H.R. No. 397



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Residents of Collin County are gathering at the 
State Capitol on March 1, 2005, to celebrate their community's 
contributions to the Lone Star State; and
	WHEREAS, Located almost entirely within the state's 
Blackland Prairie, the area that is now Collin County was long 
inhabited by the Caddo Indians; in the early 1840s, the region began 
to attract settlers affiliated with the Peters colony, and both the 
county and its seat, McKinney, were named in honor of the pioneer 
settler Collin McKinney, a signer of the Texas Declaration of 
Independence; and
	WHEREAS, Farmers were drawn to the area by its fertile soil 
and available timber and water; by 1872, the Houston and Texas 
Central Railway reached the county, opening the door to 
agricultural trade and initiating a period of economic growth that 
spanned half a century; and
	WHEREAS, Recovery from the Great Depression was aided by the 
work of the Texas Research Foundation, which was created to improve 
farming practices through the use of scientific discoveries; in 
1946, the foundation began to establish laboratories and test 
fields at Renner, in the southwestern part of the county; that same 
year, the Collin County Soil Conservation District was formed and 
began planning the construction of 144 flood-retarding projects, 
including the 21,000-acre Lake Lavon; and
	WHEREAS, Located just 30 miles south of the Red River, Collin 
County has experienced a 34 percent population increase in the last 
five years, and it currently ranks as the fastest-growing Texas 
county of those with a population of more than 50,000; and
	WHEREAS, The city of Allen, home of Olympic gold medal 
winner, Carly Patterson, is one of the fastest-growing cities in 
North Texas, with more than 60,000 citizens; its citizens are 
dedicated to the development of a quality community with a 
top-ranked education system, family-oriented residential areas, 
innovative recreational facilities, and premier business parks; 
and
	WHEREAS, Before its official founding, the city of Frisco was 
a campground for Native Americans, and its original footpath became 
the "Texas Road," a dirt highway for travelers in prairie schooners 
between the Red River and Austin; after the arrival of the railroad, 
Frisco became a commercial hub for farmers and ranchers in the area; 
with a population today of nearly 60,000 residents, it has joined 
the ranks as one of the fastest-growing cities in North Texas and is 
home to a number of corporation headquarters, regional offices, 
minor league baseball, and junior league hockey; and
	WHEREAS, McKinney, the county seat, is the fastest-growing 
city in the nation of those cities with a population of at least 
50,000; established in 1845, it offers visitors a host of 
interesting attractions, including the Collin County Youth and Farm 
Museum and the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary; 
adjacent to Lake Lavon, McKinney is also home to a number of 
beautiful outdoor recreation areas, including Wilson Creek Park and 
Finch Park; and
	WHEREAS, The largest city in the county, Plano, boasts a 
population of more than 237,000 residents; visitors to the 
flourishing city can enjoy its restored downtown square, which 
features brick sidewalks, turn-of-the-century lampposts, and 
numerous specialty shops, galleries, and restaurants; and
	WHEREAS, The residents of Collin County have played an 
important part in preserving their region's proud heritage and 
thriving, diversified economy, and it is a pleasure to honor them as 
they look forward to a bright and promising future; now, therefore, 
be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby recognize March 1, 2005, as Collin County Day at 
the State Capitol and extend to its citizens here today sincere best 
wishes for an enjoyable visit to Austin.

                                                                          McCall
                                                                          Paxton

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 397 was adopted by the House on March 
1, 2005, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House