Moving to Hollister, California

Hollister, California is located in the San Juan Valley in San Benito County. The population of the city is just over 35,000 people. It has a semi-arid climate with mild winters and hot summers. The average temperature during the summer months is about 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average temperature during winter months is about 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

The city was founded in 1868 by William Welles Hollister and was named for him. The city was incorporated in 1872 and has been growing ever since. The politics in Hollister are mostly conservative, but there are some progressive elements as well.

The economy of Hollister is based primarily on agriculture and tourism. Agriculture includes grapes, tomatoes, garlic, lettuce, corn, wheat and other crops as well as dairy farming and livestock production. Tourism has grown significantly over the past few years due to its proximity to Pinnacles National Park and San Juan Bautista State Historic Park which bring many visitors to the area each year.

Hollister has several schools including public elementary schools, middle schools and high schools as well as a community college located right outside of town called Gavilan College that offers associate degrees in various fields such as nursing, business administration and liberal arts among others.

As far as landmarks go, Hollister is home to several historical buildings that have been around since its founding such as City Hall which was built in 1872 and the John M Larkin House which was built in 1876. Other noteworthy landmarks include Memorial Park which contains a memorial honoring veterans from all branches of service who died serving their country during World War I and II; also there is a local museum called Jardin de las Mariposas which showcases local artwork from local artists from all over the world.

Population: 34,413. Estimated population in July 2024: 35,941 (+4.4% change)
Males: 17,366 (50.5%), Females: 17,047 (49.5%)

San Benito County

Zip codes: 95023.

Demographics

Median resident age: 29.0 years
Median household income: $56,104
Median house value: $266,300

Population by Race

Races in Hollister:

• Hispanic (55.1%)
• White Non-Hispanic (38.5%)
• Other race (30.0%)
• Two or more races (5.4%)
• American Indian (2.2%)
• Filipino (1.5%)
• Black (1.4%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Ancestries: German (8.7%), Irish (7.6%), Italian (4.9%), English (4.5%), United States (3.5%), Portuguese (2.9%).

Elevation: 290 feet

Land area: 6.6 square miles

Population by Education

Hollister, California is a small city located in San Benito County, north of Gilroy and south of San Juan Bautista. It is home to a population of just over 35,000 people, with the majority being Hispanic or Latino. The median age in Hollister is 30.7 years old, and the median household income is $58,063. Over 25% of the population lives below the poverty line. The city has a diverse economy that includes agriculture, manufacturing and retail businesses. There are also several educational institutions in Hollister such as Gavilan College and San Benito High School. The city has an active arts scene with multiple galleries and performance venues. Additionally, there are numerous outdoor activities available such as hiking trails, golf courses and parks for locals to enjoy. Hollister also offers a wide range of services for its residents including medical centers, family counseling centers and libraries. The local government provides plenty of resources to ensure that its citizens have access to quality health care and education opportunities.

For population 25 years and over in Hollister

• High school or higher: 72.3%
• Bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.0%
• Graduate or professional degree: 4.2%
• Unemployed: 7.4%
• Mean travel time to work: 34.4 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Hollister city

• Never married: 25.7%
• Now married: 60.0%
• Separated: 1.9%
• Widowed: 3.0%
• Divorced: 9.4%

20.9% Foreign born (18.6% Latin America).

Population change in the 1990s: +14,003 (+68.6%).

Hospitals

Hospital/medical center in Hollister:

• HAZEL HAWKINS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (911 SUNSET DRIVE)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Hollister:

• SAINT LOUISE HOSPITAL & HEALTH CENTER (about 17 miles; GILROY, CA)
• NATIVIDAD MEDICAL CENTER (about 20 miles; SALINAS, CA)
• SALINAS VALLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 22 miles; SALINAS, CA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Hollister:

• MONTEREY PENINSULA (about 36 miles; MONTEREY, CA; Abbreviation: MRY)
• NORMAN Y. MINETA SAN JOSE INTERNATIONAL (about 50 miles; SAN JOSE, CA; Abbreviation: SJC)
• MODESTO CITY-CO-HARRY SHAM FLD (about 62 miles; MODESTO, CA; Abbreviation: MOD)

Other public-use airports nearest to Hollister:

• HOLLISTER MUNI (about 3 miles; HOLLISTER, CA; Abbreviation: 3O7)
• FRAZIER LAKE AIRPARK (about 8 miles; HOLLISTER, CA; Abbreviation: 1C9)
• SALINAS MUNI (about 20 miles; SALINAS, CA; Abbreviation: SNS)

Amtrak station near Hollister:

• 17 miles: GILROY (7250 MONTEREY HWY.) – Bus Station. Services: partially wheelchair accessible, public payphones, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, public transit connection.

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Hollister:

• GAVILAN COLLEGE (about 17 miles; GILROY, CA; Full-time enrollment: 2,791)
• HARTNELL COLLEGE (about 22 miles; SALINAS, CA; Full-time enrollment: 4,003)
• SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY (about 32 miles; SAN JOSE, CA; Full-time enrollment: 20,861)
• SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY (about 32 miles; SANTA CLARA, CA; Full-time enrollment: 6,229)
• CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY-MONTEREY BAY (about 35 miles; SEASIDE, CA; Full-time enrollment: 2,383)
• CABRILLO COLLEGE (about 36 miles; APTOS, CA; Full-time enrollment: 6,638)
• MONTEREY PENINSULA COLLEGE (about 39 miles; MONTEREY, CA; Full-time enrollment: 4,295)

Schools

Public high schools in Hollister:

• SAN BENITO HIGH (Students: 2,840; Location: 1220 MONTEREY ST.; Grades: 09 – 12)
• SAN ANDREAS CONTINUATION HIGH (Students: 162; Location: 191 ALVARADO ST.; Grades: 09 – 12)
• ALTERNATIVE/OPPORTUNITY (Students: 70; Location: 460 FIFTH ST.; Grades: 07 – 12)

Private high school in Hollister:

• CALVARY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 193; Location: 1900 HIGHLAND DRIVE; Grades: KG – 12)

Biggest public primary/middle schools in Hollister:

• RANCHO SAN JUSTO ELEMENTARY (Students: 1,030; Location: 1201 RANCHO DR.; Grades: 06 – 08)
• MAZE MIDDLE (Students: 997; Location: 900 MERIDIAN ST.; Grades: 06 – 08)
• R. O. HARDIN ELEMENTARY (Students: 787; Location: 881 LINE ST.; Grades: KG – 06)
• SUNNYSLOPE ELEMENTARY (Students: 753; Location: 1475 MEMORIAL DR.; Grades: KG – 06)
• LADD LANE ELEMENTARY (Students: 742; Location: 161 LADD LANE; Grades: KG – 05)
• CERRA VISTA ELEMENTARY (Students: 691; Location: 2151 CERRA VISTA DR.; Grades: KG – 06)
• GABILAN HILLS (ELEM) (Students: 672; Location: 901 SANTA ANA ROAD; Grades: KG – 06)
• CALAVERAS ELEMENTARY (Students: 570; Location: 1151 BUENA VISTA ROAD; Grades: KG – 06)
• SPRING GROVE ELEMENTARY (Students: 521; Location: 500 SPRING GROVE ROAD; Grades: KG – 08)
• SOUTHSIDE ELEMENTARY (Students: 245; Location: 4991 SOUTHSIDE ROAD; Grades: KG – 08)

Private primary/middle schools in Hollister:

• SACRED HEART CATHOLIC SCHOOL (Students: 452; Location: 670 COLLEGE ST; Grades: PK – 8)
• HOLLISTER SDA SCHOOL (Students: 91; Location: PO BOX 309 2020 SANTA ANA RD; Grades: PK – 8)
• CHAMBERLAINS CHILDREN CENTER I (Students: 21; Location: PO BOX 1269 1850 SAN BENITO ST; Grades: UG – UG)

Libraries

Library in Hollister:

• SAN BENITO COUNTY FREE LIBRARY (Operating income: $354,678; Location: 470 FIFTH ST.; 116,240 books; 1,988 audio materials; 1,705 video materials; 190 serial subscriptions)