SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 227

	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the 
residents of Ellis County in declaring Tuesday, March 4, 2003, 
Ellis County Day at the Capitol; and

	WHEREAS, A county of rural charm and natural beauty,
Ellis County is located in North Central Texas and was created
in 1849 from Robertson and Navarro counties; and

	WHEREAS, The county was named for Richard Ellis, who was 
president of the Convention of 1836, which declared Texas' 
independence from Mexico; and

	WHEREAS, During the early days, the land in Ellis County 
served as the buffalo hunting grounds for several Indian tribes; 
the earliest inhabitants and hunters were the Tonkawa, Kickapoo, 
Bidai, Anadarko, and Waco; and

	WHEREAS, Today, Ellis County is one of the leading 
agricultural areas in the state; although the early settlers were 
chiefly stock raisers, the land has been cultivated since its 
first settlement in 1843; and

	WHEREAS, The fertile black land soils extend through the 
center of the county and the terrain varies from gently rolling 
hills to level plain; on the east border are the Trinity River and 
Chambers Creek; and

	WHEREAS, The county's chief economic resource is 
livestock, with cotton, sorghums, and other grains contributing 
to its economic stability; and

	WHEREAS, The county seat is Waxahachie, a city which 
derives its name from the Indian word for "cow or buffalo creek" 
and was originally a part of the Chisholm Trail; and

	WHEREAS, This historic town has been the location of 
several major films and is well known for its charming 
Victorian-style homes with gingerbread trim; and

	WHEREAS, The Ellis County courthouse in Waxahachie is 
elaborate; it was constructed with granite from Burnet County
and red sandstone; Italian artisans were imported to carve the 
extensive stone exterior; and

	WHEREAS, Ennis, situated in the eastern part of the
county, was designated the Bluebonnet Capital of Texas by the 
Texas Legislature in 1997; a cultural center for descendants of 
Czech farmers who first settled on the Blackland Prairie in 1875, 
Ennis is the site of the National Polka Festival, as well as the 
Texas Motorplex, a professional and amateur track that offers 
world-class auto racing; and

	WHEREAS, The other charming towns of Ellis County balance 
the charm and comfort of small-town life with convenient access 
to downtown Dallas and the Dallas/Fort Worth International 
Airport; and

	WHEREAS, The county is host to numerous festive events, 
including the Scarborough Faire, which is a springtime 
Renaissance fair, Bethlehem Revisited, the National Polka 
Festival, and the Bluebonnet Trail Festivals; and

	WHEREAS, Residents of Ellis County have preserved the 
natural beauty of the land and are hospitable and friendly, 
making Ellis County a pleasurable place to live and visit; now, 
therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
78th Legislature, hereby express appreciation to the people of 
Ellis County for their contributions to the state and extend best 
wishes to them for a celebratory Ellis County Day at the Capitol; 
and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 
Ellis County as an expression of regard from the Texas Senate.
                                                                         Averitt




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on March 4, 2003.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate