SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 510

WHEREAS, Residents of Rains County are visiting Austin on April 12, 2019, 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; 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; the 10 founding fathers of the union are memorialized by a historical monument in the city, which incorporates a statue of the union's founder, Isaac Newton Gresham, and a display of the flags of the NFU's member states; and

WHEREAS, The county's newest municipality, East Tawakoni, was incorporated in 1967; 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 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 story of the Lone Star State, and its citizens are indeed deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th Legislature, hereby recognize April 12, 2019, 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 March 27, 2019.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate