San Benito County is a county located in the California Coast Range Mountains south of San Jose. As of 2000 the population was 53,234. The county seat is Hollister. As of the census2 of 2000, there were 53,234 people, 15,885 households, and 12,898 families residing in the county. The population density was 15/km² (38/mi²). There were 16,499 housing units at an average density of 5/km² (12/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 65.17% White, 1.08% Black or African American, 1.16% Native American, 2.40% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 24.87% from other races, and 5.14% from two or more races. 47.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.