San Marcos in Hays County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

San Marcos-Blanco Cemetery

Photographed by James Hulse, October 14, 2022

1. San Marcos-Blanco Cemetery Marker

Inscription. In 1893 five trustees of the newly formed San Marcos and Blanco Cemetery Association purchased 10.62 acres of land from W.O. and Leonora Hutchison. The trustees were Henry Richardson, Luckey McQueen, Wyatt Newman, James Langdon and Miles Bowes. The land purchased was intended for use as a cemetery by the African American citizens of the communities of Nance's Mill and Mountain City, together known as the Blanco community. The graveyard site was located midway between the two communities.

The earliest recorded burial was that of Emma Hamilton in August 1886, indicating the land was in use as a graveyard prior to the land purchase. The site was called the San Marcos Colored Cemetery.

More than 300 graves are marked with headstones and exist along with numerous unmarked graves. Among those buried here are teachers, farmers and ministers. The site has also been used as a paupers' burial ground and was sometimes referred to as the Paupers' Plot. In 1981 the name was officially changed to the San Marcos Community Cemetery and in 1996 the original name was restored to the San Marcos-Blanco Cemetery. The site is still active and is maintained by the cemetery association.

Erected 1997 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 10318.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is August 1886.

Location. 29° 55.019′ N, 97° 54.591′ W. Marker is in San Marcos, Texas, in Hays County. It is on Post Road (County Highway 140) half a mile north of Paintbrush Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker is located at the front entrance to the cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2300 Post Road, San Marcos TX 78666, United States of America.

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Regionally, this marker is in the Hill Country

and in the Austin Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hays County (approx. 1.2 miles away); Sink Springs (approx. 1.3 miles away); Riverhead Farm (approx. 1.6 miles away); The Old Lime Kiln (approx. 1.6 miles away); San Marcos Springs (approx. 2 miles away); Texas Water Safari (approx. 2 miles away); Post San Marcos (approx. 2.1 miles away); San Marcos Mill Tract (approx. 2.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Marcos.

Also see . . .
1. Nance's Mill, TX. Texas State Historical Association

Nance's Mill was one of the earliest centers for processing the agricultural products of Hays County. In 1850 Ezekiel Nance came with his
Photographed by James Hulse, October 14, 2022

2. The view of the San Marcos-Blanco Cemetery and Marker from the cemetery entrance
family and slaves to a large section of land in the eastern part of the county. On the Blanco River about three miles west of the site of present Kyle, Nance built a mule-driven gin and a gristmill that became the center of a riverside community and that launched his career as the most energetic entrepreneur of the county's frontier period.

(Submitted on October 19, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

2. Mountain City, TX. Texas State Historical Associatio

Mountain City was twelve miles north of San Marcos in central Hays County. It developed before the Civil War as the supply center for an extensive farming and ranching community. Mountain City had one of the first post offices and stagecoach stops between Austin and San Marcos. It reportedly received its name from William Walton Haupt when he became postmaster in 1858 or 1860. Haupt, an Alabaman, moved from Bastrop to Mountain City in 1857 and introduced to Hays County Angora goats and Brahman cattle from the old South.

(Submitted on October 19, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 19, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 725 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 19, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.