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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Ward County are gathering in |
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Austin on April 15, 2009, to celebrate Ward County Day at the State |
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Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, This area of the West Texas plains was once home to |
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the Jumano and Comanche people, and Spanish explorers passed |
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through the area in the 1580s; settlement increased after the Texas |
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and Pacific Railway was built through the region in 1881, and in |
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1887, the Texas Legislature took a portion of Tom Green County and |
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designated it as Ward County, which is named in honor of Texas |
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Independence hero Thomas W. Ward; and |
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WHEREAS, Organized in 1892, Ward County was home to nearly |
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1,500 people by the turn of the 20th century; lacking a reliable |
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water source in the arid surroundings, settlers depended on |
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ranching more than farming during that era, though cotton |
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cultivation became more common in the 1910s; and |
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WHEREAS, It was another commodity--petroleum--that provided |
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the biggest boost to Ward County's prosperity; with the opening of |
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productive oil fields beginning in 1926, the county entered a boom |
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period and the population grew to more than 9,500 people by 1940; |
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much of the growth was focused on the town of Monahans, and in 1939 |
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it became the county seat, inheriting the title from Barstow; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, oil and gas production remains an important |
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part of the economy; the same is true of agricultural businesses, |
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particularly cattle, goat, and horse ranches; in addition, tourism |
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helps to employ numerous county residents; area attractions include |
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the Monahans Sandhills State Park, a showcase for the large sand |
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dunes that are one of the county's most prominent geographical |
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features, as well as the Million Barrel Museum and the Rattlesnake |
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Bomber Base Museum; in addition, the county hosts popular events |
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such as the Butterfield-Overland Stagecoach and Wagon Festival, |
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which takes place each year in July; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout its history, Ward County has made many |
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notable contributions to the greatness of the Lone Star State, and |
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its residents are indeed deserving of recognition on this special |
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day; 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 April 15, 2009, as Ward 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 productive visit to Austin. |