SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 155
         WHEREAS, Proud residents are gathering in Austin on
  February 13, 2023, to celebrate Hardin County Day at the State
  Capitol; and
         WHEREAS, Situated northeast of Houston, Hardin County is
  predominantly made up of pine and hardwood forests in the East
  Texas Timberlands region; attracted by the mineral waters of
  Medicine Lake, Native Americans visited the area long before it
  became part of the Atascosito District of Spanish and Mexican
  Texas; attempts at colonization began in earnest in 1834 when the
  Mexican government made land grants, and in 1835, Stephen Jackson
  founded a settlement at Sour Lake; and
         WHEREAS, Following the Texas Revolution, the area was
  split between the jurisdictions of Liberty and Jefferson
  Counties; in 1858, the State Legislature established Hardin
  County, drawing territory from both parent counties; under state
  law, the county's name honored the Hardin family of Liberty, and
  the county seat also bore that name; in 1881, the Sabine and East
  Texas Railroad bypassed Hardin in favor of its own newly
  established town, Kountze, which ultimately became the county
  seat; and
         WHEREAS, Early farmers in Hardin County raised corn, sweet
  potatoes, hogs, cattle, sheep, and horses; as early as 1878,
  loggers were floating cut timber to the Neches River and on to
  Beaumont, and by 1881, at least two lumber-processing mills were
  operating in the county; the subsequent arrivals of other railway
  companies further stimulated the lumber industry; a big economic
  boost came with the discovery of oil at Saratoga and Batson and
  the development of the Sour Lake oil field in 1903; today,
  chambers of commerce in Kountze, Lumberton, Silsbee, and Sour
  Lake promote economic development in their communities; and
         WHEREAS, Hardin County is further buoyed by its robust
  ecotourism, which offers ample opportunities for camping,
  paddling, fishing, hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing; a major
  attraction is the Big Thicket National Preserve, where visitors
  can explore nine different ecosystems; moreover, Village Creek
  State Park sits along one of the few free-flowing creeks in
  Texas, and the Roy E. Larsen Sandyland Sanctuary protects diverse
  plant communities; and
         WHEREAS, Residents of Hardin County are working together
  to build an even brighter future, and this special day provides a
  fitting opportunity to pay tribute to the county and its people;
  now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
  Legislature, hereby recognize February 13, 2023, as Hardin
  County Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the
  visiting delegation.
  Nichols
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        President of the Senate
     
        I hereby certify that the
    above Resolution was adopted by
    the Senate on February 14, 2023.
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
        Secretary of the Senate
   
   
   
    ________________________________ 
         Member, Texas Senate