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SENATE RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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welcome the residents of McAllen, who are celebrating their |
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city's 112th anniversary and City of McAllen Day at the State |
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Capitol on February 16, 2023; and |
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WHEREAS, The City of McAllen traces its roots back to 1797, |
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when Spanish settler Jose Manuel Gomez founded the Santa Anita |
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Ranch in what is now southern Hidalgo County; his |
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great-granddaughter, Salome Balli, married John McAllen and |
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inherited the property, and the couple expanded the ranch and |
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renamed it McAllen Ranch; and |
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WHEREAS, With the arrival of the Saint Louis, Brownsville, |
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and Mexico Railroad, John McAllen founded the McAllen Townsite |
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Company and the McAllen community in 1904; the town merged with |
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nearby East McAllen, and by 1920, McAllen was home to businesses, |
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churches, a newspaper, and 6,000 residents; and |
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WHEREAS, Located in the Rio Grande Valley, McAllen lies |
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within one of the fastest-growing metropolitan statistical areas |
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in the nation; McAllen has been recognized as one of the safest |
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cities in the nation and has been ranked among the best places to |
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live in the country and in Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, A vibrant commercial and cultural hub, McAllen is |
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home to Quinta Mazatlan, a Spanish-revival estate and urban oasis |
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featuring tropical gardens where walking trails wind through |
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more than 15 acres of bird habitat that shelters more than 250 |
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species of birds; Quinta Mazatlan serves as a conference and |
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events center, and it has received recognition in the area as the |
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best outdoor venue, upper-valley venue, and photography |
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location; and |
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WHEREAS, McAllen also boasts one of the lowest property |
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tax rates in the Rio Grande Valley thanks to the city's retail tax |
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strength, and in 2022, Governor Greg Abbott designated McAllen a |
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Music Friendly City; this designation will allow the city to |
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foster new cultural and economic development related to the music |
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industry and will benefit the city and its residents; and |
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WHEREAS, As they celebrate City of McAllen Day at the |
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Capitol and their city's 112th anniversary, the residents of |
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McAllen can take justifiable pride in their city's rich and |
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colorful history as they look ahead and work toward a bright |
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future; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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Legislature, hereby commend the residents of McAllen on their |
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many contributions to the vitality of the Lone Star State and |
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extend to all best wishes for a memorable City of McAllen Day at |
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the Capitol; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in |
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honor of this special occasion. |