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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of Palo Pinto County are gathering |
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in Austin on January 30, 2017, to celebrate the first Palo Pinto |
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County Day at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Named for one of its principal streams and situated |
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in the Western Cross Timbers Ecoregion, Palo Pinto County covers |
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948 square miles of rugged, hilly land drained by the Brazos River; |
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the Texas Legislature formed the county in 1856, and Golconda, the |
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county seat, was renamed Palo Pinto two years later; and |
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WHEREAS, Early settlers of Palo Pinto County included Charles |
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Goodnight and Oliver Loving, of the famed Goodnight-Loving Trail, |
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who established cattle ranches in the area; in the late 1800s, the |
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county's economy centered on livestock, and a meeting of area |
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ranchers in 1876 led to the creation of what is now known as the |
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Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association; over the years, |
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oil and natural gas production helped to diversify the local |
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economy, and the county has also developed a robust tourist |
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industry with such attractions as Lake Palo Pinto, Possum Kingdom |
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Lake, and Lake Mineral Wells State Park; and |
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WHEREAS, The community of Palo Pinto is home to the Old Jail, |
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built in 1880, which now serves as a museum complex and hosts a |
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variety of events, including the annual Frontier Days and Old |
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Settlers Reunion; and |
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WHEREAS, The largest city in Palo Pinto County is Mineral |
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Wells, which was first settled in 1877 by James and Amanda Lynch; |
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after digging a well, the couple found that the unusual-tasting |
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water seemed beneficial to their health, and in 1885, the Crazy Well |
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was dug and the town gained popularity as a center for wellness and |
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recreation; today, the city remains a notable attraction for |
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retirees and tourists alike, and citizens pay tribute to their |
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heritage with the annual Crazy Water Festival; Mineral Wells is |
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also the site of the Baker Hotel, which was frequented in its heyday |
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by notable Hollywood stars, including Ronald Reagan, Clark Gable, |
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Carole Lombard, Judy Garland, Will Rogers, and the Three Stooges; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The people of Palo Pinto County take great pride in |
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their rich history as they work together to build an even brighter |
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future, and it is indeed a privilege to honor them and their unique |
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region of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize January 30, 2017, as Palo Pinto County |
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Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation |
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sincere best wishes for an informative and enjoyable stay in |
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Austin. |