Editing San Marcos, Texas

{{Short description|City in Texas, United States}}
{{For|the city in California|San Marcos, California}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = San Marcos, Texas
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| nickname           = San Marvelous
| image_skyline      = Hays county courthouse historic district 2013.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Hays County Courthouse Historic District
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = Seal of San Marcos, TX.jpg
| image_map          = Hays County SanMarcos.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{Flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{Flag|Texas}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[County (United States)|Counties]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Hays County, Texas|Hays]], [[Caldwell County, Texas|Caldwell]], [[Guadalupe County, Texas|Guadalupe]]|
| government_type    = [[Council-manager government|Council-Manager]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = [[City Manager]]
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = Incorporated
| established_date   = 1851
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_total_km2     = 92.50
| area_total_sq_mi   = 35.71
| area_land_km2      = 92.18
| area_land_sq_mi    = 35.59
| area_water_km2     = 0.32
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.12
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 574
| coordinates        = {{coord|29|52|46|N|97|56|20|W|region:US-TX|display=inline,title}}
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_total   = 67553
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_km2 = 702.70
<!--2018 est.-->
| population_density_sq_mi = 1820.01
| population_est     = 70301
| pop_est_as_of      = 2022
| population_demonym = San Marcoan, San Martian
| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| website            = {{URL|www.sanmarcostx.gov}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 78666–78667
| area_code          = [[Area codes 512 and 737|512 and 737]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 48-65600
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2411798<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2411798}}</ref>
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''San Marcos''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|s|æ|n|_|ˈ|m|ɑːr|k|ə|s}}) is a city and the [[county seat]] of [[Hays County, Texas]], United States. The city is a part of the [[Greater Austin|Greater Austin Metropolitan Area]]. San Marcos's limits extend into [[Caldwell County, Texas|Caldwell]] and [[Guadalupe County, Texas|Guadalupe]] [[County (United States)|counties]], as well. San Marcos is on the [[Interstate 35 in Texas|Interstate 35]] corridor between [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] and [[San Antonio]]. Its population was 44,894 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]]<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4865600| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): San Marcos city, Texas| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=July 7, 2015| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213062633/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US4865600| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> and 67,553 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].
Founded on the banks of the [[San Marcos River]], the area is thought to be among the oldest continuously inhabited sites in the [[Americas]]. San Marcos is home to [[Texas State University]] and the [[Meadows Center for Water and the Environment]].<ref name="aquarena">[http://www.meadowscenter.txstate.edu/ "Meadows Center for Water and the Environment : Texas State University"].</ref>

In 2010, San Marcos was listed in ''[[Business Week]]''{{-'}}s fourth annual survey of the "Best Places to Raise your Kids".<ref name="businessweek1">{{cite web |url=http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/11/1117_best_places_to_raise_kids/44.htm |title=Best Places to Raise Your Kids: 2010: Best Place to Raise Your Kids: Texas - BusinessWeek |publisher=Images.businessweek.com |access-date=2010-11-27 |archive-date=2014-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229091735/http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/11/1117_best_places_to_raise_kids/44.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2013 and 2014, the [[United States Census Bureau]] named it the fastest-growing city in the United States.<ref name="smmercury1">Rollins, Brad. {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20140523004100/http://smmercury.com/2014/05/22/san-marcos-again-named-nations-fastest-growing-city/ "San Marcos again named nation's fastest-growing city"]}}, ''San Marcos Mercury'', San Marcos, Texas, 22 May 2014. Retrieved on 22 May 2014.</ref><ref name="smmercury.com">Rollins, Brad. {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130615193156/http://smmercury.com/2013/05/23/breaking-news-san-marcos-fastest-growing-large-city-in-the-u-s-census-bureau-says/ "Fastest-growing city in the U.S.? San Marcos, Texas"]}}, ''San Marcos Mercury'', San Marcos, Texas, 23 May 2013. Retrieved on 31 May 2013.</ref> In December 2013, it was named number nine on ''[[Business Insider]]''{{-'}}s list of the "10 Most Exciting Small Cities In America".<ref name="businessinsider1">Nelson, Randy. [http://www.businessinsider.com/the-10-most-exciting-small-cities-in-america-2013-12 "The 10 Most Exciting Small Cities In America"]. ''Business Insider''. Retrieved on 20 December 2013.</ref>

==History==
[[Image:Old map-San Marcos-1881.jpg|thumb|left|San Marcos in 1881]]
[[File:Texas - San Marcos - NARA - 68149814 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|San Marcos in 1936]]
Archeologists have found evidence at the San Marcos River associated with the [[Clovis culture]], which suggests that the river has been the site of human habitation for more than 10,000 years.  The San Marcos Springs are the third-largest collection of springs in Texas. Never in recorded history has the river run dry.

In 1689, Spaniard [[Alonso de León]] led an expedition from Mexico to explore Texas and establish missions and [[presidios]] in the region. De León's party helped blaze the ''Camino Real'' (later known as the [[Old San Antonio Road]]), which followed present-day Hunter Road, Hopkins Street, and Aquarena Springs Drive (the route later shifted four miles to the south; it is now followed by County Road 266, known locally as Old Bastrop Highway). De León's party reached the river on April 25, the feast day of St. Mark the Evangelist; the river was thus named the San Marcos.<ref name="NRBrochure">[https://web.archive.org/web/20060222110441/http://www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/departments/mainstreet/docs/2003%20National%20Register%20brochure.pdf San Marcos Historic Downtown National Register District, "San Marcos--A Brief History"].</ref><ref>[http://www.toursanmarcos.com/story.htm Convention & Visitor Bureau: San Marcos, Texas] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515063448/http://www.toursanmarcos.com/story.htm |date=May 15, 2008 }} Retrieved on 2008-02-23.</ref>

In 1803, after the Louisiana purchase, the Spanish government in Mexico became concerned about American citizens moving into Texas. Officials decided to establish more Spanish settlements between San Antonio de Béxar and Nacogdoches in an effort to secure Spanish presence in the area. The governor of the province of Texas, Manuel Antonio Cordero y Bustamante, approached his friend Felipe Roque de la Portilla to organize and oversee the venture. In 1807, after extracting promises from Cordero that he would receive a substantial land grant and that the government would assist the settlers financially, Portilla headed for Texas with a small group of settlers. The exact number has been disputed; some suggest that only ten persons were in the original group, while other sources say the number was as high as fifty-two. There is also some conflict in records as to whether Portilla's family was in the original group or whether they arrived in the fall of 1808. Most sources agree the group arrived at the San Marcos River on January 6, 1808. In April Governor Cordero issued the official order that established San Marcos de Neve, and his military representative, Juan Ygnacio de Arrambide, issued thirteen titles to town lots. Disaster struck the settlers in June, when a flood washed them out of their homes. Throughout the summer and fall the settlers rebuilt their town. In letters to government officials, Portilla reported that he left the colony in September 1808 to get more settlers and returned with six new families in late October. While there are no other records to confirm the increase, Portilla's census of 1809 did show a total of seventy-three persons and 1,771 animals. Over the next three years, the settlers made a valiant effort to maintain their new homes, but frequent Indian raids and the failure of the government to send soldiers for protection forced them to abandon the settlement in 1812..<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hvs21|title=SAN MARCOS DE NEVE|first=GREENE, DANIEL|last=P.|date=15 June 2010|website=www.tshaonline.org|access-date=3 May 2017}}</ref>  The settlers were plagued by floods and [[Native Americans in the United States|Indian]] raids, and the settlement was abandoned in 1812.<ref>[http://www.texascaminoreal.com/mission.htm Spanish Colonial Missions, Villas (towns) and Presidios (forts) Along the Camino Real: starting in Mexico] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124173630/http://www.texascaminoreal.com/mission.htm |date=2010-01-24 }} Retrieved on 2008-12-16.</ref>

In November 1846, the first Anglo-American settlers moved into the vicinity of the San Marcos Springs.  The [[Texas Legislature]] organized Hays County on March 1, 1848, and designated San Marcos as the county seat.  In 1851, a town center was laid out about a mile southwest of the headwaters of the river.  The town became a center for [[Cotton gin|ginning]] and [[Mill (grinding)|milling]] local [[Agriculture|agricultural]] products.  The town's most notable founder and early settler was Gen. [[Edward Burleson]], a hero of the [[Texas Revolution]] and former vice president of the [[Republic of Texas]].  Burleson built a dam on the upper reaches of the river in 1849.  The dam powered several mills, including one within present-day [[Sewell Park]].


In the decade following the arrival of the [[International-Great Northern Railroad]] on September 30, 1880,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/143708096/|title=It has come!|date=October 2, 1880|work=San Marcos Free Press|access-date=February 10, 2020}}</ref> [[cattle]] and [[cotton]] provided the basis for the growth of San Marcos as a center for commerce and transportation.

In 1866, the Coronal Institute was established as an early private high school.<ref>{{Cite book|title = History of Coronal Institute|last = Walling|first = Herschel|publisher = San Marcos, Tex. : Hays County Historical and Genealogical Society|year = 1991}}</ref> In 1899, Southwest Texas State Normal School (now known as Texas State University) was established as a teacher's college to meet demand for public school teachers in Texas. In 1907, the San Marcos Baptist Academy was established,<ref>[http://www.smba.org/about_us.htm About Us - San Marcos Baptist Academy<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216034326/http://www.smba.org/about_us.htm |date=February 16, 2012 }}.</ref> furthering education as an important industry for the town. The demands of World War II forced the town's industry to diversify, and with the emergence of a manufacturing and light industrial sector, the town began to experience growth.

In the late 1940s, former Hollywood director Shadrack Graham produced a documentary about daily life in San Marcos as part of his "Our Hometown" series of films that encouraged commerce and civic activity in small communities. The film highlights several local businesses from the era, including Smith's Flowers, Waldrin's Cleaners, Lack's Furniture, and the Palace Movie Theater.<ref>{{cite web|title=Our Home Town|url=http://www.texasarchive.org/library/index.php?title=Our_Home_Town&gsearch=our%20home%20town|publisher=Texas Archive of the Moving Image|access-date=28 July 2011|author=Shadrack Graham|year=c. 1949|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801161346/http://www.texasarchive.org/library/index.php?title=Our_Home_Town&gsearch=our%20home%20town|archive-date=1 August 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Gary Air Force Base]], just east of town, was opened in 1942 as San Marcos Army Airfield, renamed San Marcos Air Force Base in 1947, and renamed finally in 1953 in honor of Lieutenant Arthur Edward Gary, killed at [[Clark Field]] in the [[Philippines]] on December 7, 1941, the first San Martian to die in World War II.  During the war, the base trained over 10,000 [[navigator]]s, and in the following years was the largest center of Air Force and Army helicopter training for pilots and mechanics in the United States, with 21 squadrons and 4800 personnel stationed there.  The base was handed over to the Army in 1956, renamed Camp Gary, and was closed in 1963.  Subsequently, part of the base was taken over by the city for use as [[San Marcos Airport]], while another part was reopened in 1966 as the Gary [[Job Corps]] Center.<ref>[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qcg02 Shirley Ratisseau, "Gary Air Force Base," Handbook of Texas Online, accessed May 26, 2013. Published by the Texas State Historical Association], retrieved 29 May 2013.</ref>

In the 1960s, with the establishment of Aquarena Springs<ref>[http://www.aquarena.txstate.edu/About-Us/History.html History : Aquarena Center : Texas State University<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217195604/http://www.aquarena.txstate.edu/About-Us/History.html |date=December 17, 2009 }}.</ref> and [[Wonder World (Texas)|Wonder World]]<ref>[http://www.wonderworldpark.com/html/attractions.html Wonder World Park Attractions<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090826084104/http://www.wonderworldpark.com/html/attractions.html |date=August 26, 2009 }}.</ref> as attractions, the tourist industry became a growing part of the city's economy. By the 1960s, what was then named Southwest Texas State University had grown into an important regional institution,<ref>[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/kct56 Handbook of Texas Online - TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY<!-- Bot generated title -->].</ref> and when coupled with the creation of Gary Job Corps Training Center in 1965,<ref>[http://gary.jobcorps.gov/history.htm Gary Job Corps Center-History<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207103239/http://gary.jobcorps.gov/history.htm |date=2009-02-07 }}.</ref> education became the largest industry in San Marcos.<ref>[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hes02 Handbook of Texas Online - SAN MARCOS, TX<!-- Bot generated title -->].</ref> The remarkable growth explosion of Austin further allowed San Marcos to prosper.

By 1973, San Marcos and Hays County were included by the U. S. Census Bureau in the [[Greater Austin|Austin metropolitan statistical area]].<ref>[https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hch11 Handbook of Texas Online - HAYS COUNTY<!-- Bot generated title -->].</ref> By that year, the city's population had grown to 25,000 citizens, along with an additional Southwest Texas State University student body of 20,000.

By 1990, the city's population had grown to 28,743, by 2000, it reached 34,733, and by 2010, it was 44,894. A report, released by the U.S. Census Bureau in May 2013, stated that San Marcos had the highest rate of growth among all U.S. cities and towns with at least 50,000 people. Its population rose 6.9% between 2011 and 2012.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130601215521/http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb13-94.html U.S. Census Bureau - Texas Cities Lead Nation in Population Growth, Census Bureau Reports<!-- Bot generated title -->].</ref> The university, now known as Texas State University, boasts a student body of 34,225.<ref>[http://www.txstate.edu/about/index.html About Texas State : Texas State University<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212143933/http://www.txstate.edu/about/index.html |date=2014-02-12 }}.</ref>

In 1991, protestors advocating for legalization of marijuana conducted a civil disobedience action and were arrested; they became known as the [[San Marcos Seven]].<ref name="NYT">{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/10/us/san-marcos-journal-a-move-for-marijuana-where-the-60-s-survive.html | title=San Marcos Journal; A Move for Marijuana Where the 60's Survive | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=April 10, 1991}}</ref><ref name="Observer">{{cite web | url=http://www.dallasobserver.com/news/joint-effort-6392736 | title=Joint Effort | work=[[Dallas Observer]] | date=March 22, 2001 | author=Donald, Mark|quote=In 1991, he was one of the "San Marcos 7": a protest in which one person a day for seven days walked into the Hays County Jail smoking a joint and asking to be arrested.}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 741
|1880= 1232
|1890= 2335
|1900= 2292
|1910= 4071
|1920= 4527
|1930= 5134
|1940= 6006
|1950= 9980
|1960= 12713
|1970= 18860
|1980= 23420
|1990= 28738
|2000= 34733
|2010= 44894
|2020= 67553
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|author=United States Census Bureau|author-link=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 8, 2013}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''San Marcos city, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – San Marcos city, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US4865600&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – San Marcos city, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US4865600&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – San Marcos city, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US4865600&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|19,165
|24,098
|style='background: #ffffe6; |28,505
|55.18%
|53.68%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |42.20%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|1,860
|2,244
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,463
|5.36%
|5.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.61%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|118
|141
|style='background: #ffffe6; |157
|0.34%
|0.31%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.23%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|418
|659
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1,930
|1.20%
|1.47%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.86%
|-
|[[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|34
|35
|style='background: #ffffe6; |54
|0.10%
|0.08%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.08%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|52
|67
|style='background: #ffffe6; |257
|0.15%
|0.15%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.38%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|410
|683
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4,747
|1.18%
|1.52%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7.03%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|12,676
|16,967
|style='background: #ffffe6; |27,440
|36.50%
|37.79%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |40.62%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''34,733'''
|'''44,894'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''67,553'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], 67,553 people, 23,769 households, and 10,635 families were residing in the city.

===2010===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, the population was 44,894 people in the city. In 2000, 34,733 people, 12,660 households, and 5,380 families resided in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,907.5 people per square mile, (736.4/km<sup>2</sup>) in 2000. The 13,340 housing units averaged 732.6 per square mile (282.8/km<sup>2</sup>). The [[Race (United States Census)|racial makeup]] of the city was 72.55% White, 5.53% African American, 0.65% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 17.03% from other races, and 2.90% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 36.50% of the population.

Of the 12,660 households, 19.2% had children under 18 living with them, 27.9% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 57.5% were not families. About 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65  or older. The average household size was 2.31, and the average family size was 3.08.

In the city, the population was distributed as 15.4% under 18, 41.9% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 10.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65  or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,809, and for a family was $37,113. Males had a median income of $25,400 versus $22,953 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $13,468. About 13.8% of families and 28.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.1% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Geography==
San Marcos is in [[Central Texas]]. It is {{convert|30|mi}} southwest of [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] and {{convert|51|mi}} northeast of [[San Antonio]]. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], in 2010, it had a total area of {{convert|78.6|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which  {{convert|0.3|sqkm|order=flip|1}}, or 0.44%, was covered by water.<ref name="Census 2010"/> Interstate 35 is the main highway through it, with access from exits 199 through 208. It is situated on the [[Balcones Fault]], the boundary between the [[Texas Hill Country|Hill Country]] to the west and the Coastal Plains to the east. Along the fault, many springs emerge, such as [[San Marcos Springs]], which forms Spring Lake and is the source of the San Marcos River. The eastern part is [[Blackland Prairie]]. The western part consists of forested or grassy rolling hills, often marked with [[cactus|cacti]].

The San Marcos River and the [[Blanco River (Texas)|Blanco River]], part of the [[Guadalupe River (Texas)|Guadalupe]] watershed, flow through the city, along with Cottonwood Creek, Purgatory Creek, Sink Creek, and Willow Springs Creek.

===Climate===
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters, with some winter frost at night. Annual precipitation is about 34 inches (864&nbsp;mm). According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], San Marcos has a [[humid subtropical climate]], ''Cfa'' on climate maps.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/|title=Travel Weather Averages (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=Sep 18, 2019}}</ref>

{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = San Marcos, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1895–present)
 | Jan record high F  = 89
 | Feb record high F  = 99
 | Mar record high F  = 100
 | Apr record high F  = 102
 | May record high F  = 106
 | Jun record high F  = 109
 | Jul record high F  = 110
 | Aug record high F  = 111
 | Sep record high F  = 111
 | Oct record high F  = 101
 | Nov record high F  = 98
 | Dec record high F  = 91
 | year record high F = 
 | Jan high F = 62.3
 | Feb high F = 66.6
 | Mar high F = 73.1
 | Apr high F = 79.8
 | May high F = 86.2
 | Jun high F = 92.4
 | Jul high F = 95.7
 | Aug high F = 96.8
 | Sep high F = 90.5
 | Oct high F = 82.1
 | Nov high F = 71.5
 | Dec high F = 63.7
 | year high F = 80.1
 | Jan mean F = 50.6
 | Feb mean F = 54.5
 | Mar mean F = 61.3
 | Apr mean F = 68.0
 | May mean F = 75.5
 | Jun mean F = 82.1
 | Jul mean F = 84.5
 | Aug mean F = 85.2
 | Sep mean F = 79.5
 | Oct mean F = 70.1
 | Nov mean F = 59.9
 | Dec mean F = 52.2
 | year mean F = 68.6
 | Jan low F = 38.9
 | Feb low F = 42.4
 | Mar low F = 49.5
 | Apr low F = 56.3
 | May low F = 64.9
 | Jun low F = 71.7
 | Jul low F = 73.4
 | Aug low F = 73.7
 | Sep low F = 68.5
 | Oct low F = 58.1
 | Nov low F = 48.3
 | Dec low F = 40.8
 | year low F = 57.2
 | Jan record low F  = -2
 | Feb record low F  = 5
 | Mar record low F  = 17
 | Apr record low F  = 30
 | May record low F  = 40
 | Jun record low F  = 51
 | Jul record low F  = 56
 | Aug record low F  = 50
 | Sep record low F  = 39
 | Oct record low F  = 27
 | Nov record low F  = 17
 | Dec record low F  = 4
 | year record low F = 
 | precipitation colour   = green
 | Jan precipitation inch = 2.41
 | Feb precipitation inch = 1.73
 | Mar precipitation inch = 2.76
 | Apr precipitation inch = 3.20
 | May precipitation inch = 4.53
 | Jun precipitation inch = 3.57
 | Jul precipitation inch = 2.21
 | Aug precipitation inch = 2.60
 | Sep precipitation inch = 4.03
 | Oct precipitation inch = 4.41
 | Nov precipitation inch = 2.69
 | Dec precipitation inch = 2.41
 | year precipitation inch = 36.55
 | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
 | Jan precipitation days  = 7.1
 | Feb precipitation days  = 7.4
 | Mar precipitation days  = 8.1
 | Apr precipitation days  = 6.5
 | May precipitation days  = 8.0
 | Jun precipitation days  = 6.3
 | Jul precipitation days  = 5.2
 | Aug precipitation days  = 4.8
 | Sep precipitation days  = 7.2
 | Oct precipitation days  = 6.0
 | Nov precipitation days  = 6.1
 | Dec precipitation days  = 7.6
 | year precipitation days = 80.3
 | Jan snow inch = 0.0
 | Feb snow inch = 0.0
 | Mar snow inch = 0.0
 | Apr snow inch = 0.0
 | May snow inch = 0.0
 | Jun snow inch = 0.0
 | Jul snow inch = 0.0
 | Aug snow inch = 0.0
 | Sep snow inch = 0.0
 | Oct snow inch = 0.0
 | Nov snow inch = 0.0
 | Dec snow inch = 0.0
 | year snow inch = 0.0
 | unit snow days = 0.1 in
 | Jan snow days  = 0.0
 | Feb snow days  = 0.1
 | Mar snow days  = 0.0
 | Apr snow days  = 0.0
 | May snow days  = 0.0
 | Jun snow days  = 0.0
 | Jul snow days  = 0.0
 | Aug snow days  = 0.0
 | Sep snow days  = 0.0
 | Oct snow days  = 0.0
 | Nov snow days  = 0.0
 | Dec snow days  = 0.0
 | year snow days = 0.1
 | source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=ewx
|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 8, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00417983&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = November 8, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Government==
In 2022, city voters approved the decriminalization of possession of misdemeanor amounts of marijuana.<ref>{{cite news |title='The community has spoken': San Marcos voters decriminalize marijuana |url=https://www.expressnews.com/politics/article/San-Marcos-headed-toward-decriminalizing-17569597.php |access-date=10 November 2022 |publisher=San Antonio Express-News |date=9 November 2022}}</ref>

==Education==
[[Image:Old Main Txstate.JPG|thumb|left|[[Old Main (Texas State University)|Old Main]] academic building at Texas State University]]
San Marcos is home to [[Texas State University]], a multidisciplinary public research university that was established in 1899.

For primary and secondary education, San Marcos is served by the [[San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District]]. [[San Marcos High School (Texas)|San Marcos High School]] is the district's sole high school. San Marcos Academy, a private high school, is in the city. Doris Miller Middle School and Owen Goodnight Middle School are the two middle schools located in San Marcos. San Marcos is home to seven elementary schools: Rodriguez, Hernandez, Mendez, Crockett, Travis, Bowie, and DeZavala Elementary Schools. The city also houses a prekindergarten school, named Bonham Pre-K.

San Marcos is also served by the [[Hays Consolidated Independent School District]], in which Blanco Vista Elementary School is located within the San Marcos city limits in the extreme northeastern part of the city.

The [[Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State]] is one of the four extant [[body farm]]s in the United States and the largest such forensics research facility in the world.<ref>Steinberg, R.U.. [http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2008-04-04/608463/ "Listening to the Bones"], ''[[The Austin Chronicle]]'', Austin, 4 April 2008. Retrieved on 31 May 2013.</ref>

San Marcos is also home to Aquarena Center,<ref name="aquarena" /> the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment,<ref>[http://www.meadowscenter.txstate.edu/ Meadows Center<!-- Bot generated title -->].</ref> the San Marcos National Fish Hatchery and Aquatic Resource Center,<ref>[http://www.fws.gov/southwest/fisheries/san_marcos/ San Marcos Aquatic Resources Center<!-- Bot generated title -->].</ref> the A. E. Wood Texas Fish Hatchery,<ref>[http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/fish/management/hatcheries/aewood.phtml/ A. E. Wood Fish Hatchery<!-- Bot generated title -->].</ref> the San Marcos Nature Center,<ref>[http://ci.san-marcos.tx.us/index.aspx?page=796 San Marcos Nature Center<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816074100/http://ci.san-marcos.tx.us/index.aspx?page=796 |date=August 16, 2012 }},</ref> the Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos,<ref>[http://sanmarcoscentro.org/ Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos<!-- Bot generated title -->].</ref> and the Indigenous Cultures Institute.<ref>[http://www.indigenouscultures.org/ Indigenous Cultures Institute<!-- Bot generated title -->].</ref>

{{clear|left}}

==Transportation==
* [[Capital Area Rural Transportation System]]
* [[San Marcos Municipal Airport]]
* [[San Marcos Station]] is served by [[Amtrak]]'s [[Texas Eagle]]

==Economy==
[[Image:Prime Outlets San Marcos Texas Nima.JPG|thumb|right|San Marcos Outlet Malls located to the east of [[Interstate 35]]]]
San Marcos' central location along IH-35 and strong infrastructure makes it ideal for industry. It includes business incentives, a high quality of life, regional airports and proximity to major international airports, access to major roadways such as IH-35, SH-130, US-183, and IH-10, networking opportunities and support for small businesses and entrepreneurs, a healthy tax structure, and a diverse and talented workforce.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

The top employers in 2021 are the following:<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 30, 2021 |title=Annual Comprehensive Financial Report |url=https://www.sanmarcostx.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/544 |website=City of San Marcos |type=PDF}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Rank
!Employer
!Employees
|-
|1
|[[Amazon (company)|Amazon]]
|5000
|-
|2
|[[Texas State University]]
|3730
|-
|3
|San Marcos Premium Outlets
|1600
|-
|4
|Tanger Factory Outlets
|1540
|-
|5
|[[San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District|SMCISD]]
|1400
|-
|6
|[[Hays County, Texas|Hays County]]
|885
|-
|7
|City of San Marcos
|870
|-
|8
|[[H-E-B|HEB]] Distribution Center
|750
|-
|9
|Central Tx Medical Center
|675
|-
|10
|CFAN
|500
|}
Along with its easy access to air travel, San Marcos has ready access to several freight routes and IH-35 and IH-10, which run north/south and east/west, respectively, through the region. The access points of the area provide an easy route to major cities in Texas such as Austin, San Antonio, [[Dallas]], and [[Houston]].

The region has several institutions of higher education that provide a continual source of talent for the region's workforce. These institutions include the fourth-largest university in the state, Texas State University, as well as Gary Job Corps, an education and career technical training program.

The area's quality of life is highlighted by the San Marcos River, which is naturally fed by the San Marcos Springs.  Many other lakes and rivers dot the local landscape, and the region's location within the Texas Hill Country provides easy access to the many outdoor amenities. In June 2006, ''The View'' named the [[San Marcos Outlet Malls]] as the third-best place to shop in the world. About 14 million people visit them annually.

==Parks and recreation==
[[File:08-10-26 - San Marcos River, San Marcos, TX, USA - downstream from the headwaters.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Downstream from the headwaters of the [[San Marcos Springs]].]]
The San Marcos and Blanco Rivers flow through the city, along with Cottonwood Creek, Purgatory Creek, Sink Creek, and Willow Springs Creek. Each of these rivers and creeks has parks or nature preserves with hiking trails along it.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141002034647/http://ci.san-marcos.tx.us/index.aspx?page=245 City of San Marcos - LIST OF PARKS & NATURAL AREAS<!-- Bot generated title -->].</ref>

The San Marcos River rises from the San Marcos Springs. The springs are home to several threatened or endangered species, including the [[Texas blind salamander]], [[San Marcos salamander]], [[fountain darter]], [[San Marcos gambusia]], and [[Texas wild rice]]. The river begins at San Marcos Springs, rising from the [[Edwards Aquifer]] into Spring Lake. The upper river flows through Texas State University and San Marcos and is a popular recreational area. It is joined by the Blanco River after four miles, passes through [[Luling, Texas|Luling]] and near [[Gonzales, Texas|Gonzales]], and flows into the [[Guadalupe River (Texas)|Guadalupe River]] after 75 miles (121&nbsp;km). This course is the first leg of the Texas Water Safari, marketed as the "World's Toughest Canoe Race".  
San Marcos has many areas meant for recreation, but one of the most popular is Sewell Park. It is an open area along part of the San Marcos River. Because of its location on the Texas State University campus, the park is a popular spot for college students to swim, play, or just hang out. Many activities are available at Sewell Park, such as volleyball, picnics, and swimming/tubing. It is also known for being the spot where some newly graduated Texas State students jump into the San Marcos River after their graduation ceremony.

==Sports==

[[File:BobcatStadium TXSTvNAVY 2014.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Texas State Bobcats vs Navy Midshipmen – September 13, 2014]]
Many residents of San Marcos support the athletic programs of Texas State University, known as the [[Texas State Bobcats]]. The football program won the NCAA Division II National Championships in 1982 and 1983 and now competes in the [[NCAA Division I]] ([[NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision|FBS]]) [[Sun Belt Conference]]. The Texas State Bobcats play home games in [[Bobcat Stadium (Texas State)|Bobcat Stadium]], seating over 33,000 fans. Basketball and volleyball games are played at [[Strahan Arena]]. Baseball games are played at [[Bobcat Ballpark]].

Amateur sports car racing takes place at [[Harris Hill Raceway]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Event Schedule |url=https://champcar.org/register/events.php |access-date=2023-02-02 |website=[[ChampCar Endurance Series]] |quote=The San Marcos Grand Prix at H2R}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
In 2010, San Marcos was listed in ''Business Week'' magazine's fourth annual survey of the "Best Places to Raise your Kids."<ref name="businessweek1"/> In 2013 and 2014, the United States Census Bureau named it the fastest-growing city in the United States.<ref name="smmercury1"/><ref name="smmercury.com"/> In December 2013, it was named #9 on the ''Business Insider'' list of the "10 Most Exciting Small Cities In America."<ref name="businessinsider1"/>

The river is a popular recreational area and is frequented by residents and tourists for [[Tubing (recreation)|tubing]], [[canoeing]], [[human swimming|swimming]], and [[fishing]]. The Texas Water Safari starts in San Marcos on the first Saturday in June each year. Due in part to its natural beauty, the city was nicknamed "San Marvelous". San Marcos references the nickname in its "Keep San Marcos Beautiful" campaign.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/index.aspx?page=218 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816074238/http://www.ci.san-marcos.tx.us/index.aspx?page=218 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-08-16 |title=San Marcos, TX: Keep San Marcos Beautiful |access-date=2013-05-31 }}</ref>

The town center (referred to locally as "the square") was laid out in 1851 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The [[Hays County Courthouse]], which sits in the center, was built in 1908. The downtown area surrounding the courthouse is home to many of the city's bars, restaurants, boutiques, and music venues, making it a top entertainment destination. The Marc, directly across the street from the courthouse, hosted the 2011, 2012, and 2013 Lone Star Music Awards.<ref>George, Patrick. [http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/can-renovated-san-marcos-theater-create-a-scene-1/nRXkb/ "Can renovated San Marcos theater create a scene?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217115150/http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/can-renovated-san-marcos-theater-create-a-scene-1/nRXkb/ |date=2013-12-17 }}, ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]'', Austin, 20 February 2011. Retrieved on 31 May 2013.</ref><ref>Mansfield, Hap. {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130615193054/http://smmercury.com/2013/04/28/texas-music-theater-hosts-lone-star-music-awards-tonight/ "Texas Music Theater (now The Marc) hosts Lone Star Music Awards tonight"]}}, ''San Marcos Mercury'', San Marcos, Texas, 28 April 2013. Retrieved on 31 May 2013.</ref>

In addition to the historic downtown, San Marcos has five residential historic districts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sanmarcostx.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=1256 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-05-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213190016/http://www.sanmarcostx.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=1256 |archive-date=2017-02-13 }}</ref> It also boasts of at least 40 homes and buildings on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Hays County, Texas|National Register of Historic Places]].

Local media include the ''[[San Marcos Daily Record]]'' and ''[[The University Star]]''.

===Public art===
<!-- not art, not proven The intersection of [[Lyndon B. Johnson|LBJ]] Drive and [[Martin Luther King Jr.|MLK]] Drive in San Marcos is thought to be the only place in the nation where streets named after both men meet. --> 
The City of San Marcos and the San Marcos Arts Commission in collaboration with a committee of citizens from the community and Texas State University broke ground in January 2013 on a commemorative sculpture that will sit at the intersection of [[Lyndon B. Johnson|LBJ]] Drive and [[Martin Luther King Jr.|MLK]] Drive. Designed by Aaron P. Hussey of [[Baton Rouge]],  it depicts Johnson and King conversing in the [[Oval Office]].<ref>Thorne, Brett. [http://impactnews.com/austin-metro/san-marcos-buda-kyle/san-marcos-breaks-ground-on-lbj-mlk-memorial/ "San Marcos breaks ground on LBJ-MLK memorial"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218225921/http://impactnews.com/austin-metro/san-marcos-buda-kyle/san-marcos-breaks-ground-on-lbj-mlk-memorial/ |date=December 18, 2013 }}, ''Community Impact'', 21 January 2013. Retrieved on 2 June 2013.</ref><ref>O'Rourke, Ciara. [http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/sculpture-design-chosen-for-intersection-of-mlk--1/nRnbs/ "Sculpture design chosen for intersection of MLK and LBJ in San Marcos"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217120656/http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/sculpture-design-chosen-for-intersection-of-mlk--1/nRnbs/ |date=2013-12-17 }}, ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]'', 8 May 2012. Retrieved on 2 June 2013.</ref> It was officially unveiled on [[Martin Luther King Jr. Day]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://haysfreepress.com/2014/01/22/lbj-mlk-memorial-unveiled-in-san-marcos/ |title=LBJ-MLK memorial unveiled in San Marcos |first=Kate |last=Barton |work=News-Dispatch |date=January 22, 2014 |access-date=September 18, 2020}}</ref>

The Walkers' Gallery:  In July 1997, the City of San Marcos Department of Parks and Recreation opened the San Marcos Activity Center. Along with the recreational facilities and meeting rooms, this new building debuted an extensive community art gallery.  The gallery is directed and curated by the San Marcos Area Arts Council, a nonprofit organization, and is sustained through grants from the San Marcos Arts Commission.   Named the Walkers' Gallery because of its placement in the walking corridors of the building, it displays seven diverse exhibits a year, primarily of art by area artists and occasional invitational exhibits.  The public can enter the Activity Center to see the exhibits and attend art receptions at no charge. Artists of all ages and levels may submit their work that can be simply displayed or be for sale.<ref>Submitted May 19, 2021, by director/curator of the Walkers' Gallery</ref>

The downtown area has become home to several graffiti-style murals, including designs depicting [[Jeff Bridges]]' character the Dude from ''[[The Big Lebowski]]''.<ref>White, Tyler. [http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article/Public-art-painter-creates-large-San-Marcos-mural-6261644.php "Central Texas artist paints large mural of 'The Dude' from 'Big Lebowski' in San Marcos"], 15 May 2015. Retrieved on 16 April 2016.</ref>

In 2016, the San Marcos Arts Commission erected 10 [[mermaid]] statues throughout the city.<ref>Glassford, Rae. [http://star.txstate.edu/2016/04/14/town-soon-to-be-populated-by-7-foot-mermaids/ "Town soon to be populated by 7-foot mermaids"], ''[[The University Star]]'', San Marcos, Texas, 14 April 2016. Retrieved on 16 April 2016.</ref> Mermaids have been part of San Marcos culture since the mid-1900s, when the former Aquarena Springs began underwater performances by women dressed as mermaids. Each mermaid statue is 7&nbsp;ft tall and mounted on a limestone slab to make the final height closer 9&nbsp;ft. Each mermaid is decorated by a different regional artist, and celebrates the art, culture, and natural beauty of the city.

===Music===
[[File:Cheatham Street Warehouse West Entrance 2020.jpg|thumb|The west entrance of the Cheatham Street Warehouse]]
For more than 20 years, as of 2008, the San Marcos Performing Arts Commission and the San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department have hosted the Summer in the Park concert series with live music at an outdoor venue every Thursday night from June to August.<ref>Rollins, Brad. {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20130615193102/http://smmercury.com/2008/05/28/from-the-city-of-san-marcos-summer-in-the-park-concert-series/ "From the city of San Marcos: Summer in the Park concert series"]}}, ''San Marcos Mercury'', San Marcos, Texas, 28 May 2008. Retrieved on 1 June 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toursanmarcos.com/events/arts/summer-in-the-park.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130615193145/http://www.toursanmarcos.com/events/arts/summer-in-the-park.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-06-15 |title=Summer in the Park Music Series: San Marcos, Texas Convention and Visitor Bureau |access-date=2013-06-01 }}</ref>

The [[Cheatham Street Warehouse]] helped launch the careers of [[George Strait]], [[Stevie Ray Vaughan]], Randy Rogers, Todd Snider, James McMurtry, and Terri Hendrix, among others.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://beta.cheathamstreetfoundation.org/ |title=About the Cheatham Street Music Foundation |website=Cheatham Street Music Foundation |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609065551/http://beta.cheathamstreetfoundation.org/ |archive-date=2016-06-09 |access-date=2016-05-28 }}</ref> The Cheatham Street Foundation continues work to preserve Texas music traditions and has offered seminars on the business end of the music business.

Contributing to the music scene in San Marcos, Texas State University hosts the Hill Country Jazz Festival and [[Eddie Durham]] Celebration annually.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.txstate.edu/jazzstudies/hillcountryfestival.html |title=Hill Country Jazz Festival : Jazz Studies : Texas State University |access-date=2013-05-31}}</ref>

===Film===
Many television shows and movies have filmed in San Marcos, including [[Friday Night Lights (TV series)|''Friday Night Lights'']], [[D.O.A. (1988 film)|D.O.A.]], [[Everybody Wants Some!! (film)|''Everybody Wants Some!!'']], [[Boyhood (2014 film)|''Boyhood'']], [[American Crime (TV series)|''American Crime'']], [[That's What I'm Talking About (film)|''That's What I'm Talking About'']], [[Piranha (1978 film)|''Piranha'']], [[The Ringer (2005 film)|''The Ringer'']], ''[[Courage Under Fire]]'', ''[[The New Guy]]'', ''[[The Faculty]]'', ''[[Idiocracy]]'', [[The Getaway (1972 film)|''The Getaway'']], [[The War at Home (1996 film)|''The War at Home'']], [[Little Boy Blue (1997 film)|''Little Boy Blue'']], ''[[Flesh and Bone (film)|Flesh and Bone]]'', ''[[Race With the Devil]]'', and ''[[The Tree of Life (film)|The Tree of Life]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toursanmarcos.com/about/media-tools/film.html |title=San Marcos, Texas Convention and Visitors Bureau: Film |access-date=2013-05-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/search/title?locations=San%20Marcos%2C%20Texas%2C%20USA&ref_=ttloc_loc_4 |title=IMDb: Most Popular Titles With Location Matching "San Marcos, Texas, USA" |website=[[IMDb]] |access-date=2013-05-31}}</ref>

The San Marcos Cinema Club hosts the Lost River Film Festival, which is named for the fictional Lost River in the film [[Piranha (1978 film)|''Piranha'']], which was filmed on the San Marcos River.

==Places of interest==
* [[Alkek Library]]
* [[Bobcat Ballpark]]
* [[Bobcat Stadium (Texas State)|Bobcat Stadium]]
* Calaboose African American History Museum
* [[Cheatham Street Warehouse]]
* Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos
* Eye of the Dog Art Center
* [[First United Methodist Church (San Marcos, Texas)|First United Methodist Church]]
* [[Fort Street Presbyterian Church (San Marcos, Texas)|Fort Street Presbyterian Church]]
* [[Freeman Ranch]]
* Lyndon Baines Johnson Museum of San Marcos
* [[Meadows Center for Water and the Environment]]
* [[Old Main (Texas State University)|Old Main]]
* [[Rio Vista Dam]]
* [[San Marcos Mill Tract]]
* [[San Marcos Outlet Malls]]
* [[Texas State University]] 
* [[Sewell Park]]
* [[Strahan Coliseum]]
* [[Wonder Cave (San Marcos, Texas)|Wonder Cave]]

==Notable people==

{{Main|List of people from San Marcos, Texas}}

==Sister cities==
*{{flag|Mexico}} [[Monclova]], [[Coahuila]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.txstate.edu/news/news_releases/news_archive/2008/10/Monclova100908.html|title=Trade mission aims to expand ties with Sister City in Mexico|date=Jun 8, 2016|website=www.txstate.edu|access-date=Sep 18, 2019|archive-date=June 2, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100602052722/https://www.txstate.edu/news/news_releases/news_archive/2008/10/Monclova100908.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*{{flag|Mexico}} [[Santiago, Nuevo León]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==

{{commons}}
{{wikivoyage|San Marcos (Texas)|San Marcos, Texas}}
* {{official website}}
* [http://www.sanmarcostexas.com/ San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.toursanmarcos.com/ San Marcos Convention & Visitor Bureau]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170609093018/http://www.sanmarcostx.gov/index.aspx?page=194 San Marcos Public Library]
* {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120716230029/http://smmercury.com/ ''San Marcos Mercury'' newspaper]}}
* [http://www.greatersanmarcostx.com Greater San Marcos Partnership]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130515123819/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/4865600.html U.S. Census Bureau – San Marcos, TX Quickfacts]
* [https://www.aquarenaandralph.com Story of Aquarena Springs]
* [https://vimeo.com/channels/1575822 Rio Vista Park Nostalgia]
{{San Marcos, Texas}}
{{Caldwell County, Texas}}
{{Guadalupe County, Texas}}
{{Hays County, Texas}}
{{Greater Austin}}
{{Texas county seats}}
{{Texas}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:San Marcos, Texas| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Caldwell County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Guadalupe County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Hays County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:County seats in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Greater Austin]]
<!-- applies only to the Hays and Caldwell county portions of San Marcos -->
[[Category:Populated places established in 1808]]
[[Category:Texas Hill Country]]