By Howard H.R. No. 10 75R4436 BNL-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, On February 26, 1997, many proud residents of Fort 1-2 Bend County will be in Austin to celebrate Fort Bend County Day at 1-3 the Capitol; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Located along the Gulf Coast, the area now known as 1-5 Fort Bend County was settled by members of Stephen F. Austin's 1-6 original colony, known as the Old Three Hundred; the fertile 1-7 coastal plains produced abundant crops of cotton, corn, rice, and 1-8 soybeans, and farmers and ranchers flocked to the area; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Created out of Austin County in 1837, Fort Bend 1-10 County soon became home to a diverse mix of citizens that included 1-11 Southern plantation owners, Confederate veterans, carpetbaggers, 1-12 Czech immigrants, African Americans, Mexican Americans, railroad 1-13 workers, and oilmen; many significant characters in Texas and 1-14 American history have passed through the county over the years, 1-15 including Texas pioneer Jane Long and famed temperance leader Carry 1-16 Nation, who began her crusade against "demon rum" in the city of 1-17 Richmond; and 1-18 WHEREAS, Today, Fort Bend County's colorful past lives on in 1-19 its many historic sites, memorials, and museums, and the Fort Bend 1-20 County Historical Museum has earned recognition as one of the 1-21 state's best small museums; in addition, the George Ranch 1-22 Historical Park offers visitors the unique opportunity to step back 1-23 in time and experience life in three different periods of Texas 1-24 history, as the park is home to an 1820s farmstead, an 1890s 2-1 Victorian mansion, and a 1930s cattle ranch; and 2-2 WHEREAS, Other recreational and tourist opportunities abound, 2-3 including Decker Park, McFarlane House, the Long-Smith Cottage, and 2-4 the beautiful Fort Bend County Courthouse, which has merited 2-5 inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places; Brazos Bend 2-6 State Park offers an unparalleled opportunity to observe the rugged 2-7 natural beauty and diverse wildlife of this region, and watchful 2-8 visitors may catch glimpses of deer, coyotes, Russian boar, 2-9 American alligators, and a host of migratory birds that inhabit 2-10 the park's woodlands and marshes; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Blessed with a wide array of natural resources and 2-12 an energetic and forward-looking population, Fort Bend County is 2-13 undoubtedly one of Texas' finest communities, and the members of 2-14 this chamber are pleased to recognize the significant role the 2-15 county has played in the development of the Lone Star State; now, 2-16 therefore, be it 2-17 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas 2-18 Legislature hereby recognize February 26, 1997, as Fort Bend County 2-19 Day at the Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the county's 2-20 visiting delegation; and, be it further 2-21 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-22 prepared for the residents of Fort Bend County as a commemoration 2-23 of this grand occasion and as an expression of high regard by the 2-24 Texas House of Representatives.