The
center of the Courthouse National Register District, this 1909 Texas landmark has been
restored to its original style and grace with copper dome, mosaic rotunda tiles and
historic court room. The Hays County Courthouse square was placed on the National Register
of Historic Places in 1992. The historic Square achieves significance for its rich and
varied architecture. Relatively uniform in size, these buildings typify the Central Texas
Courthouse Square with vernacular variations of popular commercial architectural styles,
including High Victorian Italianate, Beaux Arts, Commercial Style and other influences.
The
discovery of an unusual river by a Alonso de Leon's men on St. Mark's Day in 1689 prompted
the name of the river San Marcos in honor of the patron saint. Villa San Marcos de Neve
was established in 1808 by colonists from Mexico. Due to devastating floods and repeated
Indian raids, the settlement was abandoned in 1812. Juan Martin de Veramendi, later
governor of Mexico's Texas, received a "two league" grant of land on the River.
This land later became the heart of the town of San Marcos. The town was laid out in 1851
and incorporated in 1877. The unique San Marcos River area is considered by many to be the
oldest, continuously inhabited area in the Northern Hemisphere. Hays County was created in
1848 and named in honor of Capt. Jack C. Hays, a noted Indian fighter and Texas Ranger.
