By: Uher H.R. No. 655
73R9789 BNL-D
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The historic town of Bay City will mark its 100th
1-2 anniversary on September 18, 1994, and the gala events planned for
1-3 this day will highlight a festive, year-long centennial
1-4 celebration; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Located 25 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, this town
1-6 takes its name not from a body of water but from the vast area of
1-7 prairie land that surrounds it; this rolling coastal grassland was
1-8 named "Bay Prairie" by Stephen F. Austin and his settlers in the
1-9 1820s, and it was this name that inspired the town' founders; and
1-10 WHEREAS, The citizens of Matagorda County voted to establish
1-11 Bay City as the county seat on September 18, 1894; at the time of
1-12 election the site consisted of nothing more than one square mile of
1-13 undeveloped cow pasture, and in the aftermath of the election the
1-14 first county officers were quartered in a two-room frame house that
1-15 had been hauled by oxen from the former county seat in Matagorda;
1-16 and
1-17 WHEREAS, Harsh conditions prevailed during these early years,
1-18 but these hardy Texans were willing to endure poor roads,
1-19 isolation, and the threat of severe weather; by 1905, the expansion
1-20 of three railways into Matagorda County was bringing a steady
1-21 stream of supplies and settlers to the new community, and with the
1-22 discovery of oil and sulphur adding to the economic boom, Bay City
1-23 soon became a thriving city; and
1-24 WHEREAS, The oil and gas industry continues to provide many
2-1 Bay City jobs, but the economy has grown in recent years to include
2-2 petrochemical and other manufacturing industries; early settlers
2-3 recognized that the fertile soil and mild climate in this region
2-4 made it ideal for growing crops such as corn, soybeans, milo, and
2-5 rice, and the city has prospered as a commercial and shipping
2-6 center for the area's forming and ranching interests; and
2-7 WHEREAS, With a current population of 18,000, Bay City
2-8 combines many of the amenities of a larger city with the
2-9 family-oriented atmosphere of a small town; the city has convention
2-10 center, county fairground, sports complex, auditorium, and golf
2-11 course, but none of the city's most outstanding features is its
2-12 wide array of community, church, and school festivals that provide
2-13 fun and entertainment for the whole family; and
2-14 WHEREAS, Throughout 1994, annual events such as the Barbecue
2-15 Cookoff, the Matagorda County Fair and Rodeo, and the Lions Club
2-16 Rice Festival will be supplemented with a variety of centennial
2-17 events; highlights of the festivities include performances of the
2-18 pageant "Romance of a Texas Town," a parade, fireworks displays,
2-19 and an old-fashioned town picnic, culminating with community-wide
2-20 church service and presentation of historical markers on September
2-21 18, 1994; and
2-22 WHEREAS, These and many other events will provide visitors
2-23 with a unique opportunity to explore the sights and sounds of this
2-24 colorful city and participate in a once-in-a-lifetime celebration
2-25 of the culture and history of Bay City; and
2-26 WHEREAS, The evolution of Bay City from a vacant prairie to a
2-27 thriving community is reminiscent of the Lone Star State, and it is
3-1 fitting that we recall the vision that inspired the settlers of
3-2 this distinguished Texas town; now, therefore, be it
3-3 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
3-4 Legislature hereby honor the citizens of Bay CIty on the 100th
3-5 anniversary of their city's founding and extend to them warmest
3-6 best wishes for an exciting and memorable centennial celebration;
3-7 and, be it further
3-8 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-9 prepared for the people of Bay City as a commemoration of this
3-10 grand occasion and as an expression of high regard by the Texas
3-11 House of Representatives.