Hays County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 census, its official population had reached 157,107. It is named for John Coffee Hays, a Texas Ranger and Mexican-American War officer. The seat of the county is San Marcos.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 680 square miles (1,761.2 km²), of which 678 square miles (1,756.0 km²) is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km²) (0.28%) is water.

As of the census of 2000, there were 97,589 people, 51,265 households, and 22,150 families residing in the county. The population density was 144 people per square mile (56/km²). There were 55,643 housing units at an average density of 53 per square mile (20/km²). 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. 29.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 33,410 households out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.10% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.70% were non-families. 21.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.21.

Clay Daniel Wilson (born April 5, 1983) is a professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League.

Clay Wilson played collegiate hockey for Michigan Tech from 2001 until 2005. After the 2004–05 collegiate season ended, he turned professional with the Muskegon Fury of the UHL. He played parts of two seasons with Muskegon before joining the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL. After the 2005–06 season, he was signed as a free agent by the Anaheim Ducks of the NHL. He played for the Ducks' AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates before being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets of the NHL in November 2007.

Wilson made his NHL debut with the Blue Jackets on March 25, 2008, against the Nashville Predators. He scored his first NHL goal and assist on March 26, 2008 in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks, earning him first star honors in only his second NHL game. On January 14, 2009, Wilson was traded by the Blue Jackets, along with a 6th round draft pick, to the Atlanta Thrashers for Jason Williams.