The arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in Hollister on July 13, 1871, set off a chain of events that led to the founding of San Benito County as new markets opened through the railroad and support grew for dividing Monterey County by the Gabilan Range to create a new county with Hollister as the county seat. The effort was contested between divisionists and anti-divisionists. Before the September 1871 election, residents near Hollister offered for Salinas to become the Monterey County seat if Salinas would support dividing the county. After several attempts, the September 1873 election sent a divisionist slate to Sacramento, and Governor Newton Booth signed an act creating San Benito County on February 12, 1874. Hollister then celebrated with bonfires, gunfire, and popping corks.