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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 339
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WHEREAS, Proud area residents are joining together to |
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celebrate Austin County Day at the State Capitol on March 31, |
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2015, and this occasion provides a fitting opportunity to |
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recognize the county's unique contribution to the story of the |
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Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, American settlement in the county dates to the |
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early 1820s, when the area became part of Stephen F. Austin's |
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first colony; the first town to be established was San Felipe de |
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Austin, which served as the administrative seat of the colony and |
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as a social, cultural, and commercial center; and |
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WHEREAS, Austin County was created by the Constitution of |
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1836 and was formally organized by 1837; San Felipe was the |
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county seat until 1848, when the county government was moved to |
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Bellville; and |
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WHEREAS, Blessed with an abundance of water, grassland, |
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and forests, the county drew a steady stream of settlers, most of |
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whom were engaged in agriculture; a number of towns grew |
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substantially during the 19th century, including Bellville and |
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Wallis and the railroad towns of Sealy and Kenney; and |
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WHEREAS, During the 1800s, German and Czech immigrants |
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began arriving in Austin County in appreciable numbers, and |
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their influence is felt throughout the region in the societies |
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that they established and the many communities that they |
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founded; the cultural mosaic of the county has been further |
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enriched by immigrants from Mexico, the largest foreign-born |
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group to settle there in the 20th century, and by African |
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Americans, who played a fundamental role in the county's |
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development and in the creation of numerous social and |
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religious institutions; and |
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WHEREAS, Among the prominent Texans who have resided in |
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Austin County was Gail Borden Jr., a surveyor and newspaper |
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publisher who later invented a successful process for |
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condensing milk; another early citizen, Robert Justus Kleberg, |
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fought in the Battle of San Jacinto and held several |
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prestigious public offices; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, visitors and residents alike can explore |
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the county's rich heritage, preserved at the San Felipe de |
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Austin State Historic Site and in rural communities throughout |
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the area, and they enjoy hunting and fishing opportunities as |
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well as a wealth of special recreational events; and |
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Austin County have together |
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built a vibrant and distinctive corner of Texas, and they may |
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indeed take pride in their notable history as they look forward |
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to a future filled with promise; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th |
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Legislature, hereby recognize March 31, 2015, as Austin County |
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Day and extend to the visiting delegation a warm welcome to the |
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State Capitol. |
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Kolkhorst |
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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 March 9, 2015. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |