Hays County’s history reflects deep Native American roots, Spanish exploration, early Texan settlement, and rapid modern growth. Its development was shaped by its strategic location, fertile land, and the influence of notable figures such as its namesake, Captain John Coffee Hays of the Texas Rangers.

Hays was created from Travis County in 1848, which was taken from Bastrop in 1840. So ... if you are looking for information prior to 1848, please take a look at Travis or Bastrop counties.

San Marcos, on the southeast county line, is the county seat. Orginally a mostly college town, Hays has more than doubled its population within the last 20 years. The Southwest Texas State Normal School was created in San Marcos in 1899 and evolved into Southwest Texas State University and then joined with Texas State University. Hays County is also known for the Edwards Aquifer - underlying the eastern area, where San Marcos Springs, the second largest in Texas, delivers about 160 cubic feet of water per second. (Comal Springs in New Braunfels (about 20 miles southwest) is the largest.)