Hays

Formed February 1, 1848 (71^st county)

Hays County (241,066), San Marcos (67,690)                

The twin courthouse of Fort Bend County, Hays County’s structure was built in 1908 and restored in 1972.  It is located at the corner of Lyndon B. Johnson and Hopkins (Texas State Highway 12) streets near downtown San Marcos.  This stately, domed building is built of tan brick and limestone.  C. H. Page & Brother designed the Renaissance Revival and Beaux Arts courthouse.  They also designed its twin courthouse in Fort Bend County.  A Government Center was added in 2011 and a Justice Center also augments the courthouse.  San Marcos has been the only county seats since the February 1, 1848 founding.  Hays County was carved from Travis County as the 71^st county.  Four (1861, 1871, 1883, and 1908) courthouses have been located in the city.  Hays County is named for Texas Ranger, Captain Jack Hays.  San Marcos gets its name from the river.  The river was named by an early Spanish expedition who sighted it on “Saint Mark’s” Day.  The original name was Villa de San Marcos de Neve. 

Hays County government consists of a sheriff, a County Judge, and 4 Commissioners.  Two District Court Judges serve Hays, Caldwell, and Comal counties, One District Court Judge serves Hays, Comal, and Guadalupe counties, and One District Court Judge and Four County Court Judges serve Hays County.  The county is located in south central Texas between Austin, Texas, to the northeast, and San Antonio, Texas, to the southwest.  The county center is 18.3 miles Northwest of San Marcos nearer Mountain City.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Travis, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Comal, and Blanco counties. 

The area of the county is 678 square miles.  It is 220 out of 254 in the state.  It ranks 22 out of 254 in population in the state.  It has a density of 355.6 persons per square mile making it 19 out of 254 in the state.  Hays County has 58.8% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 35 enters from the north, Travis County, and exits to the south, Comal County.  United States Highway 290 crosses the north corner east to west from Travis County to Blanco County.  The county is a 45-degree skewed rectangle.  The Blanco River and the San Marcos River cross the county from west to east.  San Marcos is located in the far southeast corner of the county and extends into Caldwell and Guadalupe counties.  San Marcos is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 28.1% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced SAN MAR-KOES.  This county is in the Austin-Round Rock Metropolitan Statistical Area.