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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Matagorda County are gathering in |
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Austin on March 18, 2025, to celebrate Matagorda County Day at the |
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State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Matagorda County, one of the oldest counties in |
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Texas, derives its name from the Spanish term for "thick brush," |
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referencing the canebrakes that once lined its shores along the |
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Gulf Coast; located between Galveston and Corpus Christi, 72 miles |
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southwest of Houston, the county offers residents easy access to a |
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major metropolitan area while preserving the quiet lifestyle of a |
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rural South Texas community; and |
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WHEREAS, Bay City, the county seat of Matagorda County, is |
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often called the "Gateway to the Great Outdoors"; founded in 1894, |
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the city was named for its location in the center of a vast coastal |
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prairie, which has been known as "Bay Prairie" since the time of |
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Stephen F. Austin; although located 25 miles from the Gulf of |
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Mexico, the Port of Bay City was constructed in the 1960s to connect |
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the city to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway via the Colorado River, |
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and it proudly serves both the industrial and recreational needs of |
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the county; and |
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WHEREAS, Matagorda County is known for its abundant wildlife, |
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diverse geography, and rich natural resources; the county is |
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believed to be home to more species of birds than anywhere else in |
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the country during certain times of the year; its marshes, coastal |
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prairies, rivers, and forests provide outstanding birding |
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opportunities, with three Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail loops |
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encompassing 17 observation sites; the Matagorda County Birding |
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Nature Center and LCRA Matagorda Bay Nature Park are ideal places to |
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learn about birds, gardening, wildlife, and native plants; in |
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addition to its avian attractions, the county's bays are teeming |
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with redfish, flounder, trout, crab, oysters, and shrimp, and the |
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Port of Palacios is one of the largest shrimping ports in Texas, |
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home to more than 125 shrimp boats; and |
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WHEREAS, The county's economy is driven by ranching, farming, |
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and petroleum, with additional economic strength provided by the |
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South Texas Project; the county is also home to international |
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companies such as Tenaris Bay City, OQ Chemicals Corporation, and |
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LyondellBasell, and it has recently welcomed HIF USA, Air Liquide, |
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and Roehm America LLC to the area; moreover, Matagorda County is |
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seeing significant growth in residential development, with over 800 |
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housing starts, as well as an influx of new retail outlets and |
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restaurants; and |
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WHEREAS, Matagorda County is blessed with a rich history and |
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abundant natural resources, and its residents may take great pride |
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in their county's legacy and bright future; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature |
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hereby recognize March 18, 2025, as Matagorda County Day at the |
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State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting delegation. |