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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Zapata County are gathering in Austin |
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to celebrate Zapata County Day at the State Capitol on April 26, |
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2007; and |
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WHEREAS, This region of the South Texas plains along the Rio |
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Grande has been inhabited by humans for 11,000 years; the first |
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European explorer to pass through was Captain Miguel de la Garza |
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Falcon, in 1747, and in 1750, 23 families from Coahuila settled at |
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Nuestra Senora de los Dolores Hacienda, near present-day San |
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Ygnacio; by 1755 the ferry there was the busiest crossing on the Rio |
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Grande; and |
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WHEREAS, After the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 the |
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region became part of Texas; the present county was formed from |
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Starr and Webb counties in 1858 and named after Antonio Zapata, a |
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leader of the short-lived Republic of the Rio Grande; today the |
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county is a leading site for ranching and oil and gas production; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Situated on the shores of Falcon Lake, county seat |
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Zapata is a prime destination for winter tourists, fishermen, and |
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golfers; the Zapata County Fair is one of the largest small town |
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fairs in Texas, featuring live entertainment by country and western |
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and Tejano artists, as well as carnival rides, livestock and crafts |
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displays, and a rodeo; Falcon Lake is an ideal location to fish for |
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bass, stripers, and catfish; the area also provides excellent |
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hunting for a variety of large game, including deer and javelina; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, With its distinctive Spanish-Mexican architecture, |
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historic San Ygnacio offers visitors such historical attractions as |
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the La Paz Museum, the Nuestra Senora del Refugio Catholic Church, |
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and the Jesus Trevino Fort; and |
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WHEREAS, The county is widely recognized as a prized |
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destination for birders, and rock hunters enjoy discovering the |
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profusion of agates, jaspers, and petrified woods that have been |
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deposited over the millennia by the Rio Grande; additionally, the |
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World Hang-Gliding Encampment every July draws hang-gliders and |
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paragliders from all over the world; taking advantage of the |
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constant southeasterly wind blowing off the Gulf of Mexico, many |
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hang-gliders have set world records in the county; and |
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WHEREAS, Preserving their rich heritage even as they look |
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forward to a bright future, the citizens of Zapata County may take |
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special pride in their contributions to the history and culture of |
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the Lone Star State; 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 April 26, 2007, as Zapata County Day |
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at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best |
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wishes for an informative and enjoyable stay in Austin. |
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Guillen |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1660 was adopted by the House on May |
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18, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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