Hays County Courthouse Historic District

Around the 1908 Hays County Courthouse in the heart of San Marcos lies a compact district of commercial buildings covering parts of seven city blocks. The three-story, brick Classical Revival courthouse, designed by Austin architects C.H. Page & Brothers, rises above one- and two-story storefronts. Most of these are masonry buildings with zero lot lines and uniform setbacks. The earliest are vernacular limestone structures from the late 19th century, and later buildings show cast iron fronts, pressed metal, classical columns and Prairie School influences. Of 41 resources, 26 contribute to the district's character, including a 1907 Confederate monument on the courthouse lawn. Fifteen do not, either because they are recent or because alterations such as aluminum false fronts hide their original features. Some could be reclassified if restored. The district was recognized for its architecture, with a period of significance running from 1879 to 1942, and it is the most intact historic commercial area in the community.