|
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
WHEREAS, Residents from Atascosa County are gathering in |
|
Austin on April 24, 2017, to celebrate Atascosa County Day at the |
|
State Capitol; and |
|
WHEREAS, During the first part of the 19th century, the |
|
grassy prairie region of South Texas that would become Atascosa |
|
County attracted Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo-American settlers, |
|
and by the time of the Texas Revolution, its ranching industry was |
|
flourishing; in 1856, the region was sufficiently populated to be |
|
sectioned off from Bexar County; the county seat, originally at |
|
Navatasco, was later moved to Pleasanton, and then in 1910, voters |
|
supported moving it again, this time to the more centrally located |
|
town of Jourdanton; and |
|
WHEREAS, Atascosa County is home to a number of historical |
|
markers that highlight the area's unique history; notably, the |
|
Battle of Medina, which took place in 1813 and influenced the fates |
|
of Spain, Mexico, the United States, England, and France, is |
|
commemorated with a marker in the northeastern part of the county, |
|
and the site of the church and school community of San Augustine, |
|
founded by heirs of Alamo defender Gregorio Esparza, is marked near |
|
Pleasanton; and |
|
WHEREAS, Situated near the famous Camino Real, Atascosa |
|
County has long benefited from its proximity to major |
|
transportation arteries linking it with the Gulf Coast, the Rio |
|
Grande Valley, and Mexico, as well as other major population |
|
centers; the county enjoys the economic benefits reaped by an |
|
abundance of natural resources and, blessed with productive range |
|
and irrigated farmland, the area is known for its agricultural |
|
industries; additionally, other resources such as oil and gas play |
|
a significant role in the economy; and |
|
WHEREAS, Proud of its ranching heritage, Pleasanton, the |
|
county's trading center, bills itself as the birthplace of the |
|
cowboy, a designation symbolized by a large bronze statue in front |
|
of city hall; in nearby Poteet, known to many as the Strawberry |
|
Capital, a Strawberry Festival takes place in April, and a |
|
seven-foot, 1,600-pound monument to the berry graces the front lawn |
|
of the fire department; and |
|
WHEREAS, The residents of Atascosa County have made many |
|
notable contributions to the economy and culture of Texas, and they |
|
may take justifiable pride in the place that they call home; now, |
|
therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
|
Legislature hereby recognize April 24, 2017, as Atascosa County Day |
|
at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere |
|
best wishes for a meaningful and memorable stay in Austin. |