1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 397 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pleasure 1-4 in joining the residents of Van Zandt County, including the 1-5 gifted and talented students from Wills Point Junior High School, 1-6 their principal and advisors, the Van Zandt County Choir, and 1-7 Van Zandt County and city elected officials in declaring Tuesday, 1-8 March 16, 1999, as Van Zandt County Day; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Van Zandt County was carved out of Henderson County 1-10 and was created by an enactment of the Texas Legislature on 1-11 March 20, 1948; the county was named in honor of Isaac Van Zandt, 1-12 an early pioneer who was a candidate for Governor of Texas, but 1-13 was stricken by yellow fever and died in 1847; and 1-14 WHEREAS, The two largest towns in the county are Wills Point 1-15 and Canton; Wills Point was mapped out in 1873 and originally 1-16 named Iola and later named Wills Point after William Wills; the 1-17 Wills Cabin has been preserved and is now being moved to a 1-18 permanent park; Wills Point is considered the Bluebird Capitol 1-19 of Texas and is host for the Bluebird Festival in April; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Canton was mapped out in 1850 and was incorporated 1-21 in 1919; it is the county seat and is home of the world-famous 1-22 First Monday Trade Days, one of the largest outdoor flea markets 1-23 in the world; First Monday Trade Days allows Canton to have the 1-24 lowest tax rate in the county; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Other towns include Edom, Edgewood, Van, Fruitvale, 2-2 and Grand Saline; Edom, one of the county's oldest towns, was 2-3 established in 1856 and is known for the annual Edom Art Fair, 2-4 its active historical society and its civic theater; Edgewood was 2-5 established in 1878 and is known for its Edgewood Heritage Park 2-6 Historical Village; and 2-7 WHEREAS, Van was established in 1891 and is noted for its oil 2-8 fields and for the Van Area Museum of Oil and Natural History; 2-9 Grand Saline, the first county seat and post office, was 2-10 established in 1873 and is known for Morton Salt and its salt 2-11 mine; it is home to the only building made completely of salt, 2-12 the Grand Saline Salt Palace; and 2-13 WHEREAS, Van Zandt County has a population of over 40,000 2-14 and its economy is based on oil, tourism, and agribusinesses; most 2-15 of the county's annual income is from cattle, hogs, and dairy 2-16 products; it is a major hay, blueberry, and sweet potato producer; 2-17 the county is fortunate to have the Sabine and Neches rivers and is 2-18 home to Purtis Creek State Park; and 2-19 WHEREAS, Van Zandt County is becoming known for its dedication 2-20 to uniting the people and communities of the county through the 2-21 works of the Council of Van Zandt County Communities in sharing 2-22 calendars of events, supporting countywide activities including, 2-23 but not limited to, the Van Zandt County Fair and Parade, the East 2-24 Texas State Fair, and the Van Zandt County Relay for Life, and 2-25 especially sponsoring the legislative year visit to Austin through 2-26 Van Zandt County Day focusing on legislation affecting citizens of 3-1 Van Zandt County; now, therefore, be it 3-2 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-3 76th Legislature, hereby express appreciation to the people 3-4 of Van Zandt County for the county's many amenities and its 3-5 contributions to our state and extend best wishes for a joyous 3-6 Van Zandt County Day; and, be it further 3-7 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared 3-8 for the Van Zandt County delegation as an expression of high regard 3-9 from the Texas Senate. 3-10 Cain 3-11 Armbrister Harris Ogden 3-12 Barrientos Haywood Ratliff 3-13 Bernsen Jackson Shapiro 3-14 Bivins Lindsay Shapleigh 3-15 Brown Lucio Sibley 3-16 Carona Luna Truan 3-17 Duncan Madla Wentworth 3-18 Ellis Moncrief West 3-19 Fraser Nelson Whitmire 3-20 Gallegos Nixon Zaffirini 3-21 Perry, President of the Senate 3-22 ______________________________________ 3-23 President of the Senate 3-24 I hereby certify that the above 3-25 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-26 on March 16, 1999. 3-27 ______________________________________ 3-28 Secretary of the Senate 3-29 ______________________________________ 3-30 Member, Texas Senate