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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The celebration of Ward County Day at the State |
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Capitol on March 31, 2011, provides a fitting opportunity to |
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recognize its fascinating place in the annals of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Once roamed by the Jumano and Comanche people, Ward |
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County is located along the southwestern edge of the High Plains; |
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Spanish explorers Antonio de Espejo and Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca |
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left journals describing their travels through the area in the |
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1580s, but it was some three centuries before large-scale |
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settlement arrived with the advent of the Texas and Pacific |
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Railway; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature carved out territory from Tom |
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Green County and organized it as Ward County in 1892, naming it |
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after Thomas William "Peg Leg" Ward, an Irishman who served as a |
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colonel in the Republic of Texas Army and whose myriad roles in the |
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state's early history included service as chief clerk for the House |
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of Representatives in 1839; the red sandstone Ward County |
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Courthouse was built in 1893 in Barstow, the original county seat, |
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and the town's residents numbered nearly 1,500 by the turn of the |
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century; and |
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WHEREAS, Until the early 20th century, the economy revolved |
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around ranching; irrigation projects on the Pecos River allowed the |
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planting of numerous vineyards and orchards, but a dam failure and |
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drought conditions plagued farmers; nevertheless, cotton |
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production expanded and covered more than 10,000 acres by 1920; the |
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opening of the Henrick oilfield in 1926 ushered in a period of great |
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prosperity, and during the boom, Monahans became the economic |
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center and county seat; the county's population reached about 9,500 |
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people by 1940; and |
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WHEREAS, Through the opening of the magnificent Monahans |
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Sandhills State Historic Park in 1957, Ward County gained tourism |
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as another cornerstone of its economy; present-day attractions also |
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include the Million Barrel Museum and the Rattlesnake Bomber Base |
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Museum, as well as events such as the annual Butterfield-Overland |
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Stagecoach and Wagon Festival; and |
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WHEREAS, Those who call Ward County home can take justifiable |
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pride in a county as colorful and many-faceted as its heroic |
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namesake, and it is indeed a pleasure to welcome these citizens to |
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Austin on this special day; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 31, 2011, 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 a memorable and enjoyable stay. |