# Tres Pinos, California

Tres Pinos (Spanish for "Three Pines") is a census-designated place in San Benito County, California. The community lies along State Route 25, approximately 4 miles south of Hollister and 5 miles north of Paicines. Tres Pinos sits at an elevation of 531 feet (162 m). The 2020 United States census reported Tres Pinos's population was 443.

## Community details

Tres Pinos is in the (831) area code. The local prefix is 628-####.
The Zip Code is 95075. There is no residential postal delivery and residents must use post office boxes for mail delivery.
Tres Pinos Elementary School, a K-8 school, is operated by Tres Pinos Union Elementary School District. The district is overseen by an elected five-member Board of Trustees.
Water and waste water treatment services are provided to the community by the Tres Pinos County Water District. The district is overseen by an elected five-member Board of Directors.
Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital is located in Hollister, just under five miles (8 km) north of the town.

## History

The original settlement of Tres Pinos was located 5 miles (8.0 km) south of the current town. The Southern Pacific Railroad reached what they called Tres Pinos station on March 12, 1873, running two passenger and two freight trains a day. In 1874 the original settlement of Tres Pinos was renamed to Paicines. The railroad was planned to run further south to Coalinga and Los Angeles, though Los Pinos would end up as the end of a minor branch as the main lines were built elsewhere.
In its heyday the town was not only the end of the railroad line but was also a stage coach stop. There was a Southern Pacific Hotel, rodeo grounds, grain barns, corrals, and many saloons, restaurants and even a brothel.
The "Tres Pinos Tragedy" occurred in 1873 when a robbery featuring eight outlaws including Tiburcio Vásquez went wrong, resulting in three murders. (Note that these events took place in the town now called Paicines.)

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km$^2$), all of it land.

## Demographics

The 2010 United States Census reported that Tres Pinos had a population of 476. The population density was 132.3 inhabitants per square mile (51.1/km$^2$). The racial makeup of Tres Pinos was 390 (81.9%) White, 3 (0.6%) African American, 8 (1.7%) Native American, 6 (1.3%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 57 (12.0%) from other races, and 12 (2.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 112 persons (23.5%).
The Census reported that 476 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 166 households, out of which 62 (37.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 107 (64.5%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 12 (7.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 10 (6.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 10 (6.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 1 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 24 households (14.5%) were made up of individuals, and 7 (4.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87. There were 129 families (77.7% of all households); the average family size was 3.19.
The population was spread out, with 115 people (24.2%) under the age of 18, 32 people (6.7%) aged 18 to 24, 96 people (20.2%) aged 25 to 44, 181 people (38.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 52 people (10.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.9 males.
There were 176 housing units at an average density of 48.9 per square mile (18.9/km$^2$), of which 127 (76.5%) were owner-occupied, and 39 (23.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.9%. 366 people (76.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 110 people (23.1%) lived in rental housing units.

## Fairgrounds

Bolado Park, located in Tres Pinos, is home to the San Benito County Fair and San Benito County Saddle Horse Show & Rodeo. The Bolado Park Golf Course is operated by a concessionaire. The park and fair are operated by the 33rd District Agricultural Association. The association is overseen by a seven-member board of directors appointed by the governor.

## Government

On the county level, the community is represented by Supervisorial District 4.
In the California State Legislature, Tres Pinos is in the 14th Senate District, represented by Democrat Anna Caballero, and the 29th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Robert Rivas.
In the United States House of Representatives, Tres Pinos is in California's 18th congressional district, represented by Democrat Zoe Lofgren.