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110-460: During peak seasons, shoppers at the malls can reach numbers that effectively triple the population of San Marcos. The San Marcos Outlet Malls are one of the top tourist attractions in the state, and serve as one of the top employers of San Marcos residents and students of nearby Texas State University . In 2006, ABC 's The View named the San Marcos Outlets the third-best place to shop in

220-526: A humid subtropical climate , Cfa on climate maps. In 2022, city voters approved the decriminalization of possession of misdemeanor amounts of marijuana. 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

330-607: A senior college . In 1921, a statewide effort was launched to improve academic standards in Texas normal schools to meet more closely the requirements of the University of Texas . These improvements prompted a second name change in 1923, when the Texas Legislature renamed the school Southwest Texas State Teachers College . Another change occurred in 1959, with the school becoming Southwest Texas State College . Ten years later,

440-528: A bill for a student referendum to be held the following spring to obtain the student body's endorsement of an increase in fees to help pay for the move to the FBS. In February 2008, almost 80% of the students who voted in the referendum, approved a raise in the athletics fee by $ 10 over the next five years. Another set of milestones for The Drive involved improvements to Texas State's football stadium, Bobcat Stadium . Three phases of construction were completed to double

550-456: A civil disobedience action and were arrested; they became known as the San Marcos Seven . As of the 2020 United States census , 67,553 people, 23,769 households, and 10,635 families were residing in the city. 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

660-660: 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. 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

770-439: 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

880-553: A gift of 101 acres (0.41 km ), the Texas State University Round Rock Campus was constructed and opened in 2005. The school's name has changed several times over the course of its history. The first change occurred in 1918 when Southwest Texas State Normal School became Southwest Texas State Normal College , after the Board of Regents, two years earlier, had authorized the school to begin granting degrees as

990-522: 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. The top employers in 2021 are the following: 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

1100-620: A name until 1964. At that time, Beth Greenlees won the Name the Bobcat contest with the name Boko the Bobcat. The athletic logo, or spirit mark, is referred to as the SuperCat logo. The current version of the logo was designed by a student in 2003. In August 2009, Texas State refined the logo with the addition of the Texas State lettering. A thirteen-year rivalry with Nicholls State University ended with

1210-806: 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. The downtown area has become home to several graffiti-style murals, including designs depicting Jeff Bridges ' character

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1320-541: A number of Hollywood movies and marching band oriented videos. The school's student government is an organization of both undergraduate and graduate students who represent student's interests with the university administration. Student government has dealt with issues including concealed carry on campus and the university's anti-tobacco policy. Student Government also administers a scholarship fund that any Texas State student can apply to earn. A number of honors societies exists on campus including Golden Key and

1430-509: A red-gabled Victorian Gothic structure. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. In more than a century of use, and through many renovations, the building has served varied purposes, from being the university's administration building to an auditorium and chapel to now housing the offices for the School of Journalism and Mass Communication as well as the offices of

1540-486: A restructure of the university's Greek system. The Bobcat Marching Band is the collegiate marching band of Texas State University. Nicknamed "The Pride of the Hill Country," the band began in 1919 as a casual association of student musicians on campus. It later evolved into a formal organization that performs at Texas State football games, NFL football games, professional soccer games, two presidential inaugurations , and

1650-491: A total of $ 10 million from The Meadows Foundation and other sources for the center to study interactions between water and the overall environment. These studies include an examination of springs , drought and their effects on public water supplies . The center was founded in 2002 with funding, in part, from The Meadows Foundation. Since that time it has focused its research on the San Marcos Springs and Spring Lake ,

1760-546: 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.. The settlers were plagued by floods and Indian raids, and the settlement was abandoned in 1812. 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

1870-464: A variety of housing options including traditional dorms and apartment-style housing offered by the university. Texas State University has more than 300 student organizations registered with its Student Involvement department. These organizations include Greek organizations , academic groups, honors societies , service groups, sports clubs, and common interest groups. Texas State has more than 30 fraternities and sororities, including 13 fraternities from

1980-491: A variety of music including high kick, jazz , funk , and hip hop . The Strutters have performed nationally and internationally in 26 countries spanning 4 continents. Performances include two presidential inaugural parades , two Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades , several NBA and NFL halftime shows, and America's Got Talent . They are the first university dance team to be invited to the People's Republic of China. Bobcat Build

2090-536: Is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education. Texas State is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity" and an Emerging Research University (ERU) by the State of Texas. It spent over $ 140 million in research expenditures during fiscal year 2023. The 36th president of

2200-681: Is a public research university with its main campus in San Marcos, Texas and another campus in Round Rock . Since its establishment in 1899, the university has grown to be one of the largest universities in the United States. Texas State University reached a record enrollment of 40,678 students in the 2024 fall semester, continuing a trend of enrollment growth over several years. Texas State University offers over 200 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs from its ten colleges. The university

2310-547: Is a yearly community service event that began in 2001 and is the largest such event run by students at the university. Based upon Texas A&M University 's "The Big Event", it allows student organizations and individual Texas State students to sign up to perform service projects throughout the San Marcos community. The event has received recognition from state and national politicians including former State Representative Patrick Rose and U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett . The oldest form of student media at Texas State

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2420-510: 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 farms in the United States and the largest such forensics research facility in the world. San Marcos is also home to Aquarena Center,

2530-653: Is decorated by a different regional artist, and celebrates the art, culture, and natural beauty of the city. 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. The Cheatham Street Warehouse helped launch

2640-636: 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. The San Marcos and Blanco Rivers flow through

2750-530: Is in Central Texas . It is 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Austin and 51 miles (82 km) northeast of San Antonio . According to the United States Census Bureau , in 2010, it had a total area of 30.3 square miles (78.6 km ), of which 0.1 square miles (0.3 km ), or 0.44%, was covered by water. Interstate 35 is the main highway through it, with access from exits 199 through 208. It

2860-686: Is on the Interstate 35 corridor between Austin and San Antonio . Its population was 44,894 at the 2010 census and 67,553 at the 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 . In 2010, San Marcos

2970-481: Is one of seven extant human decomposition research facilities ( body farms ) in the United States. It is the largest such forensics research facility in the world. In August 2012, Texas State's River Systems Institute was renamed The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment. This name change was the result of donations totaling $ 5 million from The Meadows Foundation in Dallas , Texas . The university plans on earning

3080-804: Is published five times during the summer. The Star has a web site which contains videos, blogs and podcasts in addition to the articles that are published in the print version of the paper. The Star and its staff have received awards including merits from Hearst Journalism, the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and the Society of Professional Journalists . Located in the Trinity Building, Texas State's FM radio station, KTSW , broadcasts at 89.9 MHz and provides sports coverage of Texas State Athletics and independent music . The KTSW website provides live-streaming broadcasts, and

3190-584: Is situated on the Balcones Fault , the boundary between the 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 cacti . The San Marcos River and

3300-420: 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

3410-538: Is the heart of campus because it is surrounded by a majority of the academic buildings and is near the bus loop where most of the university bus routes stop on campus. Since many students pass through the quad, it is the primary gathering place for student organizations, which often set up booths and tables promoting fundraisers and events. The west end of the Quad has a 17-foot high aluminum sculpture of two horses, called The Fighting Stallions . This area has been designated as

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3520-539: The San Marcos Daily Record and The University Star . 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 LBJ Drive and MLK Drive. Designed by Aaron P. Hussey of Baton Rouge , it depicts Johnson and King conversing in

3630-620: The Alpha Chi National College Honor Society . Texas State was a charter member of Alpha Chi when it was created as the Scholarship Societies of the South in 1927. Texas State also has an active chapter of Alpha Phi Omega , National Service Fraternity. The Texas State Strutters are a precision dance team formed in 1960, the first of its kind at a four-year institution in the United States. The group performs to

3740-735: The Aquarena Springs theme park. The university bought the property in 1994 intending to use the land as a research and education center. In 2002, this piece of land became known as the River System Institute and offered educational tours including a wetlands boardwalk and continued to offer glass-bottom boat rides. In 1996, the school began offering courses in Round Rock, Texas , on the campus of Westwood High School . It originally offered night classes that allowed students to earn graduate degrees in business administration and education. As enrollment in these programs increased and with

3850-569: The Blanco River , part of the Guadalupe watershed, flow through the city, along with Cottonwood Creek, Purgatory Creek, Sink Creek, and Willow Springs Creek. 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 mm). According to the Köppen climate classification , San Marcos has

3960-590: 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. In 1803, after

4070-459: 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

4180-700: 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 and near Gonzales , and flows into the Guadalupe River after 75 miles (121 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

4290-641: The Higher Education Act of 1965 a part of the Great Society programs. In a speech, held in the old Strahan Gymnasium on the school's campus (now the Music Building), prior to signing the bill, he recounted his own difficulties affording to go to college: having to shower and shave in the school's gymnasium, living above a faculty member's garage, and working multiple jobs. On November 13, 1969, ten students were suspended from Texas State for protesting

4400-681: The NBC TV series Friday Night Lights . Built in 1903 and originally called the Main Building, Old Main was the first building on the campus. The design was closely patterned on the Old Main Building of 1889 at Sam Houston State University, designed by Alfred Muller of Galveston. Fourteen years later, E. Northcraft, the engineer for the building at Sam Houston, oversaw construction of the Texas State University Main Building,

4510-812: The North American Interfraternity Conference , 9 fraternities and sororities from the historically African-American National Pan-Hellenic Council , 8 sororities from the National Panhellenic Conference , and 9 multicultural fraternities and sororities from the National Multicultural Greek Council . After the death of a Phi Kappa Psi pledge in November 2017, Texas State University halted all Greek life activities. Greek life activities resumed in March 2018, following

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4620-716: The Oval Office . It was officially unveiled on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 2014. 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,

4730-562: 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 navigators , 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

4840-564: The Sun Belt Conference . Texas State teams and athletes from multiple sports have won national and regional championships as well as medalists in the Olympic Games . In 1920, Texas State adopted its first official mascot, the bobcat, at the urging of Oscar Strahan, who became the school's athletic director in 1919. Strahan suggested the bobcat because the cat is native to central Texas and is known for its ferocity. The bobcat did not get

4950-567: The US Department of Education opened a formal review into Texas State University's compliance with a federal crime-reporting statute meant to provide information about campus safety. Texas State University officials acknowledged in September 2019 that it seriously under-reported the number of rapes and other crimes on campus in recent years. A former university police chief and his top deputy were also accused of hiring unqualified officers to patrol

5060-658: The University of Texas at Arlington (UT Arlington) . The rivalry never ceased as both schools moved from the Southland Conference to the Western Athletic Conference then on to the Sun Belt Conference until 2022 when the Sun Belt stopped sponsoring non-football teams and UT Arlington returned to the Western Athletic Conference. In the summer of 2007, university president Denise Trauth created

5170-482: The 2011 football season. It began in 1998 when the annual football game between the two schools was at first cancelled due to severe flooding in San Marcos , where the game was to be played. The athletic directors and coaches later decided to postpone the game from October to November. To remember those affected by the floods, including some people who had died in it, a wooden oar was made with each school's colors and initials. The winning school would take possession of

5280-473: The 2023 edition of the U.S. News & World Report , Texas State was ranked 280th among national universities. Texas State University offers degrees in 98 bachelor programs, 93 master programs and 14 doctoral programs. The university has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools since 1925 and had its last review in 2010. These programs are offered through ten academic colleges, including: In January 2012, Texas State University

5390-595: The Athletic Strategic Planning Committee with the purpose of evaluating a move for the football team to go to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). The committee released its final report in November 2007 which included a series of tasks that would need to be completed to make the move. The university called its efforts The Drive to FBS. Following the release of the committee's report, the university's Associated Student Government passed

5500-604: The Avery Building began in 2004, and the building opened its doors in August 2005. The 125,000-square-foot Avery Building was designed to offer instruction and student support in one building, with classrooms, labs, offices, and a library. In 2010 the Round Rock Campus opened the 77,740-square-foot, three-story Nursing Building. The St. David's School of Nursing admitted the first class of junior-level nursing majors in fall 2010. Ground Breaking for an additional health professions building occurred in May 2016. The building, known as Willow Hall, opened in 2018. The Round Rock Campus offers

5610-413: The College of Fine Arts and Communication. The university's library was named in 1991 for an alumnus, Albert B. Alkek, who became an oilman, rancher, and philanthropist. The Albert B. Alkek Library serves as the main academic library supporting the university community. It is a "select depository" for United States and Texas government documents, receiving a large number of government publications from

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5720-415: The Dude from The Big Lebowski . In 2016, the San Marcos Arts Commission erected 10 mermaid statues throughout the city. 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 ft tall and mounted on a limestone slab to make the final height closer 9 ft. Each mermaid

5830-420: 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

5940-401: The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment, the San Marcos National Fish Hatchery and Aquatic Resource Center, the A. E. Wood Texas Fish Hatchery, the San Marcos Nature Center, the Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos, and the Indigenous Cultures Institute. San Marcos' central location along IH-35 and strong infrastructure makes it ideal for industry. It includes business incentives,

6050-420: The Nicholls State athletic offices. Due to Texas State changing conferences, Bernardi said it was unlikely that the schools will face each other in football again and that the rivalry was ending. The rivalry with the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is dubbed the I-35 Showdown for the interstate highway that links San Marcos and San Antonio. A trophy consisting of an Interstate Highway 35 sign

6160-407: The Round Rock Higher Education Center (RRHEC), the facility was opened in 1996 in temporary buildings with a small number of classes. By 2004, the fifteen temporary buildings, in a lot adjacent to Westwood High School , were full to capacity. A year earlier, the Avery family of Round Rock had donated 101 acres in northeast Round Rock to allow the former RRHEC to become its own campus. Construction of

6270-623: The San Marcos River after their graduation ceremony. 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 ( FBS ) Sun Belt Conference . The Texas State Bobcats play home games in 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 . In 2010, San Marcos

6380-512: The San Marcos campus, including one who allegedly slept with a sexual assault victim while investigating her case. Texas State University comprises over 8 million gross square feet in facilities and its campuses are located on over 600 acres with an additional 4,000 acres of agriculture, research, and recreational areas. The Texas State University main campus is located in San Marcos, Texas , midway between Austin and San Antonio along Interstate 35 . It spans 507 acres (2.05 km ), including

6490-441: The Southwest Texas State campus in 1917. In 1935, a formal contract between Southwest Texas State Teachers College, as it was known then, and the San Marcos school district for the "Public Schools [to become] the laboratory school for said Teachers College." The school would be under the control and supervision of the city of San Marcos but Southwest Texas State was responsible for providing and maintaining buildings and equipment for

6600-463: The Texas State University campus on the banks of the San Marcos River in San Marcos, Texas , borders City Park, the San Marcos Mill Tract and Strahan Coliseum . It was opened in 1917 by Southwest Texas State Normal School, and was called Riverside Park. The land was owned by the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries and leased to the school. It was originally used by students to learn how to swim and for general recreation. The river banks were built up from

6710-424: The Texas State television channel employs KTSW broadcasts as background music. KTSW's morning show, Orange Juice and Biscuits, gained recognition in 2007 for being a finalist in Collegiate Broadcasters Inc.'s "Best Regularly Scheduled Program" award. In October 2008, as it was among Austin360.com 's top ten-rated morning radio shows. Texas State currently competes at the NCAA Division I level and are members of

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6820-406: The U.S. Supreme Court, but only Justice William Douglas voted to hear their argument so the decisions of the lower courts stood. The San Marcos 10 subsequently lost all of the credits for the semesters they completed while their lawsuit moved through the court system. The campus has grown substantially from its original 11 acres in 1899. During the first 40 years of the school's history, the campus

6930-414: The United States , Lyndon B. Johnson , graduated from the institution in 1930; Texas State University is the only college or university in Texas to have a U.S. president as an alumnus. Texas State's main campus consists of 245 buildings on 507 acres (2.05 km ) of hilly land along the San Marcos River . Additionally, it has a 101 acres (0.41 km ) satellite campus at its Round Rock Campus (RRC) in

7040-429: The Vietnam War. They became known as the "San Marcos 10." They appealed their expulsion through the normal school channels and then filed a lawsuit against the president of the university, the dean of students and the Texas State University system Board of Regents. They were reinstated via injunction and attended classes while their case moved through the courts. When their appeals were rejected, they submitted their case to

7150-472: The city's elementary and junior high schools . The college enrolled its first African-American students in 1963, following a federal lawsuit brought by Dana Smith, who became one of the first five African Americans at the institution when a district court judge ruled that they could not be denied admission based on race. On November 8, 1965, the school's most famous alumnus, United States president Lyndon B. Johnson , returned to his alma mater to sign

7260-480: 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. The university, now known as Texas State University, boasts a student body of 34,225. In 1991, protestors advocating for legalization of marijuana conducted

7370-491: 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. 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

7480-405: 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 ginning and milling local 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

7590-463: 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. In addition to the historic downtown, San Marcos has five residential historic districts. It also boasts of at least 40 homes and buildings on the National Register of Historic Places . Local media include

7700-477: The creation of Gary Job Corps Training Center in 1965, education became the largest industry in San Marcos. 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 Austin metropolitan statistical area . 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,

7810-405: The fall 2018 semester, Texas State University had a total enrollment of 38,694, continuing a trend of record enrollment growth over several years. Of the student body, 31,032 are undergraduate students with the remaining 4,536 students being post-baccalaureate or graduate students. The university accepted 57.6% of freshmen applicants who applied to attend the fall 2012 semester. This includes

7920-541: 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. 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

8030-413: The greater north Austin area. The university operates the 70 acres (0.28 km ) Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Park, a technology commercialization and applied research facility. Texas State has 4,522 acres (18.30 km ) additional acres of recreational, instructional, farm, and ranch land. The Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State is the largest forensics research facility in

8140-420: The guaranteed acceptance of any Texas high school graduate with a grade point average that ranked them in the top 10% of their high school class. Between 61% and 64% of undergraduate students earn their degree after six years. Hispanic students made up 30% of the student body in 2013, which increased to 32% in 2014, qualifying the university to be designated as a Hispanic-serving institution . Additionally,

8250-623: The junior and senior level classes to complete a bachelor's degree as well as graduate degrees, post baccalaureate certification, and continuing education programs. Students can complete their first two years at the Texas State University San Marcos campus or any community college, or transfer to the RRC from another school. Students who complete requirements at the Round Rock Campus earn degrees from Texas State University. As of

8360-413: The legislature renamed the school Southwest Texas State University . In 2003, members of the school's Associated Student Government (ASG), approached state senator Jeff Wentworth asking that the school be renamed Texas State University at San Marcos . The ASG had unanimously approved a resolution supporting the change, arguing that the current name reflected a regionalism that was not aligned with

8470-485: 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

8580-529: The oar for the next year and have the score inscribed on it. This rivalry became known as the Battle for the Paddle . The oar was last traded in 2010 when Nicholls State received it following 47–44 win over Texas State after four overtimes. Prior to the schools' meeting in 2011, Rob Bernardi, the athletic director for Nicholls State, said that they would not be bringing the oar to San Marcos and would leave it on display in

8690-479: The original land donated by the city of San Marcos consisting of Chautauqua Hill on which Old Main still sits. The university also operates a 101 acres (0.41 km ) Round Rock Campus and a 70 acres (0.28 km ) Science, Technology, and Advanced Research (STAR) Park; Other parts of the Texas State property including farm and ranch land, residential, recreational areas and commercial incubators cover more than 4,522 acres (18.30 km ) of additional land. The Quad

8800-473: 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

8910-492: The river bottom by university workers. In 1949 the park was renamed Sewell Park in honor of S. M. Sewell, a mathematics professor who helped form the park. A long time fixture of Sewell Park, local legend Dan Barry, better known as "Frisbee Dan", can be seen on just about any sunny day tossing his frisbee and keeping a watchful eye on the park. The university's Round Rock Campus (RRC) is located in Round Rock, Texas , 20 miles (32 km) north of Austin . Originally known as

9020-630: 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, 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. In 1899, Southwest Texas State Normal School (now known as Texas State University)

9130-473: The school opened its doors to its first enrollment of 303 students in September 1903. In 1912, the San Marcos School Board began a partnership with the school to allow Southwest Texas State Normal School students to instruct local school children as part of their training to become teachers. The San Marcos East End Ward School, comprising the first eight grades of the school district, was moved onto

9240-413: The school was to be located. While there was opposition to the bill, with the support of state senator J.B. Dibrell, it was finally passed and signed into law on May 10, 1899, by Governor Joseph D. Sayers . The school's purpose was to provide manual training and teach domestic sciences and agriculture. Any students earning a diploma and teaching certificate from the school would be authorized to teach in

9350-618: The school's name. In 2013, under the McDaniel-Sibley ASG Administration, Associated Student Government senator Quentin De La Garza continued the efforts to have the name changed. A bill to accomplish that change was passed by the Eighty-third Texas Legislature and signed by the governor. The name was officially changed on September 1, 2013, for the sixth time in the school's history. In the fall of 2019,

9460-526: The seating capacity of the stadium to 30,000, add luxury boxes, improvements to the press box, and replace the visitors' locker room. San Marcos, Texas San Marcos ( / 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 Metropolitan Area . San Marcos's limits extend into Caldwell and Guadalupe counties , as well. San Marcos

9570-580: The second largest spring in the Southwest United States. Faculty from the various college have consistently been awarded Fulbright Scholar grants resulting in Texas State's being recognized as one of the top producing universities of Fulbright Scholars. Approximately 20% of Texas State students live in on-campus or in university-owned housing including about 95% of freshman students. Beginning in August 2012, there were approximately 6,353 beds in

9680-600: The state and 60% of all federal publications. The library also encompasses special collections and papers, including the Wittliff collections ; the largest US repository of contemporary Mexican photography; the King of the Hill archives; major collection of work by Cormac McCarthy , Sam Shepard , and Sandra Cisneros ; and the Lonesome Dove miniseries collection. Sewell Park, located on

9790-513: The state's public schools. In October 1899, the San Marcos City Council voted to donate 11 acres (45,000 m ) of land at what was known as Chautauqua Hill for the school to be built on. It was not until 1901 that the Texas legislature accepted this donation and approved $ 25,000 to be used for construction of buildings on the site. The building now known as Old Main was completed and

9900-541: The student body consists of approximately 55% female students, 80% students who live off-campus, and only 10% students who are members of a fraternity or sorority . In 2011 Texas State University was the 13th best four-year school for veterans according to Military Times EDGE magazine . In 2019 Washington Monthly ranked Texas State as 200th in the nation. Texas State University was included in The Best 386 Colleges: 2021 Edition published by The Princeton Review. In

10010-411: 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

10120-463: The university's effort to reach top-tier status . The ASG further said that donations from the school's alumni would pay for implementing the name change so that state tax dollars would not be required. Some students and alumni protested the change, pointing out that no vote had been taken on the matter. A bill, sponsored by Senator Wentworth, was passed and on September 1, 2003, the school became known as Texas State University–San Marcos . The city

10230-482: The university's free speech zone and was subject to one of the first court challenges to the creation of such zones after the suspension of ten students protesting the Vietnam War . The east end of the Quad rises to the top of the highest hill on campus where the university's oldest building, Old Main, sits. The main campus in San Marcos served as the location of the fictional school TMU (Texas Methodist University) in

10340-459: 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

10450-509: The world. 29°49′36″N 97°59′03″W  /  29.826666°N 97.984162°W  / 29.826666; -97.984162 This article about a United States shopping mall is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a building or structure in Texas is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This tourism-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Texas State University Texas State University ( TXST )

10560-551: The world. Texas State University's intercollegiate sports teams, the Bobcats , compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the Sun Belt Conference . Texas State University was first proposed in a March 3, 1899 bill by state representative Fred Cocke with the name of Southwest Texas State Normal School. Cocke represented the citizens of Hays and surrounding counties where

10670-510: Was 1,907.5 people per square mile, (736.4/km ) in 2000. The 13,340 housing units averaged 732.6 per square mile (282.8/km ). The 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

10780-496: 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. San Marcos

10890-554: Was a yearbook originally called the Pedagogue and later renamed the Pedagog. It was first published in 1904 and served to record each year's events through photographs and articles. It was temporarily discontinued in 1975 due to a combination of the cost to publish the annual and a lack of student interest. It was published again in 1978 as part of the school's seventy-fifth anniversary. In 1984 it resumed regular publication. However, it

11000-725: Was approved by the Texas State University System Regents in May 2011 with a focus on environmental sustainability and biotechnology . The facility is funded through multiple grants including $ 1.8 million from the U.S. Economic Development Administration and $ 4.2 million from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund . The facility will serve as a location for university faculty to perform advanced research and to commercialize that research into startup companies . The Forensic Anthropology Center at Texas State

11110-550: 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. In the 1960s, with the establishment of Aquarena Springs and Wonder World 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, and when coupled with

11220-687: Was designated an emerging research university by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board . To achieve this status a university must spend at least $ 14 million in its research endeavors and either offer at least 10 doctoral degrees or have at least 150 enrolled doctoral students. Texas State has developed a series of 5-year plans that will make it eligible to receive funds from the National Research University Fund (NRUF). One of Texas State's facilities includes its Center for Research Commercialization that

11330-526: 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, 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

11440-478: Was expanded to accommodate 18 buildings around the original Main Building. These buildings included academic buildings, a library, buildings to house the San Marcos school students, dormitories, a dining hall, and men's and women's gymnasiums. In 1926, 90 acres of land adjacent to the San Marcos River was purchased by A. B. Rogers to build a hotel, glass-bottom boat rides and other water-based attractions to become

11550-431: 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

11660-479: Was last published in 2000 after university committees recommended replacing the printed yearbook with a video disk containing the same contents. The annual has since been discontinued entirely. Now called the University Star , it publishes coverage of the college's news, trends, opinions and sports. The newspaper is published on Tuesdays while classes are in session in the fall and spring semesters. The paper

11770-474: Was listed in Business Week ' s fourth annual survey of the "Best Places to Raise your Kids". In 2013 and 2014, the United States Census Bureau named it the fastest-growing city in the United States. In December 2013, it was named number nine on Business Insider ' s list of the "10 Most Exciting Small Cities In America". Archeologists have found evidence at the San Marcos River associated with

11880-698: Was listed in Business Week magazine's fourth annual survey of the "Best Places to Raise your Kids." In 2013 and 2014, the United States Census Bureau named it the fastest-growing city in the United States. In December 2013, it was named #9 on the Business Insider list of the "10 Most Exciting Small Cities In America." The river is a popular recreational area and is frequented by residents and tourists for tubing , canoeing , swimming , and fishing . The Texas Water Safari starts in San Marcos on

11990-402: Was originally given to the winner of the men's basketball game, but that tradition has been expanded to all sporting events between the two schools. Even though the two schools will be moving to different athletic conferences in 2013, Texas State Athletics Director Larry Ties expressed hope that the potential rivalry will still occur. Texas State's only in-state Sun Belt conference rival was

12100-533: Was originally included in the name to differentiate it from other schools in the Texas State University System , which were, at the time, expected to change their names to Texas State University (e.g. Texas State University–Lamar ). Those changes did not occur, however, and after Texas State continued to expand its campus in Round Rock, the university requested that the name of the city be removed from

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