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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the State of Texas |
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is pleased to join the proud citizens of Victoria in celebrating |
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Victoria Day at the State Capitol on February 28, 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, The city of Victoria and Victoria County have a rich |
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history; one of the historical highlights was when the Republic of |
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Mexico approved Don Martin DeLeon's request for a large land grant |
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on the lower Guadalupe River in 1824; and |
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WHEREAS, A highly respected Mexican citizen, Don Martin |
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DeLeon received permission to establish a town at a site known |
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earlier as Cypress Grove; established with 41 families, the town |
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would become known as Victoria, named after Guadalupe Victoria, the |
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president of Mexico; and |
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WHEREAS, Victoria's Main Street today was known then as La |
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Calle de los Diez Amigos, or The Street of the Ten Friends; the town |
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was incorporated under the Republic of Texas in 1839, and the first |
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property taxes were assessed in 1843; and |
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WHEREAS, Ranching was the first major enterprise in the area, |
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and it brought in capital needed for development; commercial |
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ventures became successful, and by 1917, paved streets were |
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becoming common; by the end of World War II, Victoria had become one |
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of the fastest growing cities in Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, The city has a symphony orchestra, a fine arts |
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association, museums, libraries, and the National Zoo of Texas, |
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which is home to more than 200 native Texas animals and plants; and |
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WHEREAS, Three major highways, railroads, and commercial |
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airlines make Victoria easily accessible to businesses; it is also |
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located on a barge canal which is connected to the Gulf Intracoastal |
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Waterway; as the Victoria County seat, the city serves as the |
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commercial center of this thriving area; and |
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WHEREAS, In the fall of 2004, in front of the sign at the |
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entrance to The Street of the Ten Friends, the Victoria Chamber of |
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Commerce and the Victoria Hispanic Chamber of Commerce announced |
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their intent to merge their two successful organizations; today, |
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the Victoria Chamber of Commerce is stronger for that union and |
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better represents the business community that it serves; and |
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WHEREAS, Victoria is home to excellent public schools, a |
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number of major employers, a university, and a community college; |
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the city offers first-rate medical care, and it is an inviting city |
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with an expanding economy; and |
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WHEREAS, The largest city in the "Golden Crescent Region," |
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Victoria serves as the health, education, government, and retail |
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service center for a five-county market area with a population of |
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more than 185,000; the city thrives on the area's petrochemical |
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industry, oil and gas exploration, retail trade, and agriculture; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Two of the city's qualities that appeal to all ages |
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are big-city convenience and small-town friendliness; Victoria is |
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an excellent town in which to live, work, and raise a family, and it |
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is known for its appealing mix of history, natural attractions, and |
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exciting art scene, and Victoria Day at the State Capitol provides a |
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fitting opportunity to honor it; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 28, 2007, as Victoria Day at |
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the State Capitol and welcome those individuals who have traveled |
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to Austin to take part in the occasion. |