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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Baytown are celebrating the 75th |
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anniversary of their city's incorporation in 2023, and this |
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occasion offers a welcome opportunity to pay tribute to the city's |
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history and its integral role in the dynamic story of the Lone Star |
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State; and |
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WHEREAS, Baytown is situated at the point where the San |
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Jacinto River flows into Galveston Bay, and stands adjacent to the |
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historic San Jacinto Battleground, the site of the decisive |
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engagement of the Texas Revolution; the area, replete with its |
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abundance of waterways, was originally occupied by the Atakapa, |
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Akokisa, Bidai, and Karankawa people; after pioneers arrived and |
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began establishing settlements in the early 19th century, the area |
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served as the home of several notable figures in Texas history, |
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including three Republic of Texas presidents, Sam Houston, Anson |
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Jones, and David G. Burnet; settlers cultivated rice and later |
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began harvesting the area's high-quality clay for the manufacture |
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of bricks; the latter proved a lucrative industry, and over the |
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course of a century, as many as 12 million bricks per year were made |
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on Cedar Bayou before being shipped to Galveston; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1908, the Goose Creek Oilfield became the first |
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offshore drilling operation in Texas, ushering in the development |
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of multiple communities around the oil industry, including the |
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"Tri-Cities" of Goose Creek, Pelly, and Baytown; the Humble Oil and |
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Refining Company began operations in 1919, and Baytown's local |
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refinery, now ExxonMobil, contributed to the production of airplane |
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fuel and other vital supplies during World War II; on January 24, |
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1948, the Tri-Cities consolidated and became the City of Baytown; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Today, Baytown's residents enjoy having access to |
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such amenities as the Baytown Historical Museum, the Baytown |
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Sculpture Trail, the Baytown Art Gallery, Yepez Vineyard, and |
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Houston Raceway Park; the city is also home to the Baytown Nature |
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Center, which offers visiting birders a glimpse at some of the |
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species that migrate along the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail, |
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and it boasts the longest cable-stayed bridge in the state, the Fred |
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Hartman Bridge, which provides fascinating views of the refining |
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industry that has played such a significant role in the city's |
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development; and |
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WHEREAS, The citizens of Baytown may reflect with great pride |
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on their city's rich legacy of achievement as they look forward to |
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the many opportunities that lie ahead; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 75th anniversary of the |
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incorporation of Baytown and extend to the city's residents sincere |
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best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the City of Baytown as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |