Quality of Life
The clear, spring-fed San Marcos River meanders through the city and is the focus of many of the city's recreation activities. Local museums and four historic districts preserve the city's rich history. The Downtown Historic District offers a potpourri of shops and a variety of clubs and restaurants. Dance, theater, sports events, art exhibits and concerts are regularly staged throughout the community.
Also calling San Marcos home are the internationally recognized Tanger Outlet Center and Prime Outlets San Marcos. Situated adjacent to each other on over 200 acres along Interstate Highway 35, these two outlet malls combined house more than 200 retail outlets and numerous restaurants are located on separate "pad" sites. Together the two outlet malls employ over 3,500 people and attract over 6 million shoppers annually.
A variety of special annual events include the Central Texas Golf Fest in April, Cinco de Mayo and Texas Natural Western Swing Festival in May, Texas Water Safari in June, and the Sights and Sounds of Christmas in December.
Educated Workforce
Educational opportunities abound in the San Marcos area, with 24 colleges and universities located within a 50-mile radius, providing an educated workforce with broad-based knowledge and skills. San Marcos is home to Texas State University-San Marcos. The university, founded in 1903, has grown into a major interdisciplinary university with an enrollment of over 27,000. Texas State has produced a number of highly successful graduates, including the late President Lyndon B. Johnson.
The San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District educates more than 7,200 students on ten campuses, and a number of private schools and academies are located in the area. Also found in Hays County are the Hays, Dripping Springs, and Wimberley Independent School Districts. The Gary Job Corps Center is the largest Job Corps center in the country with an enrollment of up to 1,900 students between the ages of 16 and 24. Located on an 800-acre campus just outside of the City, Gary Job Corps provides instruction in 25 vocational trades. |
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Transportation Availability
San Marcos is conveniently located on Interstate Highway 35, which is the central avenue for trade between Canada, the United States, and Mexico. San Marcos is also only minutes away from Interstate Highway 10, the vital transportation link between the east and west coasts. Three motor freight carrier terminals are located in San Marcos serving several motor freight lines. Bus service is provided by Greyhound Lines, Inc.
San Marcos has expansive rail service offering both cargo and passenger service. Union Pacific Railroad operates one of the nation's major rail-freight systems, linking the Pacific Coast and the Texas Gulf Coast with other major U. S. cities. San Marcos has two rail sidings for shipping and receiving cargo and piggyback and switching services are available in nearby San Antonio. Amtrak provides weekly San Marcos stops for passenger trains that run north and south from Chicago to Laredo. Passengers needing to travel east and west can transfer in San Antonio to reach their destinations.
San Marcos is proud of its Municipal Airport, located three miles from downtown San Marcos. The airport offers four runways, ranging from 5,500 to 6,300 feet in length. All are 100 or more feet wide and are maintained to FAA standards. To meet the needs of the international marketer, a foreign trade zone has been established at the airport.
Scheduled commercial air transportation services are available at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, located only 30 miles away, or the San Antonio International Airport situated 45 miles to the south.
San Marcos Incentives
The City of San Marcos has partnered with new and existing businesses to help facilitate the expansion or renovation of existing structures and to build new facilities. The City offers various types of incentives that are designed to help fill a financial gap associated with a small business development or to help attract a large employee-intensive development to expand or locate in San Marcos. The City remains committed to working with private development on projects that will generate economic growth and jobs for the region. |
