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is a city in and the county seat of San Benito County, California, United States. The population was 34,413 at the 2000 census. Hollister is primarily an agricultural town. The Mutsun Ohlone Indians were the first known inhabitants of the Hollister region.
The town, then located in Monterey County, was founded November 19, 1868 originally as the San Justo Homestead Association, established by William Welles Hollister (1818-1886), a group that originally intended to name it San Justo. An association member, Napa vintner Henry Hagen, objected. Hagen argued that place names in California were dominated by Spanish saint names, and suggested that the state should have a town named after someone less holy. The City was incorporated on August 29, 1872. The western portion of San Benito County, including Hollister, was separated from Monterey County in 1874. The county was expanded eastward in 1887 to include portions taken from Merced and Fresno Counties.
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,413 people, 9,716 households, and 8,044 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,237.7 people per square mile (2,022.4/km²). There were 9,924 housing units at an average density of 1,510.5/sq mi (583.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 59.11% White, 1.36% African American, 1.13% Native American, 2.80% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 29.97% from other races, and 5.44% from two or more races. 55.06% of the population were Hispanic or of Latino of any race.
There were 9,716 households out of which 52.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.3% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.2% were non-families. 12.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.52 and the average family size was 3.82.
In the city the population was spread out with 34.6% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 33.8% from 25 to 44, 15.8% from 45 to 64, and 6.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 101.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $56,104, and the median income for a family was $57,494. Males had a median income of $41,971 versus $28,277 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,857. About 6.9% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.2% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.