81R12760 JGH-D
By: Weber H.C.R. No. 85
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Public-spirited citizens of Matagorda County are
gathering in Austin on March 10, 2009, to celebrate Matagorda
County Day at the State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, This region of prairie, salt marshes, and coastal
waterways has long been home to abundant wildlife, including
bobcats, coyotes, deer, and waterfowl; the name Matagorda, a
Spanish phrase meaning "thick brush," derived from the dense
canebrakes that once grew along the shore; and
WHEREAS, Karankawa Indians were living in the area when the
first European explorers passed through in the 1500s, and they were
still there, though fewer in number, in 1822 when Stephen F. Austin
founded a colony at the mouth of the Colorado River; the town of
Matagorda was established in 1829 as a military post, and two years
later a customs house was opened in the community; and
WHEREAS, Matagorda County was among the original 23 counties
created by the Republic of Texas in 1836; for a number of years, the
town of Matagorda ranked as the second-largest seaport in Texas,
and the first several decades of the county's history witnessed the
development of significant cotton, sugar, and cattle industries;
after the boll weevil became a threat to the cotton crop at the turn
of the 20th century, more and more farmers began to grow rice; the
discovery of oil and sulfur in the early 1900s led to further
diversification of the area's economy; and
WHEREAS, Today, farming, ranching, and petroleum continue to
be the economic mainstays of Matagorda County; the area is also the
site of the South Texas Project Electric Generating Station, one of
the largest nuclear power plants in the nation, which supplies
electricity to more than one million homes and businesses in South
Central Texas; other enterprises and industries include shipyards,
commercial fishing, and tourism; and
WHEREAS, Bay City, the county seat, hosts the county fair,
livestock show, and rodeo in early spring and the Rice Festival in
the fall, while attractions in Palacios include the reenactment of
La Salle's landing on the Fourth of July and the Texas Seafood
Festival in October; yearly highlights in Sargent include the July
Jamboree and, in November, the Lighted Boat Parade; and
WHEREAS, Residents and visitors alike enjoy the county's fine
beaches and the opportunities for fishing along Matagorda Bay; in
addition, the area is renowned among birders across the nation as a
premier destination, with the annual Mad Island Christmas Bird
Count consistently placing in the top five national counts; the
fascinating story of the final expedition of the French explorer La
Salle is featured at museums in Bay City and Palacios, where
artifacts from his ship, La Belle, are displayed; a half-scale
replica of the ship is docked in Palacios; and
WHEREAS, Matagorda County is blessed with a rich history and
abundant natural resources, and its residents may take great pride
in their legacy and bright future; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby declare March 10, 2009, as Matagorda County Day at the State
Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere best wishes
for an enjoyable stay in Austin.