San Benito County History

This section is excerpted from A Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California by Henry D. Barrows and Luther A. Ingersoll, and published by The Lewis Publishing Company in 1893.

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Mineralogy.

The following brief notes are gleaned from the reports of the State mineralogist for the years 1888 and 1890, and are of interest in this connection. While this (San Benito) county is regarded as essentially agricultural, yet to an observer it appears to possess mineral resources of equal importance to others in the State. The Mount Diablo range has proved of incalculable wealth in its coal, quicksilver, copper, chrome, petroleum, ochre and antimony; and in the Gabilan range, lime, gypsum and iron are present.

Nearly one-half of this country, including most of its arable land, lies in the San Benito valley; and the mountains bordering on this valley are grass-covered to their summits. There is a little timber on the Gabilan mountains, but not much of any kind elsewhere in the county.

The San Benito river and its tributaries, together with the Pájaro on its northern boundary, take in the entire hydrographic system of the county.

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This section is excerpted from A Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California by Henry D. Barrows and Luther A. Ingersoll, and published by The Lewis Publishing Company in 1893.