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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 172
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WHEREAS, Jim Wells County Day at the State Capitol is being |
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celebrated February 12, 2009, and the Texas Senate takes great |
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pleasure in recognizing this region and its citizens who have |
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contributed to the development of the Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, In the early 1500s, Alvar Nuñez de Cabeza de Vaca |
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explored the area known today as Jim Wells County, and his |
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records tell of tuna or prickly pear festivals held annually by |
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his coastal Indian captors around the present-day City of Alice; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Originally a part of Nueces County, Jim Wells |
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County was created and organized by the Texas Legislature on |
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March 11, 1911, and the City of Alice became the county seat; the |
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county was named for a prominent political figure and land |
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developer, James B. Wells, Jr., who was also the purchasing agent |
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for the King Ranch; and |
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WHEREAS, The area comprising Jim Wells County figures |
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prominently in the early days of Texas, for the land had become a |
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part of Texas after it gained its independence from Mexico in |
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1836; and |
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WHEREAS, N. G. Collins had extensive landholdings in the |
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area before early settlers to the region arrived in 1850; the |
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settlers brought only the barest necessities with them to build a |
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general store and a trading post, creating the town of Collins |
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east of where Alice is now located; the town of Collins was |
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short-lived since the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad was |
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built two miles west of the community when landowners refused to |
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sell the right-of-way through the town; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1886, a new town developed where two rail lines |
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intersected; after several name changes, the new town of Alice, |
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named for Alice King, began to develop economically; located at |
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that time in the northwestern part of Nueces County, the town |
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eventually became the largest cattle-shipping point in the |
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world; and |
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WHEREAS, Located in the geographical heart of South Texas, |
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along the "Texas Tropical Trail," Alice is known as the "Hub of |
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South Texas" due to its strategic location at the intersection of |
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State Highway 44 and United States Highway 281; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to the oil business, ranching, cattle |
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shipping, and cotton and grain production, a fine public school |
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system, a modern hospital, and an expanding health-related |
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service industry combine to drive the area's economy; and |
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WHEREAS, Situated on primary United States-Mexico trade |
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routes connecting Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley with the Port |
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of Corpus Christi, the City of Alice and Jim Wells County are |
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developing into a major "Hub of International Trade"; United |
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States Highway 281 has been named in the National Highway System |
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Designation Act of 1995 as a key link in the future I-69 NAFTA |
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Superhighway System; and |
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WHEREAS, Jim Wells County is a valuable agricultural area |
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that has contributed significantly to the development of the |
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Southwestern part of the United States; since the mid-1800s when |
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the famous Chisholm Trail passed through the county, the cattle |
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industry has played a major role in its economy; mesquite brush |
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and grasses in the western part provide ideal grazing conditions |
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for livestock, and coastal plains to the east produce coastal |
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Bermuda and vegetables; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1936, the first notable oil activity in the |
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county was initiated, and the first major oil producer, The Texas |
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Royalty Corporation and Lucy Petroleum Company One, was bought |
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northeast of Alice; the oil rush brought many new families to Jim |
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Wells County; and |
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WHEREAS, The history of Jim Wells County has been carefully |
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preserved at the South Texas Museum, which has been designated a |
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Texas Historical Landmark; donated by the McGill family, the |
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museum was the family's old ranch headquarters; and |
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WHEREAS, Proud of their unique heritage, the citizens of |
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Jim Wells County have retained the social fabric of their culture |
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through fiestas, county fairs, rodeos, and outdoor activities |
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such as hunting and water sports; and |
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WHEREAS, Jim Wells County Day at the State Capitol is an |
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appropriate occasion for the Texas Senate to recognize the |
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residents of Jim Wells County and to commend them for their |
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excellent accomplishments; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st |
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Legislature, hereby declare February 12, 2009, Jim Wells County |
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Day at the State Capitol and join the citizens of Jim Wells County |
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as they celebrate their county's many assets; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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the citizens of Jim Wells County as an expression of esteem from |
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the Texas Senate. |
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Hinojosa |
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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 10, 2009. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |