1-1                                     1                                  
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 357
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pleasure in
 1-4     joining the residents of Van Zandt County, the Van Zandt County
 1-5     Choir, Vision 2002 members, and Van Zandt County elected officials
 1-6     in declaring Tuesday, March 13, 2001, as Van Zandt County Day; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, Van Zandt County was created by an enactment of
 1-8     the Texas Legislature on March 20, 1848; the county was named in
 1-9     honor of Isaac Van Zandt, an early pioneer who was a candidate for
1-10     governor of Texas and who died in 1847; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Canton is the county seat that was mapped out in
1-12     1850, incorporated in 1919, and was recently named a Main Street
1-13     City; Canton is the home of the world famous First Monday Trades
1-14     Day, one of the largest outdoor flea markets in the world; and
1-15           WHEREAS, The library of genealogy and local history located
1-16     in Canton is a treasure trove of information about Van Zandt County
1-17     and its citizens; and
1-18           WHEREAS, Edgewood, settled in the 1840s, is recognized for
1-19     its circa 1900 Edgewood Heritage Park, which is dedicated to the
1-20     preservation of rural culture and architectural history; and
1-21           WHEREAS, Edom, one of the oldest towns in the county,
 2-1     was established in 1856 and has located within its boundaries
 2-2     10 official state historical markers, many of which were
 2-3     researched by members of the Edom Historical Society; the town is
 2-4     making cultural history with its active Edom Civic Theatre; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, Fruitvale, founded in 1903, is noted for wooded
 2-6     areas and sandy land; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, Grand Saline, the first county seat of the county,
 2-8     was established in 1873, and is known as the home of native son
 2-9     Wiley Post, the Morton salt plant, the salt palace, and the new
2-10     Veterans' Memorial Wall; and
2-11           WHEREAS, Van was established in 1891 and is noted for its
2-12     oil fields and for the Van Area Museum of Oil and Natural History,
2-13     which recalls the boom times of the 1930s; and
2-14           WHEREAS, Wills Point was mapped out in 1873 as Iola and
2-15     later named Wills Point after William Wills; the Depot Museum
2-16     there houses a unique collection of railroad memorabilia and
2-17     agricultural artifacts; the town is the bluebird capital of Texas
2-18     and hosts the annual Bluebird Festival in April each year; and
2-19           WHEREAS, Van Zandt County has a population of over 40,000,
2-20     and its economy is based on oil, tourism, and agribusiness; much of
2-21     the county's annual income is from cattle, hogs, and dairy products;
2-22     it is also a major hay, sweet potato, blueberry, and nursery plant
2-23     producer; the county is fortunate to have the Sabine and Neches
 3-1     rivers, and it is home to Purtis Creek State Park; and
 3-2           WHEREAS, The Council of Van Zandt County Communities seeks
 3-3     to unite the people and towns in the county; and
 3-4           WHEREAS, The council helps in sharing calendars of events,
 3-5     supporting countywide activities, including the East Texas State
 3-6     Fair, the Van Zandt County Fair, and the Van Zandt County Relay for
 3-7     Life, and sponsoring the visit to Austin to focus on legislation
 3-8     affecting the county; now, therefore, be it
 3-9           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
3-10     77th Legislature, hereby express appreciation to the people
3-11     of Van Zandt County for the county's many amenities and its
3-12     contributions to our state and extend best wishes for a joyous
3-13     Van Zandt County Day on March 13, 2001; and, be it further
3-14           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
3-15     the Van Zandt County delegation as an expression of high regard
3-16     from the Texas Senate.
3-17                                                                    Cain
3-18                                  ______________________________________
3-19                                          President of the Senate
3-20                                       I hereby certify that the above
3-21                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
3-22                                  on March 13, 2001.
3-23                                  ______________________________________
3-24                                          Secretary of the Senate
3-25                                  ______________________________________
3-26                                           Member, Texas Senate