County Founding

Hays County was carved from Travis County in 1848

The Texas Legislature created Hays County on March 1, 1848, and named San Marcos as the county seat from the start.

Hays County was formed from land that was part of Travis County. The legislature organized it on March 1, 1848. San Marcos became the county seat at that time, when the area already had several hundred residents.

The county is named after John Coffee Hays, a Texas Ranger who led patrols in the region before statehood. The county spans about 693 square miles in south-central Texas, roughly 23 miles southwest of Austin. The Balcones Escarpment cuts across the county, creating Hill Country terrain in the northwest and flatter farmland in the southeast.

Source to confirm: Handbook of Texas — Hays County

More Hays County notes

Property Tax Basics

Two offices handle your property taxes in Hays County

Hays County splits property tax duties between two separate offices, and knowing which one to call saves time.

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Homestead Exemption

Filing a homestead exemption lowers your tax bill in Hays County

If you own and live in your Hays County home, you can file for a homestead exemption to reduce what you owe in property taxes.

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Tax Payment Deadline

Pay your Hays County property taxes by January 31 to avoid penalties

Property tax bills in Hays County arrive in the fall, and January 31 is the last day to pay without extra fees.

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Agricultural Valuation

Farmland in Hays County can be taxed at a much lower rate through ag valuation

Land used for farming or ranching in Hays County may qualify for a special lower tax rate based on what the land can produce, not what it sells for.

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