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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Citizens of Wharton County are gathering in Austin |
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on February 28, 2017, to celebrate Wharton County Day at the State |
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Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Wharton County was founded in April of 1846, and its |
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name commemorates two heroes of the Texas Revolution, brothers |
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William Harris Wharton and John Austin Wharton; and |
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WHEREAS, Wharton County is located on the Coastal Plain |
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southwest of Houston; the county is bounded by Matagorda, Colorado, |
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and Jackson Counties and by the San Bernard River, which forms its |
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northeastern border and marks the county line with Fort Bend |
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County; and |
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WHEREAS, Wharton County has more than 41,000 residents and |
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encompasses 1,086 square miles of land, which is divided primarily |
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between prairie and timberland; the Colorado River traverses the |
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county from northwest to southeast, dividing it roughly in half and |
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flowing 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 proximity to both Houston and the Gulf Coast, and |
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outstanding festivals; it is also noted for its excellent schools |
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and championship football 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 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 28, 2017, as Wharton County |
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Day at the State Capitol and extend sincere best wishes to all |
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participants for an informative and enjoyable day in Austin. |