San Marcos, Texas
San Marcos, Texas is between Austin and San Antonio on Interstate 35 in central Texas. San Marcos is the county seat of Hays County. The 2009 San Marcos population of 49,565 (U.S. Census) was a 45.1% increase from the year 2000. A September 2010 Austin Business Journal article called San Marcos “the fastest growing city south of Austin.”
Founded in 1851 and incorporated in 1877, historic San Marcos has several museums and four historic districts that preserve their rich history. The beautifully restored 1909 Hays County Courthouse and the Lyndon Baines Johnson Museum of San Marcos are two of San Marcos' most impressive historic buildings.
The Tanger Outlet Center and Prime Outlets San Marcos, adjacent to each other along Interstate Highway 35, are not only regional attractions for bargain shoppers, but also these two outlet malls combined employ over 3,500 people. The San Marco Economic Development Corporation lists the outlets as the top private employers in San Marcos, followed by Hunter Industries, HEB Distribution Center, and Wal-Mart.
With a staff of over 700 employees, the Central Texas Medical Center provides a wide range of healthcare services in San Marcos and neighboring communities. The medical center features a Level IV Emergency and Trauma Center for people with serious injuries.
The San Marcos River meanders through San Marcos and is the focus of many recreation activities. Swimming, tubing, canoeing, kayaking and even snorkeling and scuba diving are possible in the crystal clear river. Community events are regularly staged throughout the year in San Marcos including the Central Texas Golf Fest in April, Cinco de Mayo and Texas Natural Western Swing Festival in May, Texas Water Safari in June, and the Sights and Sounds of Christmas in December.
District courts are the primary trial courts in Texas as state trial courts of general jurisdiction. The Texas Constitution also provides for a county court in each of Texas's 254 counties. Each county in Texas is divided according to population into at least one and not more than eight justice precincts.
All District Court trials in Hays County are conducted at the Hays County Criminal Justice Center. Hays County is served by the 22nd Judicial District, 207th Judicial District, 274th Judicial District, and the 428th Judicial District.
Justice courts generally have exclusive jurisdiction of civil matters, including personal injury lawsuits, only when the amount in controversy does not exceed $200. Generally, the county courts have concurrent jurisdiction with justice courts in civil cases where the matter in controversy exceeds $200 but does not exceed $10,000 and concurrent jurisdiction with the district courts in civil cases where the matter in controversy exceeds $500 but does not exceed $5,000. The district courts have jurisdiction in civil matters with a minimum monetary limit but no maximum limit. The fourteen Texas Courts of Appeals handle most of Texas ‘civil appeals from the district and county-level courts, while the Texas Supreme Court has statewide, final appellate jurisdiction in most civil cases.
The Guide to Texas Legislative Information provides brief definitions of terms associated with the legislative process to help you understand the terms you may hear in court.
