R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Many proud residents of Fort Bend County will travel 1-2 to Austin on March 3, 1999, to celebrate Fort Bend County Day at 1-3 the Capitol; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Created in 1837, Fort Bend County was named for a 1-5 bend on the Brazos River where members of Stephen F. Austin's Old 1-6 Three Hundred settled in the 1820s; Richmond, the county seat, was 1-7 officially established on January 13, 1838, the same year that the 1-8 county was formally organized; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Fort Bend County soon became home to a diverse mix 1-10 of citizens that included Czech immigrants, African Americans, 1-11 Mexican Americans, railroad workers, and oil men; many significant 1-12 characters in Texas and American history have passed through the 1-13 county over the years, including Texas pioneer Jane Long and famed 1-14 temperance leader Carry Nation, who began her crusade against 1-15 "demon rum" in the city of Richmond; and 1-16 WHEREAS, Located on the fertile Gulf Coastal Plain, the 1-17 county has a rich history of farming and ranching, although today 1-18 the area's residents also rely on the production of oil, minerals, 1-19 and other natural resources to keep the economy strong; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Fort Bend County's colorful past lives on in its 1-21 many historic sites, memorials, and museums, such as the Fort Bend 1-22 County Historical Museum, which has earned recognition as one of 1-23 the state's best small museums; in addition, the George Ranch 1-24 Historical Park offers visitors the unique opportunity to step back 2-1 in time and experience life in three different periods of Texas 2-2 history, as the park is home to an 1820s farmstead, an 1890s 2-3 Victorian mansion, and a 1930s cattle ranch; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Other recreational and tourist opportunities abound, 2-5 including Decker Park, McFarlane House, the Long-Smith Cottage, and 2-6 the beautiful Fort Bend County Courthouse, which has merited 2-7 inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places; Brazos Bend 2-8 State Park offers an unparalleled opportunity to observe the rugged 2-9 natural beauty and diverse wildlife of this region, and watchful 2-10 visitors may catch glimpses of deer, coyotes, Russian boar, 2-11 American alligators, and a host of migratory birds that inhabit the 2-12 park's woodlands and marshes; and 2-13 WHEREAS, The citizens of Fort Bend County are justifiably 2-14 proud of this attractive and bountiful region, for this 2-15 fast-growing county and its exceptional citizens have played a 2-16 significant role in Texas' development, and their many 2-17 contributions to the Lone Star State are truly worthy of special 2-18 recognition; now, therefore, be it 2-19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-20 Legislature hereby designate March 3, 1999, as Fort Bend County Day 2-21 at the Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the county's visiting 2-22 citizens; and, be it further 2-23 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-24 prepared for prominent display in Fort Bend County as a 2-25 commemoration of this grand occasion and as an expression of high 2-26 regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Olivo Howard _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 330 was adopted by the House on March 3, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House