Community Demographics

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Quality of Life | Government | Utilities | Transportation | Major Employers & Manufacturers
Additional Resources | San Marcos Manufacturers' Association

San Marcos is a thriving city that welcomes new employers and has the resources to help new and expanding businesses succeed. With lower taxes than nearby cities, San Marcos helps companies control costs while taking advantage of a prime location along the Austin-San Antonio corridor. Local utilities are reliable, competitively priced, and willing to negotiate service agreements with large commercial and industrial customers. Communication and transportation infrastructure are in place to serve an extensive array of business needs.

Quality of Life

San Marcos is located at the heart of the advanced technology corridor linking Austin and San Antonio, and offers a high quality of life, with access to a rich array of natural resources, recreational opportunities and cultural amenities.

The spring-fed San Marcos River meanders through the city between park-lined banks. Picnic areas, recreation buildings, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis courts, baseball fields, and one of the nation's largest wooden playscapes dot the nine city parks. The river is also a focus for swimming, canoeing, tubing, fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling. While nearby lakes are ideal for sailing, power boating and wind surfing. San Marcos' mild climate lets enthusiasts pursue golf, tennis, cycling, fishing, and other activities throughout the year. Live music, performing arts and cultural exhibits are also plentiful.

Visitors and residents also enjoy annual special events such as Summerfest, Summer in the Park and Sights & Sounds, a festive display of Christmas lights along the banks of the river in December.

Last Updated June 2009
(*Data provdided by www.wunderground.com & www.citytowninfo.com)

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Government

The expansion of the economic base in San Marcos and Hays County is a direct result of the aggressive, pro-business attitudes of local government, which has led to a win-win relationship between the community and companies wishing to do business here.

• San Marcos is a home-rule city with a council/manager form of government. The six council members and mayor are elected at large and hire the city manager, who serves as chief administrative officer. The city is committed to the promotion of quality development in all parts of the community while maintaining its beautiful natural resources and exceptional quality of life.
• San Marcos is the county seat of Hays County. The Hays County Commission consists of a county judge, elected at large, and four commissioners, elected by precincts.
• Both the City of San Marcos and Hays County are recognized for their fiscal responsibility and have positive bond ratings.

Last updated June 2009

Government Links

• City of San Marcos
• Greater San Marcos Partnership (Economic Development)
• Hays County
• Texas House of Representatives
• Texas Senate
• State of Texas
• US Government
• US House of Representatives
• US Senate

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Utilities

An independent comparison of 14 Texas cities shows that San Marcos is consistently competitive in combined utility and property tax rates for residential, small, medium and large commercial and industrial service.

• San Marcos Electric Utility is a municipally owned utility serving approximately 20,000 residential and commercial customers in its 15-square-mile jurisdiction. The utility has maintained a 99.99% reliability rating since 1983. The utility offers competitive rates and works with prospective industrial and commercial customers to estimate their potential demand and its cost. It also offers conservation rates such as time-of-day demand management, energy audits and a lighting rebate program.
• Pedernales Electric Coop and Bluebonnet Electric Coop supply electricity to some of the surrounding area. Both utilities work with prospects to negotiate large commercial and industrial rates.
• The City of San Marcos recognizes the vital role water plays in our community's future and has taken a leadership role in providing a safe, secure supply. The city currently has available 11,183 acre feet or 9.98 mgd for use. Average daily consumption is 6.6 mgd, with a peak of 10.2mgd.
• The City of San Marcos has a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility in operation 24 hours a day. The facility is permitted to treat 9 mgd, but peak load has never exceeded 6.8 mgd. The city performs continual tests to ensure that only high quality treated water is released back into the San Marcos River.
• Water rates are based on the water meter size and usage. Charges for use over 25,000 gallons is higher in May-October than in November-April. The minimum bill for a 2-inch meter and 13,000 gallon consumption is $121.44. Minimum wastewater rate for a 2-inch meter and 13,000 gallon use is $143.33.
• The City of San Marcos Public Works Industrial Pre-Treatment Program requires compliance with the federal Clean Water Act. The program samples industrial and commercial customs for conventional pollutant content, with a surcharge provided for levels above residential waste. Waste discharges are monitored from industrial customers who have been issued waste discharge permits.
• Solid waste disposal is handled through landfill and recycling.
• Reliant Energy Entex is the area's major supplier of natural gas.

Last Updated June 2009

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Transportation

San Marcos is at the crossroads of Texas' expanding economy. Located on Interstate 35, the central avenue for trade between Canada, the United States and Mexico, San Marcos is only minutes away from Interstate 10, the vital transportation link between the east and west coasts. San Marcos' strategic location is ideal for the economical distribution of goods and services.

Area Airports

San Marcos Airport, San Marcos Municipal Airport is centrally located near Interstate 35, just three miles from downtown San Marcos, Texas, 25 miles from the State Capitol of Austin and 45 miles from San Antonio. The airport is popular among pilots, with its three asphalt runways, each more than a mile in length and aligned in a way that virtually eliminates crosswind operations.

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, located 30 miles north of San Marcos, has approximately 240 daily flights and is served by Air Canada, American Airline, Continental, Delta, Frontier, Jet Blue, Northwest, Southwest, United, and US Ariways.

San Antonio International Airport, located 45 miles south of San Marcos, has approximately 260 domestic and international flights daily and is served by Aerolitoral, Aeromexico,AirTran, American Airlines, Continental, Continental Express, Delta, Delta Connection Carriers, Frontier, Mexicana, Northwest, Southwest, Sky West, Spirit, United, and US Airways.

Rail Service

Union Pacific Railroad serves San Marcos with an average of 20 trains per day, north and southbound. Union Pacific is one of the few U.S. rail lines that interchange cars with both Canadian and Mexican rail lines. Piggyback and switching services are available in nearby San Antonio. Amtrak provides four northbound and four southbound trains through San Marcos each week.

Bus Lines

Greyhound Bus Lines, Inc., provides inter-city service to and from San Marcos.

Texas State University provides transportation for students and staff.

The San Marcos Transit System, or SMT, is a public fixed-route bus system, operating weekday hourly service and services every other hour on Saturdays.

Taxi, Automobile Rental & Leasing Service

Twenty-four hour taxi service, automobile rental and leasing is available.

Motor Freight Carriers

There are three motor freight terminals in San Marcos and several motor freight carriers.

Small Package & Air Cargo Services

Shippers can choose from among more than a dozen companies serving the San Marcos area.

• Action Air Freight
• Airborne Express
• Berry Aviation
• Federal Express
• TWA Air Cargo
• Emery Worldwide
• United Parcel Service
• Continental Airlines Air Cargo
• American Airlines Air Cargo
• U.S. Postal Service Express Mail
• DHL
• Delta Air Cargo
• Burlington Air
• Aero Pak
• Seko Air FRT

Last Updated June 2009

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Major Employers & Manufacturers

Last Updated June 2009

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Additional Resources

2010 Census Information

Business Resources

Economic Development

San Marcos Manufacturers' Association