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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of Bee County are gathering at the |
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State Capitol to celebrate Bee County Day on February 8, 2023; and |
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WHEREAS, Artifacts indicate that the Bee County area was |
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originally inhabited by humans 6,000 to 10,000 years ago; the first |
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permanent European settlers arrived in the early 1800s, and later, |
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11 area landowners were among the signers of the Texas Declaration |
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of Independence; and |
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WHEREAS, On January 25, 1858, the county was officially |
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organized and was named for Barnard E. Bee Sr., an accomplished |
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statesman from South Carolina who later served as secretary of war |
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under Sam Houston; and |
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WHEREAS, Located in the South Texas Plains vegetation region, |
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Bee County covers 866 square miles that gently slope toward the Gulf |
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of Mexico; with the area's open expanses of grasslands, its economy |
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is dominated by farming and ranching, along with its thriving oil |
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and gas operations and agribusiness; Beeville, the county seat, has |
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revitalized its downtown district and has been recognized as a |
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Texas Main Street City by the Texas Historical Commission, and |
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other towns in the county include Skidmore, Blue Berry Hill, |
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Pettus, Tuleta, Tynan, Pawnee, Normanna, and Mineral; and |
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WHEREAS, Coastal Bend College-Beeville offers occupational |
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as well as academic classes for its students, and it has the oldest |
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academic educational glassblowing facility in the state; art |
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enthusiasts may delight in the exhibits of the Beeville Art Museum, |
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which is funded by the Joe Barnhart Foundation and housed in the |
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historic Esther Barnhart House; in addition, visitors come from all |
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across Texas to celebrate the state's rich traditions at Western |
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Week, one of the county's largest and longest-running festivals; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Bee County is host to many cultural and historical |
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attractions that make it an inviting place to live and an |
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interesting area to visit, and its residents may take great pride in |
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their vibrant heritage and myriad contributions as they look toward |
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a bright and prosperous future; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
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hereby recognize February 8, 2023, as Bee County Day at the State |
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Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best wishes |
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for a memorable stay in Austin. |