H.R. No. 686 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to join 1-2 with the citizens of Pharr in the celebration of City of Pharr Day 1-3 at the Capitol on April 26, 1995; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Located in the heart of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, 1-5 the town was settled by noted Louisiana sugarcane farmer Henry N. 1-6 Pharr, who came to the area after viewing some of the region's 1-7 magnificent sugarcane stalks at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis; 1-8 greatly impressed with what he found, Mr. Pharr bought 20,000 acres 1-9 of farmland and relocated his family's home and business to South 1-10 Texas; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Word of the region's abundant natural resources 1-12 quickly spread, and founders laid out Pharr's townsite in 1909; 1-13 citizens continued to come to make their homes in this growing and 1-14 desirable community, and the town was officially incorporated in 1-15 1916; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Successful irrigation efforts and a warm sunny 1-17 climate have helped the area to become one of the nation's leading 1-18 producers of winter vegetables and citrus fruits; Pharr currently 1-19 boasts a diversified and prosperous economy that includes cotton 1-20 and natural gas production, and the city is home to some of the 1-21 world's fastest-growing industries and companies as well; and 1-22 WHEREAS, This lovely and vibrant community is most definitely 1-23 on the fast track; its population increased by an astounding 54 1-24 percent between 1980 and 1990, and the city has experienced a 2-1 steady and impressive annual growth rate of 2.5 percent for the 2-2 past four years; and 2-3 WHEREAS, The strength of its local economy can be attributed 2-4 to several factors, including extensive transportation and 2-5 infrastructure improvements; the intersection of U.S. Highways 281 2-6 and 83 has been greatly enhanced, and the new international bridge 2-7 connecting Pharr to Reynosa, Mexico, facilitates the city's foreign 2-8 trade opportunities; and 2-9 WHEREAS, Pharr draws many visitors who come to enjoy its 2-10 array of natural and cultural resources; the nearly 2,000-acre 2-11 Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge offers nature lovers outstanding 2-12 opportunities to view the region's wide variety of flora and fauna, 2-13 while the popular Old Clock Museum houses nearly 450 antique 2-14 clocks, some of which date back to 1690; and 2-15 WHEREAS, Rich in culture and tradition, Pharr is a 2-16 prosperous, forward-looking community and a leading participant in 2-17 the state's dynamic growth, and it gives the members of this 2-18 chamber great pleasure to join with our fellow citizens in saluting 2-19 this fine Texas community; now, therefore, be it 2-20 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-21 Legislature hereby designate April 26, 1995, as City of Pharr Day 2-22 at the Capitol and extend warmest best wishes to all its citizens 2-23 on this noteworthy occasion; and, be it further 2-24 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-25 prepared for the citizens of Pharr as an expression of high regard 2-26 by the Texas House of Representatives.