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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Loving County Day is taking place at the State |
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Capitol on March 31, 2009, and this occasion provides a welcome |
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opportunity to honor this notable West Texas county; and |
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WHEREAS, An area of plains and rolling hills along the |
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Texas-New Mexico border, Loving County is part of the Chihuahuan |
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Desert and lies to the east of the Pecos River; in prehistoric |
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times, the area was visited by nomadic hunters, but it saw little |
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settlement until well into the 1800s due to the lack of usable |
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water; the first community, Pope's Camp, was established in 1855; |
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Pope's Camp and another early town were based on irrigation |
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projects that sought to create a means of growing crops in the arid |
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surroundings, but these endeavors failed, and the settlements were |
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abandoned; and |
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WHEREAS, Loving County was separated into its own area in |
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1887 and named for early West Texas cattle rancher Oliver Loving, |
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but formal organization took longer; the first attempt to establish |
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local government in 1893 was plagued by problems, which resulted in |
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the area being reattached to Reeves County; it was not until 1931 |
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that Loving County was organized, making it the last in the Lone |
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Star State to be permanently established and the only one to go |
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through the process twice; and |
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WHEREAS, In the 1800s and early 1900s, cattle ranching was |
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the mainstay of the local economy, and it remains important today; |
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petroleum exploration got under way in the 1920s, and the |
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production of oil and natural gas has since become Loving County's |
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primary industry; and |
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WHEREAS, The discovery of the county's rich petroleum |
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reserves brought new residents to the area in the 1930s, which led |
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to the establishment of the town of Ramsey; it was soon renamed |
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Mentone and became the county seat, growing larger as the residents |
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of the nearby settlement of Porterville moved to the new community; |
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today, Mentone is the county's only town and serves as a supply |
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center for nearby oil fields; it is home to the historic Loving |
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County Courthouse, built in 1936; and |
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WHEREAS, Though it is one of the least populated counties in |
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the nation, Loving County nonetheless plays an important role in |
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our state's energy industry, and it is a pleasure to honor this |
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distinctive area and the hardworking individuals who make their |
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homes there; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 31, 2009, as Loving County Day |
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at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere |
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best wishes for an enjoyable and productive visit to Austin. |