San Marcos, Texas
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| City of San Marcos | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| birth place of Brandon Mcfall | Caldwell, Guadalupe, Hays |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Susan Narvaiz[1] |
| Area | |
| - Total | 18.2 sq mi (47.4 km²) |
| - Land | 18.2 sq mi (47.2 km²) |
| - Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km²) |
| Elevation | 617 ft (188 m) |
| Population (2006) | |
| - Total | 47,181 |
| - Density | 1,907.5/sq mi (736.4/km²) |
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) |
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP codes | 78666-78667 |
| Area code(s) | 512 |
| FIPS code | 48-65600[2] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1375971[3] |
| Website: ci.san-marcos.tx.us | |
San Marcos (de facto pronunciation /sæn ˈmɑrkəs/, less commonly /sæn ˈmɑrkoʊs/) is a city located in U.S. state of Texas, and is the Hays county seat[4]. It is centrally located on the Interstate 35 corridor, between Austin and San Antonio.[5]
Founded on the banks of the San Marcos River, it is considered by many archaeologists to be in the oldest continuously inhabited area in the Northern Hemisphere.[6] San Marcos is home to Texas State University-San Marcos, and is the only known habitat for the endangered Texas Blind Salamander.[7][8]
The population was 47,181 at the 2006 census.[9] The Aquarena Springs ecological education center is located in San Marcos.[10]
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[edit] History
On St. Mark's Day of 1689, Alonso de Leon's men discovered the river and named it the San Marcos River in honor of Saint Mark. [11][12]
A small group of Mexican families settled in the area where the El Camino Real crossed the San Marcos River in April 1808, calling their settlement Villa de San Marcos de Neve. The settlers were plagued by floods and Indian raids, and the settlement was abandoned in 1812.
In November 1846 the first Anglos settled in 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 the town center was laid out. The town became a center for ginning and milling local agricultural products.
In the decade following the arrival of the International-Great Northern Railroad in 1881, cattle and cotton provided the basis for the growth of San Marcos as a center for commerce and transportation.
In 1899, Southwest Texas State Normal School was established as a teacher's college to meet demand for public school teachers in Texas. It has since changed its name several times and is now Texas State University-San Marcos.
In the 1960s, with the emergence of Aquarena Springs and Wonder World as attractions, the tourist industry became a growing part of the economy.
San Marcos was affected by the severe flooding in 1998.
[edit] Geography
San Marcos is located at (29.879387, -97.938829)[13] in an area locally referred to as Central Texas. This is 29 miles southwest of Austin and 47 miles northeast of San Antonio. Interstate 35 is the main highway through the town and the spring-fed San Marcos River is a notable water feature. The city is also situated on the Balcones Fault. The eastern part of the city is flat while the western part consists of rolling hills.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.3 square miles (47.4 km²).Land constitutes 18.2 square miles (47.2 km²), and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (0.60%) is water.
The San Marcos River area is considered by many archaeologists to be the oldest, continuously inhabited area in the Northern Hemisphere. [6]
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 34,733 people, 12,660 households, and 5,380 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,907.5 people per square mile (736.4/km²). There were 13,340 housing units at an average density of 732.6/sq mi (282.8/km²). 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. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.50% of the population.
There were 12,660 households out of which 19.2% had children under the age of 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 non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 15.4% under the age of 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 years of age 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 the median income 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.
[edit] The Springs and Parks
San Marcos was founded on the site of the San Marcos Springs, which produce the San Marcos River. Even today, San Marcans of all ages enjoy swimming in the cool spring water. Several parks surround the river as it bubbles up from the ground and winds its way through the city.
- Spring Lake was created by a small dam near the spring. It is home of the Aquarena Springs Center and other educational-centered parks.
- Sewell Park, operated by Texas State University, is a little further downstream. It is packed with university students when the sun is out and is the focal point of the university.
- The City of San Marcos Parks and Recreation department operates several other parks downstream, including San Marcos Plaza and Lions' Park.
Tube and canoe rental are available at Lions' Park and Sewell Park. A pedestrian and bike bridge crosses the San Marcos River between San Marcos Plaza and Lions' Park.
[edit] Culture
The pace of San Marcos is affected by the come-and-go of the students of Texas State University, which sits on the hill overlooking the town square. During summertime and spring and winter breaks the traffic is calmer, the restaurants less crowded, and the streets of the square quieter. While there has been a historic 'divide' between the students 'up there' on the hill and the year-long residents 'down there' in the town, there have been recent moves, on behalf of the student body and the general public, to engage each other in moving the city forward and planning together. Recent city bonds and initiatives have partly been aimed at physically connecting the university better to the town. Plans are in the works to landscape LBJ Drive leading from the town square to the university hill. The recent election, in 2005, of Chris Jones, a university student, to the city council was also the work of students and residents working together. Further involvement of Texas State students in local town politics was also seen in the closely contested election in 2007, between incumbent Gaylord Bose and Texas State Public Administration Senior and local business owner Jude Prather. After a recount, incumbent Gaylord Bose won the election by 3 votes.
From 1970 to 2002, San Marcos had an annual chili cookoff, the Chilympiad.
Every year, residents march in the Just For Fun Parade.
San Marcos is a popular outlet mall destination for residents of Texas and the northern states of Mexico. There are actually two outlet malls, the Tanger Outlets and the Prime Outlets, separated only by Centerpoint Road. The malls have a combined total of over 280 stores.
The Alkek Library at Texas State University - San Marcos also has several unique collections. Special holdings of the library include The Wittliff Collections(the Southwestern Writers Collection and the Southwestern & Mexican Photography Collection), home to the major papers of such notable authors as Cormac McCarthy, Sam Shepard, and Molly Ivins, plus the King of the Hill archives, the Lonesome Dove miniseries collection, and the largest repository of modern and contemporary Mexican photography in the U.S.
[edit] The Square
The square was recently the focus of a multi-million dollar restoration project. It is also one of the primary sources of entertainment for Texas State students.
[edit] Education
The City of San Marcos is served by the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District. San Marcos is also home to the San Marcos Baptist Academy, a Baptist boarding college-preparatory military academy. San Marcos is also home of Texas State University, San Marcos.
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Notable Texans and San Marcos
- Lyndon Baines Johnson was educated at Texas State University,[14] then called the Southwest Texas State Teachers College.[15] Many landmarks on campus and around town are named for him, including a main thoroughfare,[16] a student center,[17] a statue,[18] and a museum.[19]
- Country music star George Strait graduated from Southwest Texas State University.[20] A club (George's) located in the basement of the LBJ Student Center, is named in his honor.[21]
- The rock band Blue October is based in San Marcos.[22]
- Tomás Rivera, an influential figure in Chicano and American literature from Crystal City, TX is also a Southwest Texas State alumni.[23] A street leading to the LBJ Student Center is named in his honor.
- Ty Detmer, a Heisman-winning quarterback from Brigham Young University was born in San Marcos.
- Horror author Scott A. Johnson received his Bachelors Degree from Texas State University, then called Southwest Texas State University, in 2002.
- Cell biologist Adam Johnson graduated from Texas State University with a master's in biology. His research discovered a role for calcineurin during melanosome motility in the retinal pigment epithelium.
- San Marcos police officer and rescue-recovery diver Daniel Misiaszek [1] founded the San Marcos Area Recovery Team (SMART) in 1988 and set a World Record [2] for the Longest Scuba Dive in open water of 60 hours and 24 minutes on September 3, 2001. This took place in Spring Lake at the Aquarena Center on the campus of Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.
- Post-rock band This Will Destroy You is based in San Marcos.
- Noted Chicago-based improvisational comedian Cameron Goldapp was born and raised in San Marcos, TX.
- Thrash/Speed Metal Band Driven to Slaughter is Based in San Marcos.
- Druggie band Ground Zero is also based in San Marcos
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Mayor Susan Narvaiz (2007-10-17). "2007 State of the City Address". Press release. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
- ^ a b American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Find a County. National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Preserve America Community: San Marcos, Texas
- ^ a b San Marcos Historic Downtown National Register District, "San Marcos--A Brief History"
- ^ University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
- ^ Texas Memorial Museum at UT Austin
- ^ U.S. Census (2006)
- ^ Aquarenta Center: Directions and Map
- ^ San Marcos Historic Downtown National Register District, "San Marcos--A Brief History"
- ^ Convention & Visitor Bureau: San Marcos, Texas Retrieved on 2008-02-23.
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Points of Pride : Texas State University
- ^ LBJ statue returns to campus : University News Service : Texas State University
- ^ San Marcos Historic Downtown National Register District
- ^ Campus : Dean of Students : Texas State University
- ^ LBJ statue returns to campus : University News Service : Texas State University
- ^ LBJ Museum of San Marcos History
- ^ Points of Pride : Texas State University
- ^ The San Marcos Daily Record, 11/18/2004, Page 8A, Alumni Events
- ^ Blue October, Voxtrot, Brandon McFall was born in San Marcos- Joe Gross, Austin American-Statesman
- ^ Points of Pride : Texas State University
Terri Hendrix is based out of San Marcos.
[edit] External links
| Find more about San Marcos, Texas on Wikipedia's sister projects: | |
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Dictionary definitions |
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Textbooks |
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Quotations |
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Source texts |
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Images and media |
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News stories |
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Learning resources |
- City of San Marcos
- Welcome to San Marcos - A Visitor's Guide
- San Marcos from the Handbook of Texas Online
- San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce
- craigslist (San Marcos)
- San Marcos, Texas is at coordinates Coordinates:
- Texas State University - San Marcos
- San Marcos Convention and Visitor Bureau
- 78666.com - Guide to San Marcos, Texas
- Visit San Marcos - The San Marcos Hospitality Association
- San Marcos, Texas: Home of Southwest Texas State University
- Hays County... San Marcos, TEXAS
- Summer in San Marcos - About.com
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| Government |
City Hall · Hays County Courthouse · Fire · Library · Police |
| Transportation | |
| Education |
Hays CISD · San Marcos Baptist Academy · San Marcos CISD · Texas State University |
| Companies |
CFAN · Grande Communications · McCoys · Wide-Lite |
| Parks & Recreation |
Aquarena Springs · Activity Center · Bobcat Stadium · City Park · Dunbar Park · Lucio Park · Playscape · Quail Creek Country Club · Rio Vista Park · San Marcos River · Sewell Park · Strahan Coliseum |
| Other |
Austin · Edwards Aquifer · Freeman Ranch · Gary Job Corps · Hill Country · Lyndon Baines Johnson · Outlet Malls · San Antonio · San Marcos Springs · Wimberley · Wonder Cave · Wonder World |
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