A Condensed History of San Marcos, Texas
The city of San Marcos is near a trail once known as El Camino Real, which crosses the river about three miles southeast of downtown. The name for the river originated when Spanish Colonial empires extended the mission system into Texas in the 1700’s.
A short-lived town, known as San Marcos de Neve, was attempted from 1808 to 1812 at El Camino Real. San Marcos de Neve was established late in the time of Spanish rule and vanished because of the Mexican revolution from Spain.
Though an outpost was established near the head of the springs in 1840, settlers did not arrive until 1845 after Texas became a part of the United States. Among the first settlers to arrive in 1845, were Dr. Eli T. Merriman, William W. Moon, and Mike Sessom. In 1851, William Lindsey, Edward Burleson and Eli T. Merriman bought the Juan Martin de Veramendi land and established the town of San Marcos.
When the county, named for Colonel John Coffee Hays, was established in 1848, San Marcos became the county seat. Hays was a noted Indian fighter and Texas Ranger. During his reign as vice-president of the Republic, General Edward Burleson encouraged settlers from Bastrop to move near the San Marcos River. But the town developed when caravans arrived from both Mississippi and Georgia after 1852. More growth came with the arrival of dislocated southerners after the Civil War. San Marcos became a cotton-producing center and flourished at the turn of the century with the prosperity of the cotton era.
San Marcos, from the beginning, has had education facilities. The Coronal Institute was a private school that became a Methodist District High School in 1875. Townspeople established the San Marcos Baptist Academy in 1907, which is still in existence today. A Normal School for teacher training was established in 1888, which later became the present day Texas State University - San Marcos.
San Marcos has been honored with listings in the National Register of Historic Places due to restoration and preservation of significant late nineteenth and early twentieth century buildings. The two National Register Historic Districts within San Marcos are the downtown district and the San Antonio and Belvin Streets residential district.
In 1986 the town became a Texas Main Street City, a national project in which Texas excels by concentrating on revitalizing downtown areas of small towns. Buildings around and including the courthouse have been restored, adding greatly to the appearance of the town square.
Along the river walk, at the corner of C.M. Allen Parkway and Hopkins Street, is the Charles S. Cock House Museum. This charming 1867 building is the showplace of city parkland and is where the Heritage Association Tours of Distinction begin. These tours are held annually the first weekend of May.
Living History Trolley Tours of San Marcos are available the first Saturday of the month. The trolley departs from Tanger Outlet Center, to Aquarena, and then through the historic districts of San Marcos. Private Tours of Old San Marcos are also conducted by reservation.
