Hays County, Texas

{{Short description|County in Texas, United States}} {{redirect-distinguish|Hays County|Hayes County, Nebraska}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Hays County | state = Texas | seal = | founded = 1848 | seat wl = San Marcos | largest city wl = San Marcos | area_total_sq_mi = 680 | area_land_sq_mi = 678 | area_water_sq_mi = 1.9 | area percentage = 0.3 | census yr = 2020 | pop = 241067 | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | population_est = 304390 {{gain}} <ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 16, 2026}}</ref> | density_sq_mi = auto | ex image = Hays courthouse.jpg | ex image size = 250 | ex image cap = Hays County Courthouse, built in 1908 using the eclectic style of architecture | website = {{Official URL}} | time zone = Central | district = 21st | district2 = 35th | named for = John Coffee Hays }} [[Image:Hays County Annex Bldg. San Marcos, TX IMG 4114.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Hays County Annex Building across from the courthouse in San Marcos]] thumb|200px|right|Hays County Veterans Monument in San Marcos

'''Hays County''' is a county in the central portion of the U.S. state of Texas.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.texasranger.org/texas-ranger-museum/hall-of-fame/john-coffee-jack-hays/ | title=John Coffee "Jack" Hays }}</ref> It is part of the Austin-Round Rock metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, its official population had reached 241,067.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hays County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US48209|website=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref> The county seat is San Marcos.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Hays, along with Comal and Kendall Counties, was listed in 2017 as one of the nation's fastest-growing counties with a population of at least 10,000. From 2015 to 2016, Hays County, third on the national list, had nearly 10,000 new residents during the year.<ref>Zeke MacCormack, "Folks flocking to area counties: Kendall, Comal, and Hays are on the top 10 list", ''San Antonio Express-News'', March 24, 2017, pp. 1, A11.</ref>

The county is named for John Coffee Hays, a Texas Ranger and Mexican–American War officer who fought the Texas- Comanche wars of the 1800s.

==History== Hays County has been inhabited for thousands of years. Evidence of Paleo-Indians found in the region goes as far back as 6000 BC.<ref name="Hays County, Texas">{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hch11|title=Hays County, Texas|last=Cecil|first=Paul F|author2=Greene, Daniel P|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=December 1, 2010}}</ref> Archeological evidence of native agriculture goes back to 1200 AD. The earliest Europeans to arrive in the area were explorers and missionaries from the Spanish Empire. Father Isidro Félix de Espinosa, Father Antonio de San Buenaventura y Olivares, and Pedro de Aguirre traveled through the area in 1709.<ref>{{cite book|title=Spanish Expeditions into Texas, 1689-1768|last=Foster|first=William C|publisher=University of Texas Press|year=1995|isbn=978-0-292-72489-1|page=117}}</ref> A few years later, French-Canadian Louis Juchereau de St. Denis was attacked by Comanches in 1714.<ref>{{cite book|title=The French Thorn: Rival Explorers in the Spanish Sea, 1682-1762|last=Weddle|first=Robert S|publisher=TAMU Press|year=1991|isbn=978-0-89096-480-4|page=200}}</ref> More permanent European influence was established in 1755, when the Mission San Francisco Xavier de los Dolores was established among the Apache tribe.<ref>{{cite book|title=The First Catholics of the United States|last=Arias|first=David|publisher=lulu.com|year=2009|isbn=978-0-557-07527-0|pages=180–181}}{{self-published source|date=October 2020}}</ref>{{self-published inline|date=February 2020}} In 1831, Coahuila y Tejas<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/usc01|title=Coahuila and Tejas|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=December 1, 2010}}</ref> issued a land grant to Juan Martín de Veramendi,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fve06|title=Juan Martín de Veramendi|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=December 1, 2010}}</ref> to Juan Vicente Campos in 1832,<ref name="Hays County, Texas" /> and to Thomas Jefferson Chambers in 1834.<ref name="Hays County, Texas" /> The Mexican government issued a land grant to the first Anglo-American settler in the county, Thomas G. McGhee of Tennessee, in 1835.<ref name="Hays County, Texas" />

On March 1, 1848, the legislature formed Hays County from Travis County. The county is named for Tennessee native Captain John Coffee Hays<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|author=Gannett, Henry|publisher=Govt. Print. Off.|year=1905|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n152 153]}}</ref> of the Texas Rangers. San Marcos was named as the county seat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasHillCountryTowns/SanMarcosTexas/SanMarcosTexas.htm|title=San Marcos, Texas|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=December 1, 2010}}</ref> The legislature established Blanco from part of Hays in 1858, but incorporated part of Comal into Hays. Risher and Hall Stage Lines controlled 16 of 31 passenger and mail lines in Texas.<ref name="Hays County, Texas" />

In 1861, voters in the county favored secession from the Union.<ref name="Hays County, Texas" /> The next year, the state legislature transferred more of Comal County to Hays County.<ref name="Hays County, Texas" /> In 1867, the first cattle drive from Hays County to Kansas occurred.<ref name="Hays County, Texas" />

The International-Great Northern Railroad was completed from Austin to San Marcos in 1880.<ref name="Hays County, Texas" /> Camp Ben McCulloch, named after a brigadier general, was organized in 1896 for reunions of United Confederate Veterans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/voc01|title=Camp Ben Mcculloch|last=Winfrey|first=Dorman|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=December 1, 2010}}</ref> A teacher's college, Southwest Texas State Normal School, was established in San Marcos in 1899.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.txstate.edu/about/index.html|title=San Marcos Campus|publisher=Texas State University|access-date=December 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212143933/http://www.txstate.edu/about/index.html|archive-date=February 12, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Wonder Cave opened to the public in 1900.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wonderworldpark.com/|title=Wonder World Park|access-date=December 1, 2010}}</ref> The current Hays County Courthouse in San Marcos was erected in 1908 in Beaux-Arts style by architect C.H. Page and Bros.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasHillCountryTowns/SanMarcosTexas/HaysCountyCourthouseSanMarcosTexas.htm|title=Hays County Courthouse|work=Texas Escapes|publisher=Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC|access-date=December 1, 2010}}</ref> The Aquarena Springs tourist site opened in 1928 in San Marcos.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aquarena.txstate.edu/l|title=Aquarena Springs|publisher=Texas State University|access-date=December 1, 2010}}{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Lyndon Baines Johnson graduated from Southwest Texas State Teachers College in 1930.<ref>{{cite book|title=1960--LBJ vs. JFK vs. Nixon: The Epic Campaign That Forged Three Presidencies|last=Pietrusza|first=David|publisher=Union Square Press|year=2008|isbn=978-1-4027-6114-0|page=20}}</ref> In 1942, construction of San Marcos Army Air Field began.<ref name="Gary Air Force Base">{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qcg02|title=Gary Air Force Base|last=Ratisseau|first=Shirley|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=December 1, 2010}}</ref> San Marcos Army Air Field was renamed Gary Air Force Base in 1953 to honor Second Lieutenant Arthur Edward Gary, the first San Marcos resident killed in World War II.<ref name="Gary Air Force Base" />

The state legislature resurveyed the Hays and Travis County lines, adding {{convert|16000|acre|km2}} to Hays County, in 1955.<ref name="Hays County, Texas" /> In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson announced the establishment of a Job Corps center based at the deactivated Gary Air Force Base.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/kdj01|title=Gary Job Corps Center|work=Handbook of Texas Online|publisher=Texas State Historical Association|access-date=December 1, 2010}}</ref>

==Geography== According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of {{convert|680|sqmi|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|1.9|sqmi|abbr=on}} (0.3%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 28, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref> The county is predominantly in the Edwards Plateau, with the southeast portion in the Texas Blackland Prairies.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 20, 2011 |title=Texas Conservation Action Plan Ecoregions |url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/landwater/land/tcap/documents/ecoregions_map_tcap_2011.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522185502/http://tpwd.texas.gov/landwater/land/tcap/documents/ecoregions_map_tcap_2011.pdf |archive-date=May 22, 2015 |url-status=live |website=Texas Parks & Wildlife Department}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties=== * Travis County (northeast) * Caldwell County (east) * Comal County (southwest) * Guadalupe County (south) * Blanco County (northwest)

==Transportation== ===Major highways=== * 20px Interstate 35 * 25px U.S. Highway 290 * 20px State Highway 21 * 20px State Highway 80 * 20px State Highway 123 * 20px State Highway 142 * 20px Loop 82

===Airport=== * San Marcos Regional Airport - general aviation airport without commercial flights

==Education== School districts in Hays County include:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48209_hays/DC20SD_C48209.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48209_hays/DC20SD_C48209.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hays County, TX|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=June 29, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48209_hays/DC20SD_C48209_SD2MS.txt List]</ref> * Blanco * Comal * Dripping Springs Independent * Hays Consolidated Independent * Johnson City * San Marcos Consolidated Independent * Wimberley Independent

As of 2020, the county has six high schools, 10 middle schools, and 24 elementary schools.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

Higher education in Hays County includes one four-year institution, Texas State University, in San Marcos.

Austin Community College is the designated community college for the whole county.<ref>[https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm Texas Education Code, Sec. 130.166. AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT SERVICE AREA.].</ref> It operates three distance-learning centers that offer basic and early college start classes, along with testing centers for online classes.

==Demographics== {{US Census population | 1850 = 387 | 1860 = 2126 | 1870 = 4088 | 1880 = 7555 | 1890 = 11352 | 1900 = 14142 | 1910 = 15518 | 1920 = 15920 | 1930 = 14915 | 1940 = 15349 | 1950 = 17840 | 1960 = 19934 | 1970 = 27642 | 1980 = 40594 | 1990 = 65614 | 2000 = 97589 | 2010 = 157127 | 2020 = 241067 | estyear = 2025 | estimate = 304390 | estref =<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/hayscountytexas/PST045224|title=QuickFacts: Hays County, Texas|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 11, 2025}}</ref> {{increase}} | footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/> | align = right | align-fn = center }}

===Racial and ethnic composition=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Hays County, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}} !Race / Ethnicity (''NH = Non-Hispanic'') !Pop 1980<ref name=1980CensusRaceStats>{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics- Texas - Table 15. Persons by Race and Table 16. Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_txAB-03.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau|page=21-46|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007094958/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_txAB-03.pdf| archive-date=October 7, 2022}}</ref> !Pop 1990<ref name=1990CensusRaceStats>{{Cite web|title= 1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics- Texas - Table 3. Race and Hispanic Origin: 1990|page=29-138 |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-45-1.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260203162919/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-45-1.pdf| archive-date=February 3, 2026}}</ref> !Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Hays County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US48209&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Hays County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US48209&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Hays County, Texas|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US48209&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !% 1980 !% 1990 !% 2000 !% 2010 !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020 |- |White alone (NH) |26,836 |44,661 |62,945 |92,062 |style='background: #ffffe6; |121,568 |66.11% |68.07% |64.50% |58.60% |style='background: #ffffe6; |50.43% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |1,068 |2,091 |3,448 |4,970 |style='background: #ffffe6; |9,004 |2.63% |3.19% |3.53% |3.16% |style='background: #ffffe6; |3.74% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |80 |162 |368 |502 |style='background: #ffffe6; |599 |0.20% |0.25% |0.38% |0.32% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.25% |- |Asian alone (NH) |123 |396 |740 |1,699 |style='background: #ffffe6; |4,822 |0.30% |0.60% |0.76% |1.08% |style='background: #ffffe6; |2.00% |- |Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref> |47 |104 |style='background: #ffffe6; |144 |x |x |0.05% |0.07% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.06% |- |Other race alone (NH) |101 |55 |138 |226 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1,009 |0.25% |0.08% |0.14% |0.14% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.42% |- |Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref> |1,044 |2,143 |style='background: #ffffe6; |11,050 |x |x |1.07% |1.36% |style='background: #ffffe6; |4.58% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |12,386 |18,249 |28,859 |55,401 |style='background: #ffffe6; |92,871 |30.51% |27.81% |29.57% |35.26% |style='background: #ffffe6; |38.52% |- |'''Total''' |'''40,594''' |'''65,614''' |'''97,589''' |'''157,107''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''241,067 ''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}

===2020 census===

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 241,067 and a median age of 32.3 years. 23.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 12.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 94.6 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0133P,DP1_0137P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A209&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 10, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

The racial makeup of the county was 61.0% White, 4.1% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 11.7% from some other race, and 20.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 38.5% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A209&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=January 10, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

70.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 29.7% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A209&in=state%3A48|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=January 10, 2026|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 86,904 households in the county, of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.2% were married-couple households, 19.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 93,534 housing units, of which 7.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 61.7% were owner-occupied and 38.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.0%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2010 census===

As of the 2010 census, the county had a population of 157,127.<ref name=2010CensusP2/>

A Williams Institute analysis of 2010 census data found about 7.4 same-sex couples per 1,000 households in the county.<ref name=newyorktimes>{{citation |title=Where Same-Sex Couples Live|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 26, 2015|access-date=July 6, 2015|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/27/upshot/supreme-court-gay-marriage-ruling-where-same-sex-couples-live.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=0|last1=Leonhardt|first1=David|last2=Quealy|first2=Kevin}}</ref>

===2000 census===

As of the census<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, 97,589 people, 51,265 households, and 22,150 families resided in the county. The population density was {{convert|144|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. The 55,643 housing units averaged {{convert|53|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units }}. The racial makeup of the county was 78.92% White, 3.68% Black or African American, 0.69%Native American, 0.79% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 13.36% from other races, and 2.49% from two or more races. About 29.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 33,410 households, 34.0% had children under 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were not families; 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.69, and the average family size was 3.21.<ref name="GR8" />

The county's population was distributed as 24.5% under 18, 20.5% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 19.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.30 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 99.50 males.<ref name="GR8" />

The county's median household income was $45,006 and the median family income was $56,287. Males had a median income of $35,209 versus $27,334 for females. The county's per capita income was $19,931. About 6.40% of families and 14.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.30% of those under age 18 and 9.70% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="GR8" /> ==Government and politics== Hays County currently leans towards the Democratic Party in federal elections. The county was strongly Democratic-leaning before the 1970s, then (like some other suburban counties in the state) began trending towards the Republican Party in the 1970s.

The county began trending Democratic again in the late 2010s and early 2020s. It has backed Democrats in most statewide races since 2018, including for President (in 2020 and 2024), despite Democrats losing all statewide races in Texas.<ref>{{cite web |date=November 6, 2018 |title=Cumulative Report — Official HAYS COUNTY — General Election |url=https://hayscountytx.com/download/departments/elections/results/2018/09.%2006%20Nov%202018%20General%20Election%20Cumulative%20(official).pdf |access-date=January 28, 2021 |website=Hays County, Texas |publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Hays County Texas 2020 election results |url=https://hayscountytx.com/download/departments/elections/results/2020/nov_03_general/Cumulative-Results-Nov-2020-General-official-PDF.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://hayscountytx.com/download/departments/elections/results/2020/nov_03_general/Cumulative-Results-Nov-2020-General-official-PDF.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=January 28, 2021}}</ref> In 2024, Kamala Harris became the first Democratic presidential nominee to carry Hays County despite losing the presidential election since 1968.

Until 2020, when Joe Biden won the county with 54.4% of the vote, the last Democrat to carry Hays County in a presidential election was Bill Clinton, with a plurality of 39.8% of the vote in 1992. The last Democrat to win a majority of the vote in the county before 2020 was Jimmy Carter, with 54.4% in 1976. Lloyd Bentsen had been the last Democratic Senate candidate to carry the county, winning 69.2% of the vote in 1988, until 2018, when Beto O'Rourke carried the county with 57.1% of the vote.<ref name="uselectionatlas.org">{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|title = Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections}}</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Hays County, Texas|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=July 25, 2018}}</ref>}}  {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|60|939|66|Texas}} {{PresRow|1916|Democratic|123|995|15|Texas}} {{PresRow|1920|Democratic|242|1,075|339|Texas}} {{PresRow|1924|Democratic|394|1,616|79|Texas}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,088|620|0|Texas}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|220|1,822|8|Texas}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|286|1,964|9|Texas}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|453|2,371|4|Texas}} {{PresRow|1944|Democratic|495|1,690|243|Texas}} {{PresRow|1948|Democratic|555|2,239|193|Texas}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,135|2,070|3|Texas}} {{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,873|2,017|14|Texas}} {{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,606|2,916|7|Texas}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,279|3,780|5|Texas}} {{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,993|3,546|644|Texas}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,406|4,068|45|Texas}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|5,714|7,005|156|Texas}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|6,517|6,013|759|Texas}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|12,467|6,663|57|Texas}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|11,716|11,187|361|Texas}} {{PresRow|1992|Democratic|10,008|10,842|6,417|Texas}} {{PresRow|1996|Republican|12,865|11,580|2,395|Texas}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|20,170|11,387|2,760|Texas}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|27,021|20,110|692|Texas}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|29,638|28,431|983|Texas}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|31,661|25,537|1,813|Texas}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|33,826|33,224|5,114|Texas}} {{PresRow|2020|Democratic|47,680|59,524|2,191|Texas}} {{PresRow|2024|Democratic|58,438|65,528|1,861|Texas}} {{PresFoot}} {{U.S. SenHead|place=Hays County, Texas|Seat=1|source=<ref>{{cite news |title=2024 Senate Election (Official Returns) |website=Commonwealth of Texas by county |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=December 5, 2024 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/texas-senate-results}}</ref>}}  {{U.S. SenRow|2024|Democratic|54,436|67,475|3,665|Texas}} {{U.S. SenFoot}} {{U.S. SenHead|place=Hays County, Texas|Seat=2|source=<ref>{{cite news|title=Texas Senate Election Results 2020|website=NBCNews.com|date=November 3, 2020|access-date=April 10, 2026 |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-elections/texas-senate-results}}</ref>}}  {{U.S. SenRow|2020|Democratic|49,539|55,597|3,410|Texas}} {{U.S. SenFoot}} {{T.X. GovHead|place=Hays County|Seat=|source=}}  {{T.X. GovRow|2022|Democratic|39,085|48,970|1,628}} {{T.X. GovFoot}} Ann Richards in 1990 was the last Democratic gubernatorial candidate to win the county, when she took 56.6% of the vote that year, until 2018, when Lupe Valdez won with a 49.6% plurality.<ref name="uselectionatlas.org"/>

In the 2022 elections, Democrats won all but one race in Hays County; They flipped several countywide seats previously held by Republicans.<ref name="kxan.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.kxan.com/news/local/hays/9-out-of-10-midterm-races-won-by-democrats-in-hays-county/ |title=9 out of 10 midterm races won by Democrats in Hays County |website=kxan.com |date=2022-11-09 |access-date=2024-07-14}}</ref>

Democratic voters mostly reside along the I-35 Corridor and communities East. Communities West of the I-35 Corridor lean Republican. San Marcos, home of Texas State University, and the city of Kyle generally vote Democratic. Driftwood, Dripping Springs, Wimberley, and Woodcreek generally vote Republican. Elections within the county are often decided by margins in Bear Creek, Belterra, Buda, and the county's northcentral border along Travis County.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

===County government===

====County Judge and commissioners==== {| class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Position ! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Name ! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;" | Party |- | style="background:blue;" |  | County Judge | Ruben Becerra | Democratic |- | style="background:blue;" |  | Commissioner, Precinct 1 | Debbie Ingalsbe | Democratic |- | style="background:blue;" |  | Commissioner, Precinct 2 | Michelle Cohen | Democratic |- | style="background:red;" |  | Commissioner, Precinct 3 | Morgan Hammer | Republican |- | style="background:red;" |  | Commissioner, Precinct 4 | Walt Smith | Republican |- |}

====County officials==== {| class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="2" style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Position''' ! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Name''' ! style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| '''Party''' |- | style="background:blue;" |  | Criminal District Attorney | Kelly Higgins | Democratic |- | style="background:blue;" |  | District Clerk | Amanda Calvert | Democratic |- | style="background:blue;" |  | County Clerk | Elaine Cárdenas | Democratic |- | style="background:red;" |  | Sheriff | Anthony Hipolito | Republican |- | style="background:blue;" |  | Tax Assessor-Collector | Jennifer Escobar | Democratic |- | style="background:blue;" |  | Treasurer | Daphne Sanchez Tenorio | Democratic |- |}

==Communities== ===Cities (multiple counties)=== * Austin (primarily in Travis County and a small part in Williamson County)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/annexation/downloads/annex_by_decade.pdf |title=City of Austin Full Purpose Jurisdiction |publisher=City of Austin |date=March 9, 2006 |access-date=May 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101116185402/http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/annexation/downloads/annex_by_decade.pdf |archive-date=November 16, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * Niederwald (partly in Caldwell County) * San Marcos (county seat) (small parts in Caldwell and Guadalupe counties) * Uhland (partly in Caldwell County)

===Cities=== {{div col}} * Buda * Dripping Springs * Hays * Kyle * Mountain City * Wimberley * Woodcreek {{div col end}}

===Village=== * Bear Creek

===Census-designated places=== * Belterra * Driftwood

===Ghost town=== * Goforth

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Hays - Hill Country 1.jpg|Blanco River File:Hays - Hill Country 3.jpg|Another view of the Blanco River File:Hays - Hill Country 2.jpg|Texas Hill Country File:Hays county patrol car.jpg </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== * {{Cite book |last=DeCook |first=K. James |title=Geology and Ground-water Resources of Hays County, Texas |publisher=United States Department of the Interior, Geological Survey |others=Texas Board of Water Engineers |year=1963 |location=Washington, D.C. |oclc=961366150}}

==External links== {{Commons category}}

* {{Official website}} * {{Handbook of Texas|id=hch11|name=Hays County}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090107033937/http://www.haysweb.com/ HaysWeb] - Hays County Information * [http://www.hayshistoricalcommission.com/ Hays County Historical Commission]

{{Geographic location |Centre = Hays County, Texas |North = |Northeast = Travis County |East = |Southeast = Caldwell County |South = Guadalupe County |Southwest = Comal County |West = |Northwest = Blanco County }}

{{Hays County, Texas}} {{Greater Austin}} {{Texas counties}} {{Texas}} {{Authority control}} {{Coord|30.06|-98.03|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-TX_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Hays County, Texas Category:1848 establishments in Texas Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1848 Category:Texas Hill Country Category:Greater Austin