Martindale, TX

Located along the banks of the San Marcos River just east of San Marcos, Martindale is a small town of around 1,300 residents that offers quiet country living within commuting distance of Austin. Founded in the 1850s as a riverside farming settlement, the community grew around local cotton gins and seed production. Today, that easygoing agricultural heritage is still visible in the surrounding farm fields and the unhurried pace of daily life.

ATTRLarry D. Moore / CC BY 4.0

Much of the town's appeal centers on the river, where residents can fish, kayak, or tube under the cypress trees. The historic downtown along Main Street holds a collection of preserved turn-of-the-century buildings that give the community a distinct vintage feel. Local students attend schools in the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District, making Martindale a good fit for buyers wanting riverside charm close to neighboring cities.