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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud residents are joining together to celebrate |
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Austin County Day at the State Capitol on March 8, 2023; and |
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WHEREAS, Situated between the Post Oak Savannah and the |
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Coastal Prairie regions, the Austin County area became part of |
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Stephen F. Austin's first colony in the early 1820s; the town of San |
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Felipe de Austin was the administrative seat of the colony, and it |
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played an important role in the Texas Revolution, hosting the |
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conventions of 1832 and 1833 and briefly serving as the capital of |
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the provisional government; and |
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WHEREAS, Austin County was created by the Constitution of |
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1836 and was formally organized a year later; San Felipe was the |
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county seat until 1848, when the county government was moved to the |
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new community of Bellville; and |
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WHEREAS, Blessed with an abundance of water, grassland, and |
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forests, the county attracted settlers engaged in agriculture, and |
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a number of towns grew substantially during the 19th century, |
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including Bellville and Wallis and the railroad towns of Sealy and |
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Kenney; German and Czech immigrants also arrived in Austin County, |
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and their influence is felt throughout the region in the societies |
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that they established and the many communities they founded; the |
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cultural mosaic of the county has been further enriched by |
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immigrants from Mexico, the largest foreign-born group to settle |
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there in the 20th century, and by African Americans, who played a |
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fundamental role in the county's development and in the creation of |
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numerous social and religious institutions; and |
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WHEREAS, Among the prominent Texans who have resided in |
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Austin County was Gail Borden Jr., a surveyor and newspaper |
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publisher who later invented a successful process for condensing |
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milk; another early citizen, Robert Justus Kleberg, fought in the |
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Battle of San Jacinto and held several prestigious public offices; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Today, visitors and residents alike can explore the |
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county's rich heritage, preserved at the San Felipe de Austin State |
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Historic Site and in rural communities throughout the area, and |
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they enjoy hunting and fishing opportunities as well as a wealth of |
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special recreational events; and |
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WHEREAS, Honoring their history as they embrace the |
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opportunities of the future, the citizens of Austin County may |
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indeed take great pride in their unique contributions to the story |
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of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 8, 2023, as Austin County Day at |
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the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting |
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delegation. |
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Kitzman |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 492 was adopted by the House on March |
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8, 2023, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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