78R5867 MDM-D

By:  Eiland                                                     H.C.R. No. 96 



CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives and Senate take 
great pleasure in joining in the festive celebration of Chambers 
County Day at the State Capitol on April 1, 2003; and
	WHEREAS, Situated on some 600 square miles of Gulf Coast 
plains, Chambers County has a long and colorful history; in 1756 the 
Spaniards erected a mission and presidio near present-day 
Wallisville to secure their control of the region, and in 1818 a 
group of French supporters of Napoleon Bonaparte established a 
short-lived colony near present-day Anahuac; later, in 1832 and 
1835, disturbances at Anahuac between Anglo settlers and Mexican 
authorities foreshadowed the Texas Revolution; and
	WHEREAS, Chambers County was created from portions of Liberty 
and Jefferson counties in 1858 and named in honor of a prominent 
local resident, General T. J. Chambers; Wallisville served as the 
county seat until 1908, when Anahuac assumed that role; other 
communities in the county today include Beach City, Cove, Double 
Bayou, Hankamer, Mont Belvieu, Oak Island, Old River-Winfree, Smith 
Point, Stowell, and Winnie; and
	WHEREAS, The richly varied attractions of Chambers County 
draw countless tourists; Anahuac, officially known as the Alligator 
Capital of Texas, hosts the Texas Gatorfest each September at Fort 
Anahuac Park, the site of early Texas resistance to Mexican rule; 
another major celebration is the Texas Rice Festival, held in 
Winnie in September and October; and
	WHEREAS, Visitors are also drawn by historic sites, excellent 
golf courses, and bountiful opportunities for birding, fishing, 
hunting, crabbing, boating, camping, and photography; among the 
standout attractions are Wallisville Heritage Park, Houston 
Raceway Park, Moody National Wildlife Refuge, and Anahuac National 
Wildlife Refuge; and
	WHEREAS, Contributing to the county's economy, in addition to 
tourism, are the petroleum industry, chemical plants, 
agribusiness, fish and oyster processing, and manufacturing; and
	WHEREAS, Situated between the Houston metroplex and the 
Golden Triangle of Beaumont-Orange-Port Arthur, Chambers County is 
able to offer its people the best of both worlds--quiet, rural 
living and convenient access to big-city amenities; and
	WHEREAS, The residents of Chambers County are justifiably 
proud of their achievements, for this noteworthy region and its 
citizens have played a significant role in the development of the 
Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 78th Legislature of the State of Texas 
hereby designate April 1, 2003, as Chambers County Day at the State 
Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the fine citizens who have 
traveled to Austin to celebrate this occasion.