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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Brazoria County are gathering in |
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Austin to celebrate Brazoria County Day at the State Capitol on |
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March 7, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, This section of coastal prairie along the Brazos |
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River was inhabited during the first three centuries of Texas' |
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recorded history by the nomadic Karankawa Indians; the Spanish |
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explorer Cabeza de Vaca passed through the area as early as 1528, |
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and the pirate Jean Lafitte was rumored to have used the mouth of |
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the Brazos as a refuge; and |
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WHEREAS, The region was settled in the 1820s by members of |
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Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred; Henry Smith of Brazoria |
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served as the first American-born governor of the Mexican territory |
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of Texas and as a leader of the movement for independence; the town |
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of Columbia was the capital of Texas during the first Texas |
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Congress, and in 1836, Brazoria County became one of the original |
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counties established by the new republic; and |
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WHEREAS, Farming and ranching initially constituted the |
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mainstays of the county's economy; the discovery of oil and sulfur |
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deposits in the early 20th century helped the region grow, and |
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chemical processing became increasingly important during World War |
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II and after; commercial fishing and the recreation industry have |
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helped to ensure continuing economic development; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, the numerous cities and towns of Brazoria |
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County boast excellent schools and affordable housing; visitors and |
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residents alike take great pleasure in miles of sandy beaches, bay |
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and offshore fishing, scuba diving, outstanding bird-watching, and |
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the Brazoria and San Bernard National Wildlife Refuges; the county |
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is also home to such attractions as the Nolan Ryan Center and the |
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Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site, and the county seat of |
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Angleton annually hosts the Brazoria County Fair, one of the |
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largest events of its kind in Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, The educational opportunities available to students |
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at Alvin Community College, Brazosport College, and the University |
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of Houston-Clear Lake Pearland Campus further contribute to the |
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county's many amenities; and |
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WHEREAS, The largest chemical complex in North America, the |
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Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport, and a flourishing health care |
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industry are among the major contributors to economic growth in the |
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county, and Port Freeport, ranked 26th in the United States in |
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foreign tonnage, is one of the fastest growing ports on the Gulf |
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Coast; and |
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WHEREAS, The people of Brazoria 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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contributions to the story of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 7, 2017, as Brazoria County Day |
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at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best |
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wishes for a meaningful and enjoyable stay in Austin. |