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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the State of Texas |
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is pleased to recognize the citizens of Wharton County who have come |
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to Austin to celebrate Wharton County Day at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Wharton County was founded in April of 1846 and |
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named for two Texas heroes, brothers William Harris Wharton and |
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John Austin Wharton; and |
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WHEREAS, Wharton County is located on the Coastal Plain of |
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southeast Texas on United States Highway 59 southwest of Houston; |
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the county is bounded by Matagorda, Colorado, and Jackson Counties |
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and by the San Bernard River, which forms its northeastern border |
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and marks the county line with Fort Bend County; and |
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WHEREAS, Wharton County has approximately 41,280 residents |
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and encompasses 1,086 square miles of land, which is divided |
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primarily between prairie and timberland; the Colorado River, which |
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traverses the county from northwest to southeast, divides it |
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roughly in half and flows through Wharton and Glen Flora; and |
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WHEREAS, Prospective landowners first came to the plains of |
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the Colorado River in 1822, led by Stephen F. Austin under contract |
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with the Mexican government; the Mexican Imperial Colonization Law |
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of 1823 granted 177 acres to the heads of families for farming and |
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4,428 acres for raising cattle; and |
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WHEREAS, During the time of the Republic of Texas, the area |
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was divided into three counties, Matagorda, Jackson, and Colorado, |
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and the area consisted of isolated plantation homes and two growing |
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towns, Preston and Egypt; and |
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WHEREAS, After Texas entered the United States in 1845, |
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Wharton County was formed of parts of the three existing counties |
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near the intersection of the mail routes from Matagorda to Columbus |
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and from Houston to Victoria; and |
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WHEREAS, The advent of railroads and irrigation brought |
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increased settlement to the area, which remains a center of |
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agricultural, educational, industrial, and medical services for a |
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large region; and |
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WHEREAS, Wharton County's largest cities and townships are El |
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Campo, Wharton, East Bernard, Boling, and Louise; and |
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WHEREAS, Wharton, the county seat, is known for its |
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small-town way of life and its Czech, Danish, and Mexican heritage; |
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it offers exceptional hunting and outdoor activities, proximity to |
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both Houston and the Gulf Coast, and outstanding festivals; it is |
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also noted for its excellent schools and championship football |
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teams; and |
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WHEREAS, Residents of Wharton County can take pride in their |
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rich history and heritage as they look forward to a promising |
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future; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby welcome citizens of Wharton County to Austin and |
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extend best wishes to them for a productive and enjoyable Wharton |
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County Day at the State Capitol; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for them as an expression of high regard by the Texas House |
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of Representatives. |