16 | 100-249 | |
| 17 | LifeSparc | 100-249 |
| 18 | MC Electronics | 100-249 |
| 19 | San Benito Foods | 100-249 |
| Santa Cruz County | Santa Clara County | Merced County | ||
| Monterey County | Fresno County | |||
| San Benito County, California | ||||
| Monterey County | Monterey County | Fresno County |
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