H.R. No. 423 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Since the founding of the first permanent settlement 1-2 in Kaufman County more than 150 years ago, the citizens of the area 1-3 have exemplified the independent and industrious spirit of Texas; 1-4 and 1-5 WHEREAS, The history of this Northeast Texas community dates 1-6 back to the days of the Republic of Texas when Dr. William P. King 1-7 established the first permanent settlement on the upper Blackland 1-8 Prairie; overlooking a broad fertile valley, this settlement, known 1-9 as King's Fort and later Kingsborough, became the nucleus of the 1-10 thriving agricultural community we know today as Kaufman County; 1-11 and 1-12 WHEREAS, By 1843, the area around King's Fort had begun 1-13 to attract other settlers in sufficient numbers that the old 1-14 garrison, renamed Kingsborough, became the hub of activity for the 1-15 rapidly growing territory; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Within a decade, growth in the territory had 1-17 warranted its political organization, and in 1848 a rising young 1-18 political figure named John H. Reagan introduced a bill in the 1-19 Texas Legislature creating this new county, which was named in 1-20 honor of another prominent Texas statesman, David S. Kaufman; and 1-21 WHEREAS, In an election held in March 1851, the residents of 1-22 Kaufman County selected the town of Kingsborough, which occupied 1-23 the county's approximate geographic center, as the new county seat; 1-24 in November of that year, the activities of county government were 2-1 moved to the county seat, which by then had been renamed Kaufman; 2-2 and 2-3 WHEREAS, In December 1885, the county commissioners voted to 2-4 build a new county courthouse that would adequately reflect the 2-5 community's confidence in its continued growth and prosperity; 2-6 standing for over 70 years, this venerable stone courthouse not 2-7 only served Kaufman County but came to symbolize the community's 2-8 stability and enduring social values; and 2-9 WHEREAS, In 1955, a modern courthouse was erected in Kaufman, 2-10 ushering in a new era of growth for the community as the local 2-11 economy began to diversify from its traditional agricultural base; 2-12 and 2-13 WHEREAS, While still retaining its agricultural economy, 2-14 Kaufman County currently is reaping the benefits of broadened 2-15 economic development, including an influx of manufacturing and 2-16 trade industries; and 2-17 WHEREAS, Part of the Dallas Standard Metropolitan Statistical 2-18 Area, Kaufman County offers its residents the best of the two 2-19 worlds; its residents enjoy many of the amenities afforded by one 2-20 of the nation's major cities while they retain their identity as a 2-21 close-knit, family-oriented community in the finest traditions of 2-22 Texas' rural past; and 2-23 WHEREAS, Rich in history and tradition, Kaufman County is a 2-24 prosperous, forward-looking community fully participating in the 2-25 state's dynamic growth, and it gives the members of this 2-26 legislative body great pleasure to join our fellow citizens in 2-27 saluting this fine Texas community; now, therefore, be it 3-1 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 3-2 Legislature hereby declare April 3, 1995, Kaufman County Day at the 3-3 Capitol and extend best wishes to all of its citizens on this 3-4 noteworthy occasion.