• The area now known as Hays County has been inhabited for thousands of years, with evidence of Paleo-Indian presence dating back at least 8,000 years near San Marcos Springs. By around 1200 AD, Tonkawa Indians were practicing agriculture in the region [1] [2] .
Spanish and Early European Exploration
• Spanish explorers and missionaries traversed the area in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Notable expeditions included those led by Domingo Terán de los Ríos in 1691 and the Espinosa-Olivares-Aguirre expedition in 1709. A mission named San Marcos was authorized in 1729 but never established, and brief settlements such as San Xavier Mission and San Francisco Xavier Presidio appeared in the mid-1750s [1] [2] .
Early Settlement and Land Grants
• Permanent European settlement was limited until the early 19th century. After Mexico gained independence, land grants were issued to settlers such as Juan Martín Veramendi (1831), Juan Vicente Campos (1832), and Thomas Jefferson Chambers (1834). The first Anglo-American settler, Thomas G. McGehee, received a land grant in 1835 [1] [2] .
County Formation and Growth
• Hays County was officially created from Travis County on March 1, 1848, and named after Captain John Coffee "Jack" Hays, a famous Texas Ranger and Mexican–American War officer. San Marcos was designated as the county seat [2] [1] [3] .
• Early communities developed along rivers and creeks, with San Marcos as the only town at first. The first census in 1850 recorded 387 residents; by 1860, the population had grown to over 2,100 [3] [1] .
• The county's boundaries changed slightly in the 1850s with the creation of Blanco County and the addition of land from Comal County [1] .
Development and Modern Era
• Hays County prospered after the Civil War, especially with the arrival of the railroad in 1881, which spurred economic growth and population increases [3] .
• By the 21st century, Hays County became one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States, with a population of over 241,000 as of the 2020 census [2] .
Summary
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 like Jack Hays.
1 https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/hays-county
2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hays_County,_Texas
3 http://www.hayshistoricalcommission.com/history.html
The origins of Dripping Springs, Texas can be traced back to the arrival of its first settlers. The first documented settler is believed to have been a man named Fawcett, who arrived in 1849. In 1853, three families, who were related through kinship, migrated from Mississippi to Texas. They traveled in wagons and settled in an area now known as Wallace Mountain, which was then considered part of the territory, despite being 30 miles from Texas. The area was primarily inhabited by Native Americans, and the three families, consisting of John L. Moss and his wife Indiana “Nannie,” Dr. Joseph McKegg and his wife Sarah, and John Lee Wallace and his wife Malvina, built their homes there. In 1857, John Moss was appointed as the first postmaster and the community needed a name for the post office.
In 1824, Dr. J. M. Pound built what is now known as the Dr. Pound Pioneer Farmstead Historical Museum. The family operated the farm for over 130 years, and it also functioned as a hospital and church. The property was eventually donated to the city as a museum. Dr. Pound was one of the first doctors in Hays County. The home underwent restoration and was completed in 2003. The museum is free to the public, and tours are available on select days. The building is an important piece of the history of Dripping Springs, Texas.
A historical walk down Mercer Street - produced by The Pound House Farmstead Museum.