81R5267 JGH-D
By: Gonzales H.R. No. 228
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Citizens of Hidalgo County are gathering at the
State Capitol to celebrate Hidalgo County Day on February 10, 2009;
and
WHEREAS, Rich in history, Hidalgo County's mix of urban and
rural landscapes is home to more than 750,000 people, six
international bridges, and a thriving economy anchored by the
health care, retail, trade, and tourism industries; and
WHEREAS, This gateway to the United States was first settled
by the Coahuiltecans, the Karankawa, the Lipan Apaches, and the
Comanche; the earliest Spanish visitors, including Jose de
Escandon, arrived in the 17th century and established settlements
along the Rio Grande; the Spanish government issued land grants
leading to the creation of many cattle ranches, which remain an
integral part of life in the county today; and
WHEREAS, After the end of the Mexican-American War in 1848,
the region became part of the United States and a popular way
station for prospectors traveling to the California Gold Rush;
established in 1852, Hidalgo County was named for Miguel Hidalgo y
Costilla, an advocate for Mexican independence; in the early 20th
century, the town of Chapin was renamed Edinburg and made county
seat; and
WHEREAS, The arrival of the railway in 1904 helped introduce
large-scale farming in the county, particularly of citrus, cotton,
corn, and sugarcane; with the establishment in 1924 of a regional
Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in Weslaco, the towns along
Highway 83 began to thrive and came to be described as "the longest
main street in the world"; and
WHEREAS, While farming and ranching remain important to the
county, the discovery of oil in 1934 increased the region's
prosperity; today the county is one of the fastest growing and most
vibrant regions of Texas, home to many talented individuals
dedicated to transforming it into a top place to live, work, and
play; the county is considered a major port of entry into the United
States, and the shipment of goods from Mexico is an essential part
of the county's economy; and
WHEREAS, This prosperity is a product of the hard work of its
citizens, who are well served by The University of Texas-Pan
American in Edinburg and South Texas College in McAllen; the county
also pays tribute to its own heritage and learns about the heritage
of others through such fine cultural institutions and venues as the
Museum for South Texas History, the International Museum of Art and
Science, the Valley Symphony Orchestra and Chorale, and the
up-and-coming art and entertainment district in the city of
McAllen; and
WHEREAS, Residents and visitors alike enjoy the many
attractions of Hidalgo County; the Texas Citrus Fiesta in Mission
every winter features a carnival and the Parade of Oranges; in
Weslaco the Rio Grande Valley Onion Festival in April includes food
booths, entertainment, and onion recipe contests; the Rio Grande
Valley Livestock Show in Mercedes draws an average attendance of
160,000 every March, and shoppers flock to the Mercado Delta, an
outdoor/indoor artisan market in Edcouch which opened in 2008, as
well as to other retail venues across the county; and
WHEREAS, Visitors from around the world make pilgrimages to
the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle-National Shrine; with
nearly 400 species of birds, the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge
near Alamo is an international destination for birders; and
WHEREAS, Led by County Judge J. D. Salinas and County
Commissioners Sylvia S. Handy, Hector "Tito" Palacios, Joe M.
Flores, and Oscar L. Garza, Jr., the residents of this dynamic
region of the Lone Star State have much to be proud of, as they
celebrate the past and work to build a bright and prosperous future;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 10, 2009, as Hidalgo County
Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation
sincere best wishes for an informative and enjoyable visit to
Austin.