By Lewis of Orange                                      H.R. No. 57
         77R4050 MMS-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, On January 29, 2001, many proud residents of Orange
 1-2     County will travel to Austin to celebrate their county's rich
 1-3     heritage and myriad contributions to the Lone Star State; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, Bordered by the Sabine and Neches rivers, Orange
 1-5     County is located in far East Texas; the county was established
 1-6     from a portion of Jefferson County in 1852 and was named for the
 1-7     wild orange groves that graced the banks of the Sabine during the
 1-8     days of French and Spanish settlement; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, The fertile coastal soil of this area, combined with
1-10     a temperate climate and a long growing season, has made Orange
1-11     County a major center for the production of citrus, rice, cotton,
1-12     peas, soybeans, vegetables, nursery stock, and Christmas trees;
1-13     farmers also derive substantial income from horses, cattle, hogs,
1-14     and crayfish; and
1-15           WHEREAS, For those seeking outdoor recreation, the forests,
1-16     grasslands, rivers, and marshes, as well as easy access to the Gulf
1-17     of Mexico through Sabine Lake and Sabine Pass, offer the promise of
1-18     excellent hunting and freshwater and saltwater fishing; the great
1-19     number of exotic birds that can be found in the county also make it
1-20     a prime bird watching area; and
1-21           WHEREAS, Orange County has established itself as a hub of
1-22     industrial activity; together with healthy timber-processing and
1-23     shipping-related industries, the county is also renowned for its
1-24     production of petrochemicals, a sector that has spawned a
 2-1     spectacular miles-long stretch of steel, glass, catwalks, and
 2-2     flames  aptly called Chemical Row; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, The county seat, Orange, boasts a host of cultural
 2-4     and historical resources, including the Community Playhouse,
 2-5     Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts, and the Stark Museum of
 2-6     Art, in addition to the Heritage House Museum, W. H. Stark House,
 2-7     Central Fire Station, and Heritage History Museum of Orange County;
 2-8     each May Orange hosts the Annual International Gumbo Cook-off at
 2-9     the Orange Civic Plaza, where more than 22,000 visitors come to
2-10     enjoy a wide variety of award-winning gumbo, craft exhibits, and a
2-11     festive carnival midway; and
2-12           WHEREAS, The residents of Orange County are justifiably proud
2-13     of  their community and its contributions to the Lone Star State,
2-14     and it is indeed appropriate that the county be given special
2-15     legislative recognition at this time; now, therefore, be it
2-16           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-17     Legislature hereby recognize January 29, 2001, as Orange County Day
2-18     at the State Capitol and join the citizens of this historic and
2-19     vital region in paying tribute to this fine county.