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Economy
Ever since the inception of
Hollister, it has always been an agricultural lead town. That trend
continues today, but other prosperous industries are also beginning to
pop up. With Silicon Valley not too far away, this is also helping
fuel Hollister's economy.
When people from the surrounding metropolitan areas hear about Hollister,
their first question is, "Do you have cows in your backyard?" Even
though this is a myth, Hollister and the surrounding area is well known
for its agricultural production. In fact, this is one of the leading
economic industries. The reason for the great production of agricultural
commodities is because of the fertile land in the San Benito River valley.
While driving in and around the town you can see vast row crops, orchards,
and ranches. Some of the leading crops include baby lettuce, leaf
lettuce, bell peppers, head lettuce, onions, celery, broccoli, and cabbage.
Besides these types of crops there are also apricot, cherry, and walnut
orchards around town. Just outside of town livestock and poultry
ranches can also be found.
Other than agriculture, there is also a strong manufacturing sector in
Hollister. This is led by companies such as Milgard, Quantic Holex,
San Benito Foods, McCormick Selph Inc., and Self Fab. These companies
are very important to the town because they are some of the largest employers
in Hollister. Another manufacturing company, which is very recognizable
is Corbin-Pacific, the manufacturer of motorcycle seats, accessories, and
also the environmentally friendly Sparrow.
While many of the residents of Hollister work in or around the town, there
are also many who choose to make the commute north into Silicon Valley.
Many of these people choose to make Hollister their home because of the
affordable housing compared to that of the San Jose area. The drive
usually takes about an hour each way depending on traffic, but future freeway
improvements may make this drive even shorter. Hollister has been
so attractive and the population has boomed so much that the town recently
put into effect a housing cap, which limts new homes from being built.
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