81R6705 MMS-D
By: Paxton H.R. No. 266
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents from Collin County are gathering at the
State Capitol on February 9-10, 2009, to celebrate Collin County
Days, and this event provides an opportunity to pay tribute to this
prosperous area in North Texas; and
WHEREAS, Once inhabited by the Caddo Indians, the county is
located almost entirely within the state's Blackland Prairie, a
region of prime farmland that began attracting settlers in the
early 1840s; both the county, which was created in 1846, and the
present county seat, McKinney, which was established in 1849, were
named in honor of pioneer resident Collin McKinney, a signer of the
Texas Declaration of Independence; and
WHEREAS, Today, Collin County encompasses a portion of the
dynamic Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex; it has experienced one of the
fastest growth rates in Texas in recent years, and much of its 886
square miles has been transformed into a bustling urban area; more
than 750,000 people now make their home in Collin County, with an
average of 94 new residents arriving each day; and
WHEREAS, McKinney, one of the county's many booming
municipalities, boasts a population of nearly 105,000; this
historic community has been named the second-safest city in Texas
in its size category by Morgan Quitno Press, ranked 14th among the
"Best Places to Live" by Money magazine, and recognized as one of
the "Top 100" places to raise a family by Best Life magazine;
moreover, the city's Main Street program has been jointly
recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the
Texas Historical Commission; and
WHEREAS, With a population of more than 260,000, Plano is the
largest city in the county and a thriving business center; visitors
to this community can enjoy shops and malls with pleasant amenities
and a restored downtown square, which features brick sidewalks,
turn-of-the-century lampposts, and numerous specialty stores,
galleries, and restaurants; and
WHEREAS, The city of Allen, home to two especially well-known
residents, Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Carly Patterson and
artist Amanda Dunbar, is yet another fast-growing town; Allen has a
population of more than 75,000, and its citizens are dedicated to
the development of a quality community with a top-ranked education
system, family-oriented residential areas, innovative recreational
facilities, and premier business developments; and
WHEREAS, The site now occupied by the city of Frisco was once
a Native American campground; with the arrival of the railroad in
the county in the 1870s and the subsequent growth of the area's
cotton industry, Frisco became a commercial center for farmers and
ranchers; incorporated in 1902, the town grew slowly until the late
1980s when it had a population of 5,000; today that figure stands at
more than 100,000, and the city serves as a hub of regional and
international business; Frisco is home to several international
companies, as well as FC Dallas, a major league soccer team, and the
Dallas Stars hockey team; the town has also emerged as a vibrant
arts scene; and
WHEREAS, Other communities add much to Collin County's
allure; Parker is the home of gymnast Nastia Liukin, winner of a
2008 Olympic gold medal, and also the home of Southfork Ranch, the
filming location for the television series Dallas; Wylie, another
great place to call home, numbers 40,000 residents and can claim a
coveted ISO Class 1 Fire Protection Rating, an outstanding school
district, and an annual championship rodeo, as well as significant
investments in infrastructure; true to its name, the town of
Prosper has grown larger in recent years and now has excellent
access to the Metro area, thanks to the recent opening of a Dallas
North Tollway extension; the community's residents are especially
appreciative of their skilled firefighters and paramedics, whose
courage and quick action have saved lives; and
WHEREAS, Farmersville is the hometown of Audie Murphy, the
most decorated American combat soldier of World War II, while the
community of Princeton served during that same war as a German
prisoner-of-war camp; the city of Murphy celebrated the 50th
anniversary of its incorporation on September 27, 2008, though
settlement in the area dates back to 1846; Melissa, platted in 1872,
is now a leading supplier of building materials; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the foregoing, citizens from the
communities of Anna, Blue Ridge, Celina, Copeville, Fairview,
Josephine, Lavon, Lowry Crossing, Lucas, Nevada, New Hope, St.
Paul, Westminster, and Weston, along with parts of Dallas, Garland,
Richardson, Royse City, and Sachse, have played an important part
in preserving Collin County's rich heritage and contributing to its
flourishing, diversified economy; and
WHEREAS, An exemplary educational system is critical to the
strength of any community, and Forbes magazine has lauded Collin
County schools for their impressive performance; county residents
are also proud of their high school athletic programs, which last
year saw four teams, from Allen, Prosper, Celina, and Wylie,
compete for state football championships; the Prosper High School
Eagles captured the 2008 Class 3A Division 1 High School Football
Championship, and the Allen High School Eagles won the 5A Division 1
Football Championship; since 1974, the Celina High School Bobcats
have brought home a record eight state football championships; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of this notable North Texas county are
working to preserve the best of their past even as they look forward
to a bright and promising future; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 9-10, 2009, as Collin County
Days at the State Capitol and extend sincere best wishes to all
those Collin County residents who have traveled to Austin for this
event.