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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, On March 7, 2007, proud residents of Hunt County are |
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visiting Austin on the occasion of Hunt County Day at the State |
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Capitol, presenting a fitting opportunity to celebrate that vibrant |
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region of the Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, Located in the Blackland Prairie of northeastern |
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Texas, Hunt County's first inhabitants were the Kiowa Indians; |
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Anglo settlers arrived in 1839, and the county was officially |
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formed from parts of Fannin and Nacogdoches Counties in 1846; with |
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Greenville as its seat, the county was named after Memucan Hunt, |
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secretary of the navy and minister to Washington under the Republic |
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of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, While the county's early economy depended mainly on |
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cotton, life changed dramatically after the Civil War; the arrival |
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of the railroad in the mid-1870s was a catalyst for 11 communities |
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that sprang up around train depots, and by the early 20th century, |
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Hunt County was home to the first municipally owned public |
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utilities in Texas and a number of industries centered around the |
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cotton trade, such as cotton-spinning mills, cotton compresses, and |
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a cottonseed-oil refinery; and |
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WHEREAS, Hunt County has continued to grow and today has more |
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than 82,000 residents; its diverse economy now includes such |
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industries as aircraft electronics and plastics distribution, and |
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eight Fortune 500 companies have offices in Greenville; and |
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WHEREAS, The county is well served by two institutions of |
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higher learning, Texas A&M University--Commerce and the Greenville |
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Center of Paris Junior College, and it is enriched by a number of |
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recreational and cultural attractions; picturesque Lake Tawakoni |
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State Park is a destination for boating, swimming, camping, and |
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hiking, the Mathews Prairie Nature Preserve, a 100-acre tract of |
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native prairie meadow that has never been plowed, is ideal for |
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birders and wildflower enthusiasts, and the Audie Murphy/American |
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Cotton Museum commemorates the importance of cotton to the region |
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and celebrates the life of Hunt County native Audie Murphy, film |
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star and the most decorated American soldier of World War II; and |
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Hunt County may take justifiable |
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pride in their community and know that it has contributed immensely |
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to the history and vitality of Texas; 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 March 7, 2007, as Hunt County Day at |
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the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere |
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best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable stay in Austin. |