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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Many proud citizens of Dimmit County are visiting |
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the State Capitol on March 11, 2015, to celebrate the prominent role |
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this southwestern Texas county has played in the annals of our |
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state; and |
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WHEREAS, According to archeological evidence, humans have |
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inhabited the area of Dimmit County for at least 11,000 years; the |
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native Coahuiltecans were eventually pushed out by Apaches and |
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Comanches, as well as by Europeans, with the Spanish passing |
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through via the famed Old San Antonio Road in the late 1600s; and |
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WHEREAS, Dimmit County was named after Philip Dimmitt, one of |
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the framers of the Goliad Declaration of Independence; established |
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in 1858, it was formally organized in 1880 with Carrizo Springs as |
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its county seat; the town flourished, and cattle ranchers |
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established themselves in the county; by 1890, it was home to nearly |
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100 farms and ranches, averaging over 4,000 acres in size; and |
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WHEREAS, In the first decades of the 20th century, the use of |
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underground water facilitated the introduction of commercial |
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agriculture, bringing new settlers and soaring land values; the |
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long growing season and new irrigation methods combined to make the |
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county one of the most prolific vegetable-growing areas in the |
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country, and it gained recognition as part of the Texas Winter |
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Garden Region; and |
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WHEREAS, Drought and the Great Depression took a toll on |
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agriculture in the county in the first half of the 20th century, but |
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vegetable farming rebounded following World War II; later, water |
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supply problems again hampered farming, ranching regained |
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dominance in the economy, and oil and gas production became |
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increasingly important; the area continues to be known for its |
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abundance of mineral resources; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, Dimmit County has a population estimated at |
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nearly 11,000, and in recent years, oil and gas company investment |
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in the Eagle Ford Shale has brought rapid development and a rush of |
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newcomers; and |
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WHEREAS, The industrious citizens of this notable Texas |
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county can take justifiable pride in its history as they prepare to |
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embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in a new era |
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of progress; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 11, 2015, as Dimmit County Day |
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at the State Capitol and extend to the delegation sincere best |
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wishes for an enjoyable and informative visit. |