SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 540
         WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
  welcome the citizens of Culberson County who have come to the
  State Capitol to celebrate Culberson County Day; and
         WHEREAS, Located in the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas,
  Culberson County covers 3,815 square miles of fairly level to
  mountainous land, with elevations ranging from 3,000 feet to
  8,751 feet on Guadalupe Peak, the highest point in the state and a
  major tourist attraction in Guadalupe Mountains National Park;
  and
         WHEREAS, A Folsom point found in the Guadalupe Mountains is
  evidence of human occupation of the area some 12,000 years ago;
  the Apaches, the area's most famous indigenous inhabitants,
  arrived about 600 years ago; the forbidding terrain and the
  presence of the Apaches deterred most Spanish exploration and
  settlement; and
         WHEREAS, By the middle of the 19th century, new routes were
  being sought to connect central and eastern Texas with El Paso
  and California, and the 1849 gold rush increased the demand;
  settlement in the area began in earnest with the completion of
  the Texas and Pacific Railway in the 1880s and the growth of
  ranching in the area; Culberson County was created in 1911 from
  El Paso County and named after David B. Culberson; the county was
  organized and Van Horn was named its county seat in 1912; and
         WHEREAS, The extraction of minerals has long been
  important in Culberson County, which has yielded copper, silver,
  molybdenum, gypsum, talc, and many other minerals; oil was
  discovered in 1953; the people of Culberson County have long
  realized the benefits of attracting visitors to the area, and
  tourism has become increasingly important in the local economy; and
         WHEREAS, Culberson County Day at the State Capitol
  provides an opportunity to honor the county's rich past and its
  contributions to the history of this state; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st
  Legislature, hereby recognize Culberson County Day and extend
  best wishes to the delegation from Culberson County for a
  memorable visit to the State Capitol; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
  the citizens of Culberson County as a memento of this special day.
  Uresti
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on March 31, 2009.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate