R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, Brazoria County is the home of many outstanding

 1-2     Texans who take pride in their county's rich contributions to the

 1-3     culture, history, and economy of our state and who look to the

 1-4     future with a spirit of hope and optimism; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, Early Texans flocked to this fertile region on the

 1-6     upper Gulf Coast lured by the rich alluvial soils found along the

 1-7     banks of the San Bernard River, Oyster Creek, Chocolate Bayou, and

 1-8     the Brazos River, for which the county was named; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, Recognizing the area's vast potential, Stephen F.

1-10     Austin and his colonists chose the site for settlement in 1821; the

1-11     colony figured prominently in the Texas Revolution as the site of

1-12     the Battle of Velasco and served briefly as the location of the

1-13     capitol of the Republic of Texas before the county's official

1-14     organization in 1836; and

1-15           WHEREAS, Brazoria County quickly became the wealthiest county

1-16     in Texas, producing bountiful crops of rice, sugar, and cotton;

1-17     agriculture, particularly rice cultivation, remains a vital part of

1-18     the county's diverse economy today, which also prospers from

1-19     ranching, mining, and commercial fishing and from the promising new

1-20     aquaculture industry; and

1-21           WHEREAS, When oil production began in 1902, the county

1-22     ushered in an exciting new avenue for economic prosperity that

1-23     placed it among the top oil and gas producers in the state and gave

1-24     rise to a flourishing petroleum and chemical industry that has

 2-1     since become a major employer in the region; population in the

 2-2     county has expanded with the economy, growing steadily through the

 2-3     years to reach its current level of nearly 200,000 residents; and

 2-4           WHEREAS, Citizens of Brazoria County are justifiably proud of

 2-5     the outstanding educational opportunities available to area

 2-6     residents at Brazosport College and Alvin Community College and

 2-7     have endeavored to preserve their local heritage with large county

 2-8     fairs in Angleton, the county seat, and in Alvin, the home of

 2-9     baseball pitcher Nolan Ryan and the site of such lively events as

2-10     Crawfest; and

2-11           WHEREAS, Largely as a result of these efforts, the county

2-12     enjoys a booming tourist economy and attracts visitors from across

2-13     the state and nation who come to the area to experience the

2-14     unspoiled wilderness preserved within the Brazoria and San Bernard

2-15     national wildlife refuges, which boast some of the best

2-16     birdwatching in the nation, as well as to enjoy the natural

2-17     splendor of the miles of undeveloped beach and extensive marsh and

2-18     prairie land; and

2-19           WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike can pay a visit to the

2-20     county's colorful past with a trip through the plantation home of

2-21     Texas Governor James Stephen Hogg at the Varner-Hogg Plantation

2-22     State Historical Park and can also tour a replica of the first

2-23     capitol of the Republic of Texas in the historic town of West

2-24     Columbia, where the popular San Jacinto Festival is held; and

2-25           WHEREAS, The citizens of Brazoria County have played a major

2-26     role in the development of the Lone Star State and have created an

2-27     ideal environment in which to live, work, and play; it is indeed a

 3-1     great pleasure to join with our fellow Texans in saluting this

 3-2     extraordinary county at this time; now, therefore, be it

 3-3           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 3-4     Legislature hereby recognize March 25, 1997, as Brazoria County Day

 3-5     at the State Capitol and commend the county's citizens for their

 3-6     many significant contributions to our state.

                                                                      Bonner

                                                                        Uher

                                             _______________________________

                                                   Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.R. No. 476 was adopted by the House on March

         25, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House