San Marcos is a city in Texas, and it is the county seat of Hays County. It is situated within the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metropolitan area. San Marcos is founded on the banks of San Marcos River and is considered as one of the continuously inhabited sites in the United States. San Marcos is home to the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment and Texas State University.

In 2010, San Marcos was named as one of the “Best Places to Raise your Kids” in Business Week’s fourth annual survey. The United States Census Bureau hailed San Marcos as the fastest growing city in the United States in 2013 and 2014. In this article, we will know more about the history of San Marcos and the places you need to see while you’re there.

History of San Marcos, Texas

In 1689, a Spaniard named Alonso de Leon led an expedition from Mexico to Texas. They established presidios and missions in the region. De Leon and his men helped power the Camino Real, which is later known as the Old San Antonio Road. This is followed by present-day Hopkin Street, Hunter Road, and Aquarena Springs Drive.

A small group of Mexican families built a community at the Old Bastrop Highway crossing of the river in 1808. They decided to name their community Villa de San Marcos de Neve. However, the settlement got plagued by Indian raids and floods. That is why it got abandoned in 1812.

In 1846, the first English people settled near the vicinity of the San Marcos Springs. In March 1848, the Texas Legislature organized Hays County and named San Marcos as the county seat. Three years later, San Marcos became a center for ginning cotton and milling local agricultural products. The town’s most memorable founder and early settler was a man named Gen. Edward Burleson, who also happens to be a hero of the Texas Revolution as well as the ex-vice president of the Republic of Texas. Ged. In 1949, Gen. Edward Burleson built a dam on the upper reaches of the river, which managed to power several mills, including the present-day Sewell Park.

After the establishment of the International-Great Northern Railroad in September 1880, cotton and cattle became the stepping stone for San Marcos to be a center for transportation and commerce.

From 1866, schools such as the Coronal Institute, Southwest Texas State Normal School (Texas State University), and the San Marcos Baptist Academy was established. World War II helped San Marcos’ industry to diversify because the manufacturing and light industrial sector opened in the city, and it began to experience growth.

Since then, the town has thrived and flourished, becoming one of the model cities in Texas. Their population and economy continue to grow, and the culture in the city continues to diversify.

Places to Go and Things to Do in San Marcos, Texas

• Experience the San Marcos River

  The San Marcos River has a crystal-clear spring-fed waterway that retains 72 degrees Fahrenheit degrees all throughout the year. That is why it is a popular recreation location for locals and tourists alike. You can hop into the river if you want a refreshing swim, try stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, or just cast a fishing line and enjoy the view. You can try and explore the San Marcos River.

• Shop your heart out at San Marcos’ Outlet Malls

  if you enjoy hunting for bargains, San Marcos is the perfect place for you. This city has two outlet malls with over 240 name brands as well as luxury stores. Tanger Outlets and San Marcos Premium Outlets has about 1.2 million square feet of retail space, making it the most extensive outlet shopping in the United States. Most of the stores here offer their products at a discount. That is why you should expect to leave with a handful of shopping bags. Aside from that, you can also choose from an extensive selection of sit-down and fast-food restaurants.

• Taste some local wines

  the Texas Hill Country is known for its craft breweries and wineries. That is why San Marcos is no exception. This town has about five craft breweries that offer their own version of today’s most famous wine and beer types. If you are in downtown San Marcos, then we highly suggest that you check out Sean Patrick’s brewery, Hops and Grain, and AquaBrew. If you are willing to go for add drive to taste some local wines in San Marcos, you should head on to Roughhouse Brewing and Middleton Brewing. So whether you just want to taste some wine or if you are a wine enthusiast, we guarantee you that you will find something to satisfy your taste buds while you are in San Marcos.

• Explore Wonder World Park

  Aside from its charming towns and best-tasting wines, San Marcos is also known to have a vast cave system that you can explore. One of the oldest caves is Wonder World Park, which is a one-of-kind theme park wherein you can see a lot of unique attractions. You can go on a one and a half guided tour of the cave to go and see fossilized prehistoric creatures. Aside from that, the park also has a 110-foot-tall observation tower with a front-row seat of a breathtaking panoramic view.