Vision San Marcos Comprehensive Plan

EX I ST ING CONDI T IONS San Marcos entered the 20th century with the

a more natural state through university endeavors.

Other popular attractions include Wonder World,

the San Marcos River, and historic buildings in the

founding of Southwest Texas State Normal

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

downtown area.

School in 1899. In 2003, Texas State University-

The 1,350-acre San Marcos Municipal

San Marcos acquired its current name, reflective

• EXISTING CONDITIONS

Airport was deeded to the City by the Federal

of the school’s expanded scope and mission. In

Government, and today the airport has become

2012 the University’s enrollment was estimated

• EMPLOYMENT

a distinct economic development asset. By

at approximately 34,000 students. Texas State is

PROJECTIONS & EMPLOYMENT CENTERS

the 1980’s, San Marcos had gained a strong

the largest employer and an economic engine for

industrial employment sector. In the early 1990s,

San Marcos and the entire region. Partnering with

• STRATEGIES OF THE CORE 4 COLLABORATION

the San Marcos Premium Outlets and San

Texas State University utilizing the city’s resources

Marcos Tanger Outlets began operations. During

will create an economic stimulus.

peak seasons, shoppers at the hundreds of stores

• FIGURES APPENDIX:

The tourism industry began in 1928 with the

in the outlet center triple the population of the

construction of the Spring Lake Hotel near the

Employment Density

City of San Marcos.

headwaters of the San Marcos River; at its peak,

Aquarena Springs attracted approximately

250,000 visitors annually. The property was

purchased by the university in 1991 and in 2012

the grounds around Spring Lake were returned to