San Benito County grew slightly over the past 10 years with a
population increase of 3.8 percent, while San Juan Bautista
experienced the most growth with a more than 20 percent gain,
according to U.S. Census data released this week.
San Benito County grew slightly over the past 10 years with a population increase of 3.8 percent, while San Juan Bautista experienced the most growth with a more than 20 percent gain, according to U.S. Census data released this week.
One of the more glaring revelations in the reports, though, was a significant spike in vacant housing. The number of vacant units increased throughout the county by more than 70 percent and in the city by 160 percent, the data showed.
The U.S. Census on Tuesday released long-awaited 2010 results for California. As expected, there was little growth in light of the city’s six-year building moratorium from 2002 to 2008 and the recent housing crash.
San Benito County as a whole grew by 3.8 percent during the decade, while Hollister’s population went up by 1.5 percent and San Juan Bautista’s increased by 20.2 percent, from 1,549 residents to 1,862, according to the data.
The county population last year stood at 55,269 – up from 53,234 in 2000. In Hollister, it went from 34,413 to 34,928, a gain of 515 residents.
As far as ethnic backgrounds go, Hispanic residents made up the largest segment at 56.4 percent of the population, or 31,186 residents. About 38.3 percent of the county was white, or 21,154 residents. About 2.3 percent was Asian, or 1,298 people. There were 913 residents with two or more races, not including Hispanic, or 1.7 percent. There were 355 black residents, or 0.6 percent of the population. There were 231 American Indian or Alaskan native residents, or 0.4 percent of the population. There were 65 Hawaiian or Pacific Island residents, and there were 67 listed as “other race.”
Along with the population numbers, the census data also revealed information about vacant housing.
In San Benito County in 2000, there were 614 vacant units among a total of 16,499 in supply. In 2010, there were 1,065 vacant units among a total of 17,870, according to the numbers. The total number of housing units increased by 8.3 percent, while the vacancies went up by 73.5 percent. About half of the vacant units for the county were in Hollister.
Look for more in the Free Lance next Tuesday.
To view the census data, go here.
