California

San Benito

64,209
2020 population
1880
first census record
15
census records

About San Benito

San Benito, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1880, when it recorded a population of 5,584. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 64,209.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Action at Natividad (California), Murieta – Cantua Creek Ambush CA, and 15 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202064,209
201055,269
200053,234
199036,697
198025,005
197018,226
196015,396
195014,370
194011,392
193011,311
19208,995
19108,041
19006,633
18906,412
18805,584
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in San Benito

Military engagements that took place in San Benito, California.

Action at Natividad (California)
1846
Murieta – Cantua Creek Ambush CA
1853

Historic places in San Benito

National Register of Historic Places listings in San Benito, California.

San Juan Bautista Plaza Historic District
San Juan Bautista
Hollister Carnegie Library
Hollister
Rozas House
San Juan Bautista
Marentis House
San Juan Bautista
Downtown Hollister Historic District
Hollister
Wilcox, Benjamin, House
San Juan Bautista
Anza House
San Juan Bautista
Castro, Jose, House
San Juan Bautista
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Other counties in California

Explore census history and historic records for more California counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about San Benito County, California

This page charts the census history of San Benito County, California. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about San Benito

When does San Benito first appear in the US census?
San Benito, California first appears in the federal census in 1880, with a recorded population of 5,584.
What is the population of San Benito?
At the most recent federal census (2020), San Benito had a recorded population of 64,209.
Were any battles fought in San Benito?
2 documented military engagements took place in San Benito, including Action at Natividad (California), Murieta – Cantua Creek Ambush CA.
How many historic places are in San Benito?
15 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in San Benito, California.
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