SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 352

WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to join the citizens of Waco in celebrating City of Waco Day at the State Capitol on March 28, 2023; and

WHEREAS, Situated on the banks of the Bosque and Brazos Rivers, the Waco Village was founded in 1849 on the site of an ancient Huaco Indian agricultural community and was named the county seat of McLennan County one year later; in 1856, Waco Village was incorporated as the town of Waco, and upon completion of the Waco Suspension Bridge over the Brazos River in 1870, the town was reincorporated as the City of Waco; and

WHEREAS, Primarily driven by cotton production, Waco's early economy began to boom with the arrival of the Waco and Northwestern Railroad in 1871 and, in 1881, the Saint Louis and Southwestern Railroad, and the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad, which connected Waco's cotton farmers and nascent industries with factories and consumers across the nation; and

WHEREAS, Waco's dynamic transportation network stimulated the city's shipping industry and spurred regional population growth; by 1884, Waco had approximately 12,000 residents, and an estimated 50,000 bales of cotton and hundreds of thousands of pounds of wool and hides were being shipped through the city; and

WHEREAS, Waco's population and economy continued to grow rapidly during World War I and World War II, as the military's high demand for cotton and cotton products brought war plants and military bases to the region; by 1942, Waco's mattress and canvas industries had expanded, making Waco the military's leading manufacturer of tents, cots, mattresses, and duffel bags; and

WHEREAS, Over the years, Waco has developed into a vibrant commercial hub that has made considerable contributions to the prosperity and security of the Lone Star State; the birthplace of Dr. Pepper in 1885, Waco is home to numerous culturally significant spaces, including the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Waco also is renowned for such institutions of higher learning as Baylor University, McLennan Community College, and Texas State Technical College; and

WHEREAS, The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, a business leadership organization founded in 1899 as the Waco Business Men's Club, has done much to create a resilient, business-friendly environment in the Waco area; partnering with local businesses, the chamber has facilitated economic growth and promoted a high quality of life in the region while adapting to economic changes and technological advancements; and

WHEREAS, Blessed with many natural attractions, Waco is home to the Waco Mammoth National Monument, a site that exhibits the 68,000-year-old bones of mammoths found at the confluence of the Bosque and Brazos Rivers, and Cameron Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the Lone Star State and home to the 52-acre Cameron Park Zoo; the citizens of Waco may take great pride in their city's rich and colorful history as they look ahead to an even brighter future; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th Legislature, hereby recognize March 28, 2023, as City of Waco Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best wishes for an enjoyable stay in Austin; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the delegates as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.

Birdwell

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on March 28, 2023.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate