SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 155

WHEREAS, Proud residents are gathering in Austin on February 13, 2023, to celebrate Hardin County Day at the State Capitol; and

WHEREAS, Situated northeast of Houston, Hardin County is predominantly made up of pine and hardwood forests in the East Texas Timberlands region; attracted by the mineral waters of Medicine Lake, Native Americans visited the area long before it became part of the Atascosito District of Spanish and Mexican Texas; attempts at colonization began in earnest in 1834 when the Mexican government made land grants, and in 1835, Stephen Jackson founded a settlement at Sour Lake; and

WHEREAS, Following the Texas Revolution, the area was split between the jurisdictions of Liberty and Jefferson Counties; in 1858, the State Legislature established Hardin County, drawing territory from both parent counties; under state law, the county's name honored the Hardin family of Liberty, and the county seat also bore that name; in 1881, the Sabine and East Texas Railroad bypassed Hardin in favor of its own newly established town, Kountze, which ultimately became the county seat; and

WHEREAS, Early farmers in Hardin County raised corn, sweet potatoes, hogs, cattle, sheep, and horses; as early as 1878, loggers were floating cut timber to the Neches River and on to Beaumont, and by 1881, at least two lumber-processing mills were operating in the county; the subsequent arrivals of other railway companies further stimulated the lumber industry; a big economic boost came with the discovery of oil at Saratoga and Batson and the development of the Sour Lake oil field in 1903; today, chambers of commerce in Kountze, Lumberton, Silsbee, and Sour Lake promote economic development in their communities; and

WHEREAS, Hardin County is further buoyed by its robust ecotourism, which offers ample opportunities for camping, paddling, fishing, hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing; a major attraction is the Big Thicket National Preserve, where visitors can explore nine different ecosystems; moreover, Village Creek State Park sits along one of the few free-flowing creeks in Texas, and the Roy E. Larsen Sandyland Sanctuary protects diverse plant communities; and

WHEREAS, Residents of Hardin County are working together to build an even brighter future, and this special day provides a fitting opportunity to pay tribute to the county and its people; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th Legislature, hereby recognize February 13, 2023, as Hardin County Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting delegation. Nichols

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 14, 2023.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate