81R19476 JH-D
By: Gallego H.R. No. 1137
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Loving County Day is taking place at the State
Capitol on March 31, 2009, and this occasion provides a welcome
opportunity to honor this notable West Texas county; and
WHEREAS, An area of plains and rolling hills along the
Texas-New Mexico border, Loving County is part of the Chihuahuan
Desert and lies to the east of the Pecos River; in prehistoric
times, the area was visited by nomadic hunters, but it saw little
settlement until well into the 1800s due to the lack of usable
water; the first community, Pope's Camp, was established in 1855;
Pope's Camp and another early town were based on irrigation
projects that sought to create a means of growing crops in the arid
surroundings, but these endeavors failed, and the settlements were
abandoned; and
WHEREAS, Loving County was separated into its own area in
1887 and named for early West Texas cattle rancher Oliver Loving,
but formal organization took longer; the first attempt to establish
local government in 1893 was plagued by problems, which resulted in
the area being reattached to Reeves County; it was not until 1931
that Loving County was organized, making it the last in the Lone
Star State to be permanently established and the only one to go
through the process twice; and
WHEREAS, In the 1800s and early 1900s, cattle ranching was
the mainstay of the local economy, and it remains important today;
petroleum exploration got under way in the 1920s, and the
production of oil and natural gas has since become Loving County's
primary industry; and
WHEREAS, The discovery of the county's rich petroleum
reserves brought new residents to the area in the 1930s, which led
to the establishment of the town of Ramsey; it was soon renamed
Mentone and became the county seat, growing larger as the residents
of the nearby settlement of Porterville moved to the new community;
today, Mentone is the county's only town and serves as a supply
center for nearby oil fields; it is home to the historic Loving
County Courthouse, built in 1936; and
WHEREAS, Though it is one of the least populated counties in
the nation, Loving County nonetheless plays an important role in
our state's energy industry, and it is a pleasure to honor this
distinctive area and the hardworking individuals who make their
homes there; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 31, 2009, as Loving County Day
at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere
best wishes for an enjoyable and productive visit to Austin.