SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 175

WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to welcome the residents of McAllen, who are celebrating their city's 112th anniversary and City of McAllen Day at the State Capitol on February 16, 2023; and

WHEREAS, The City of McAllen traces its roots back to 1797, when Spanish settler Jose Manuel Gomez founded the Santa Anita Ranch in what is now southern Hidalgo County; his great-granddaughter, Salome Balli, married John McAllen and inherited the property, and the couple expanded the ranch and renamed it McAllen Ranch; and

WHEREAS, With the arrival of the Saint Louis, Brownsville, and Mexico Railroad, John McAllen founded the McAllen Townsite Company and the McAllen community in 1904; the town merged with nearby East McAllen, and by 1920, McAllen was home to businesses, churches, a newspaper, and 6,000 residents; and

WHEREAS, Located in the Rio Grande Valley, McAllen lies within one of the fastest-growing metropolitan statistical areas in the nation; McAllen has been recognized as one of the safest cities in the nation and has been ranked among the best places to live in the country and in Texas; and

WHEREAS, A vibrant commercial and cultural hub, McAllen is home to Quinta Mazatlan, a Spanish-revival estate and urban oasis featuring tropical gardens where walking trails wind through more than 15 acres of bird habitat that shelters more than 250 species of birds; Quinta Mazatlan serves as a conference and events center, and it has received recognition in the area as the best outdoor venue, upper-valley venue, and photography location; and

WHEREAS, McAllen also boasts one of the lowest property tax rates in the Rio Grande Valley thanks to the city's retail tax strength, and in 2022, Governor Greg Abbott designated McAllen a Music Friendly City; this designation will allow the city to foster new cultural and economic development related to the music industry and will benefit the city and its residents; and

WHEREAS, As they celebrate City of McAllen Day at the Capitol and their city's 112th anniversary, the residents of McAllen can take justifiable pride in their city's rich and colorful history as they look ahead and work toward a bright future; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th Legislature, hereby commend the residents of McAllen on their many contributions to the vitality of the Lone Star State and extend to all best wishes for a memorable City of McAllen Day at the Capitol; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in honor of this special occasion.

Hinojosa

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 15, 2023.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate