Texas State University-San Marcos
Texas State University-San Marcos is the largest campus of the Texas State University System.
The school is located in San Marcos, about an hour away from both San Antonio and Austin. San Marcos is the only habitat for the endangered San Marcos salamander.
The school has gone from a teachers' college to a multipurpose university. The school's sport teams are called the Bobcats. Enrollment in Spring of 2004 was 24,980, compared to an opening enrollment in 1899 of 303. The campus covers approximately 429 acres (1.7 km²) , as well as an additional 4200 acres (17 km²) in off-campus ranches and outdoor facilities.
Texas State University-San Marcos was founded in 1899, and opened its doors in 1903 as Southwest Texas State Normal School in order to meet a need for teachers in the southwest part of the state.
The school has changed its name five times since then:
- Southwest Texas State Normal College (1918-1923)
- Southwest Texas State Teachers College (1923-1959)
- Southwest Texas State College (1959-1969)
- Southwest Texas State University (1969-2003)
- Texas State University-San Marcos (Since 2003)
Notable alumni of Texas State University include former president Lyndon Johnson, country singer George Strait, director Thomas Carter, actor Powers Boothe, and actress Tracy Scoggins.
