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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 200
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WHEREAS, Jim Wells County Day at the State Capitol is being |
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celebrated February 19, 2019, and the Texas Senate takes great |
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pleasure in recognizing this region and its citizens who have |
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contributed to the development of the Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, The area known today as Jim Wells County was |
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explored in the early 1500s by Alvar Nuñez de Cabeza de Vaca and |
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figures prominently in the early days of Texas; the land became a |
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part of Texas after Texas gained its independence from Mexico in |
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1836; there were extensive landholdings in the area by 1850, when |
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early settlers to the region arrived and began to build towns; |
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railroads followed soon thereafter, and in 1886, a new town |
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developed where two rail lines intersected; the town of Alice was |
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named for Alice King and eventually became the largest |
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cattle-shipping point in the world; and |
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WHEREAS, Jim Wells County was created and organized by the |
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Texas Legislature on March 11, 1911, and Alice became the county |
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seat; originally a part of Nueces County, the county was named |
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for a prominent political figure and land developer, James B. |
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Wells Jr., who was also the purchasing agent for the King |
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Ranch; and |
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WHEREAS, Jim Wells County is a valuable agricultural area |
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that has contributed significantly to the development of the |
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southwestern part of the United States; since the mid-1800s, when |
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the famous Chisholm Trail passed through the county, the cattle |
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industry has played a major role in the area's economy; mesquite |
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brush and grasses in the western part provide ideal grazing |
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conditions for livestock, and coastal plains to the east produce |
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Coastal Bermuda grass and vegetables; and |
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WHEREAS, The first notable oil activity in the county was |
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initiated in 1936, and the first major oil producer was |
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established northeast of Alice; the oil rush brought many new |
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families to Jim Wells County; and |
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WHEREAS, The City of Alice is situated in the geographical |
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heart of South Texas in an area that has developed into a notable |
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hub of international trade due to its strategic location at the |
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intersection of two important highways and its proximity to |
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primary United States-Mexico trade routes that connect Laredo |
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and the Rio Grande Valley with the Port of Corpus Christi; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to the City of Alice, which still |
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serves as the county seat, Jim Wells County is home to the Cities |
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of Orange Grove, Ben Bolt-Palito Blanco, Premont, Sandia, and La |
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Gloria; and |
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WHEREAS, The county's economy has benefited not only from |
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the oil business, ranching, cattle shipping, and cotton and grain |
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production, but also from a fine public school system, a modern |
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hospital, and an expanding health-related service industry; and |
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WHEREAS, The history of Jim Wells County has been carefully |
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preserved at the South Texas Museum, which was established in the |
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former family ranch headquarters of the McGill family and has |
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been designated a Texas Historical Landmark; and |
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Jim Wells County are justifiably |
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proud of their unique heritage and have retained the social |
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fabric of their culture through fiestas, county fairs, rodeos, |
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and outdoor activities such as hunting and water sports; and |
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WHEREAS, Jim Wells County Day at the State Capitol is an |
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appropriate occasion for the Texas Senate to recognize the |
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residents of Jim Wells County and to commend them for their |
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excellent accomplishments; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th |
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Legislature, hereby declare February 19, 2019, Jim Wells County |
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Day at the State Capitol and join the citizens of Jim Wells County |
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as they celebrate their county's many assets; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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the citizens of Jim Wells County as an expression of esteem from |
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the Texas Senate. |
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Hinojosa |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on February 19, 2019. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |