SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 598

WHEREAS, Proud residents of Rains County are visiting Austin on April 25, 2017, to celebrate Rains County Day at the State Capitol; and

WHEREAS, Situated between Lake Tawakoni and Lake Fork Reservoir, Rains County is blessed with an abundant water supply and fertile soil characteristic of the Blackland Prairie region; the county was formed in the late 1800s from Hopkins, Hunt, and Wood Counties and named in honor of Emory Rains, an early pioneer who served in the Congress of the Republic of Texas; and

WHEREAS, Rains County initially prospered as an agricultural and ranching center and today enjoys a diverse economy that includes oil production, manufacturing, and tourism; and

WHEREAS, The county seat, Emory, which was originally known as Springville, is now the county's largest town, with a population of approximately 1,200; it is home to the annual Eagle Fest celebration held in the winter, when the area lakes are the home of many American bald eagles and other rare birds; and

WHEREAS, The City of Point was incorporated in the 1960s and is recognized as the birthplace of the National Farmers Union, an organization that has grown to include 200,000 members; the 10 founding fathers of the union are memorialized by a historic monument in the city, which incorporates a statue of the union's founder, Isaac Newton Gresham, and a display of the flags of the union's member states; and

WHEREAS, The county's youngest municipality, East Tawakoni, was incorporated in 1967 and has experienced significant growth in recent years; this resort area offers residents the benefits of a relaxed rural community while providing easy access to Dallas; notably, the city is connected to its counterpart, West Tawakoni in Hunt County, by the new Two-Mile Bridge; completed in 2016, this impressive structure replaced the original Two-Mile Bridge, which was built across Lake Tawakoni in 1959 and was the longest bridge serving a farm-to-market road at the time of its construction; and

WHEREAS, One of the smallest counties in the state, but one of the fastest growing in the nation, Rains County is indeed playing a vital role in the prosperity of the Lone Star State, and it is a pleasure to join with our fellow Texans in saluting the county and its fine citizens; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th Legislature, hereby recognize April 25, 2017, as Rains County Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable stay in Austin. Hall

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on April 25, 2017.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate