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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of McLennan County are celebrating |
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the 175th anniversary of their county's establishment in 2025; and |
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WHEREAS, Situated in East Central Texas, McLennan County |
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occupies 1,031 square miles on the Grand and Blackland Prairies; it |
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is believed that Tonkawas were native to the region, and members of |
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the Wichita, Caddo, and Delaware tribes were also present before |
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the arrival of Anglo settlers; part of the colonization grant |
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obtained from Mexico in 1825, McLennan County was created by the |
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Texas Legislature on January 22, 1850, and named for pioneer Neil |
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McLennan; its government was organized in August of that year with |
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Waco as its county seat; beginning in September, under the |
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direction of county Chief Justice John T. Eubank, the area was laid |
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out in three precincts, and reviewers were appointed for roads |
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leading from Waco to Austin and other towns; further, officials set |
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a $20 license fee for the ferry captain to transport passengers on |
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foot, horse-drawn wagons, and livestock across the Brazos River; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Starting in the 1870s, the addition of the Waco |
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Suspension Bridge over the Brazos as well as railroads made Waco a |
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major center for trade; cotton had long been the leading industry, |
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and the early 20th century ushered in a new type of commerce, with |
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the Barton Dyanshine factory, the Atlas Portland Cement Company, |
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and other large businesses moving to the area; and |
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WHEREAS, By 1990, McLennan County's population had exceeded |
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189,000, and today, some 273,400 residents call the county home; |
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its biggest city, Waco, boasts such attractions as the Texas Ranger |
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Hall of Fame and Museum, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, the |
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Dr Pepper Museum, and the riverside Brazos Park East; four of the |
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county's institutions of higher learning, Baylor University, |
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McLennan Community College, Tarleton State University, and the |
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Texas State Technical College flagship campus, are also located in |
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Waco; and |
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WHEREAS, Celebrating their rich history as they work together |
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to build an even brighter future, the people of McLennan County may |
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take great pride in the important role their communities continue |
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to play in the story of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby commemorate the 175th |
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anniversary of McLennan County and extend to its residents sincere |
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best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the county as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |