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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Matagorda County are gathering in |
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Austin to celebrate Matagorda County Day at the State Capitol on |
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March 13, 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, The Karankawa were living in this region of prairie, |
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beaches, salt marshes, and coastal waterways when the first |
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European explorers arrived in the 16th century; there were |
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unsuccessful efforts at establishing a colony, and the famous |
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French explorer La Salle's last expedition came to an unhappy end |
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along the coast in the area in 1686, when his ship La Belle sank and |
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he was murdered by his own men; and |
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WHEREAS, Anglo-Americans began arriving in the early 1820s, |
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and the town of Matagorda was founded in 1829 once Stephen F. Austin |
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had convinced the Mexican government that a military post was |
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needed to protect incoming settlers; and |
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WHEREAS, Following the Texas Revolution, Matagorda County |
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was one of the first 23 counties established by the Republic of |
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Texas; it was named for the Spanish word for "thick brush," after |
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the dense canebrakes along the shore of the region; Matagorda was |
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named the county seat and became not only a major seaport but also |
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an important port of entry for people coming to Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Livestock, cotton, and sugar were the foundations of |
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the county's economy in the early years; after the boll weevil |
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weakened the cotton crop in the early 1900s, many farmers turned to |
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the cultivation of rice; the economy was further diversified by the |
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discovery of oil and sulphur in the early 20th century; and |
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WHEREAS, Today turfgrass, cattle, cotton, rice, sorghum, |
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corn, and seafood are all mainstays of the county's livelihood; |
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petroleum and petrochemical operations also remain essential, and |
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the county is home to the twin reactors of the South Texas Nuclear |
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Project; and |
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WHEREAS, Bay City, which became county seat in 1894, is a |
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thriving center of petroleum and chemical operations, commercial |
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fishing, and tourism; the Matagorda County Birding and Nature |
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Center spans 34 acres along the Colorado River with nature trails, |
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gardens, and boardwalks, and is an excellent introduction to the |
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natural wonders of the county; and |
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WHEREAS, Palacios is home to over 300 commercial shrimping |
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boats, which bring in an annual harvest of over 15 million pounds, |
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making the city second among Texas fishing ports and 13th |
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nationwide; the recovery of La Salle's lost ship La Belle from |
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Matagorda Bay in 1997 is one of the most important archaeological |
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finds in North America; artifacts from the ship are on display in |
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the Palacios Area Museum, and a half-scale replica of the ship |
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called La Petite Belle can be seen at the South Bay Marina; and |
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WHEREAS, As the southern end of the Central Flyway, one of the |
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nation's four main migratory bird routes, the county has become a |
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mecca for birders; such prime birding sites as Big Boggy National |
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Wildlife Refuge, the Matagorda Bay Nature Park, the Mad Island |
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Wildlife Management Area, and the Nature Conservancy Clive Runnells |
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Family Mad Island Marsh Preserve draw bird-watchers from all over |
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the world; birders in Mad Island Marsh have counted the highest |
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number of bird species in North America for eight years in a row |
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during the annual Christmas Bird Count; and |
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WHEREAS, Blessed with abundant wildlife, scenic wonders, and |
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natural resources, Matagorda County offers a plethora of |
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opportunities for residents and visitors alike; its long, colorful |
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history as one of the oldest regions of the Lone Star State is |
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matched only by its potential for a bright future; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 13, 2007, as Matagorda County |
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Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best |
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wishes for an enjoyable stay in Austin. |