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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 304
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WHEREAS, Citizens of Washington County are visiting the |
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Capitol on February 28, 2007, to celebrate their rich heritage |
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and the role their county has played in building the |
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Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, Members of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred |
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began settling in the area of Washington County in 1821; |
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in 1836, at Washington-on-the-Brazos, delegates signed the |
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Texas Declaration of Independence and drafted a constitution for |
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the new republic; later, from 1842 to 1845, this community served |
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as the capital of the republic; and |
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WHEREAS, Washington County was created in 1836 and was |
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organized the following year; situated on the Blackland Prairies, |
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the region attracted substantial immigration and developed |
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quickly; included in the flow of newcomers were Germans, Czechs, |
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and Poles, who began arriving in the mid-19th century; and |
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WHEREAS, In the 1840s and 1850s, the establishment of |
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several colleges, among them Baylor University and a precursor |
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to Southwestern University, testified to the dynamic nature of |
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Washington County; today, Blinn College, founded in 1883 in |
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Brenham, the county seat, carries on the county's early tradition |
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of higher education; and |
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WHEREAS, The region's natural beauty and its prominent |
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role in early Texas history have made Washington County a popular |
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tourist destination; visitors can wander its scenic country |
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roads, enjoy the recreation afforded by Somerville Lake, and step |
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into the past at the museums in Brenham, Burton, Chappell Hill, |
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and Independence museums; the Star of the Republic Museum in |
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Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historical Park tells the story |
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of the Texas Republic; and |
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WHEREAS, Other popular attractions include the Blue Bell |
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Creameries, an eight-acre antique rose garden, and a miniature |
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horse farm; the county's well-known festivals include the |
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Washington County Fair, which is the oldest county fair in Texas, |
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Burton's Cotton Gin Festival, Chappell Hill's Bluebonnet and |
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Scarecrow festivals, and Brenham's Maifest; and |
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WHEREAS, The industrious residents of this Texas county |
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are preserving the best of their past and looking forward to the |
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challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and it is indeed a |
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pleasure to honor them at this time; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, |
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80th Legislature, hereby recognize February 28, 2007, as |
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Washington County Day at the State Capitol and extend to the |
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delegation present on this day sincere best wishes for an |
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enjoyable and memorable visit; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in |
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honor of this event. |
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Hegar |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on February 20, 2007. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |