About Martindale
Martindale is a small city of approximately 1,250 residents in Caldwell County, Texas, located along the San Marcos River where it crosses State Highway 80. The city sits approximately 6 miles east of San Marcos and about 35 miles south of Austin. Martindale was established in 1887 when the Bastrop and Taylor Railway was under construction, and it is named for Major Theodore Van Buren Coupland's nephew — though the origin of the "Martindale" name is attributed to early settlers in the area. The city was historically a farming community serving Swedish, German, and Swiss agricultural families who settled the surrounding land.
Real estate in Martindale consists primarily of older single-family homes on larger lots and rural acreage properties. Home prices typically range from the mid-$100,000s for older homes in the city core to the $400,000s for properties with river access or larger acreage. The housing stock is modest compared to San Marcos or Kyle, with many homes dating to the mid-20th century. The city's appeal is its quiet, rural character and proximity to the San Marcos River, which runs directly through the community. Martindale does not have the large master-planned developments found in neighboring cities.
Martindale students are served primarily by San Marcos CISD, with most attending Dezavala Elementary, Goodnight Middle School, and San Marcos High School. A small number of students in the eastern portion of the area may fall within Lockhart ISD or Gonzales ISD boundaries. San Marcos CISD serves approximately 8,200 students across 12 campuses, with San Marcos High School located about 6 miles west of Martindale.
Martindale's location on Highway 80 provides access to San Marcos (6 miles west) and Lockhart (approximately 15 miles northeast). Interstate 35 is accessible in San Marcos, connecting to Austin (35 miles north) and San Antonio (50 miles south). The city has minimal commercial development — a few local businesses, Don's Fish Camp (a 50-acre recreation complex on the river), and a handful of small shops. Most residents commute to San Marcos, Kyle, or Austin for employment and shopping.
The San Marcos River provides the primary recreation, with tubing, kayaking, and fishing accessible from multiple points in and near the city. The river is spring-fed from the San Marcos Springs in Spring Lake, maintaining a consistent 72°F water temperature year-round. Martindale sits downstream from San Marcos, where the river passes through a less developed and less crowded stretch compared to the popular tubing sections closer to Texas State University. The city's location in Caldwell County, rather than neighboring Hays County, means different property tax rates and county services. Martindale is governed by a mayor and city council, with basic municipal services. The city does not have its own police department, relying on the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office for law enforcement. Growth pressure from the I-35 corridor has begun to reach the area, with land prices along Highway 80 between San Marcos and Martindale increasing as developers look for sites within San Marcos CISD boundaries. Despite this pressure, Martindale's limited water and sewer infrastructure constrains the pace of new development. The city's water system serves existing residents, and large-scale subdivision projects would require significant infrastructure investment. For buyers, Martindale offers the combination of river access, rural character, and proximity to San Marcos at prices well below the I-35 corridor cities.
