82R4990 JGH-D
By: Weber H.R. No. 556
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Brazoria County are gathering in
Austin to celebrate Brazoria County Day at the State Capitol on
March 8, 2011; and
WHEREAS, This section of coastal prairie along the Brazos
River was inhabited during the first three centuries of Texas'
recorded history by the nomadic Karankawa Indians; the Spanish
explorer Cabeza de Vaca passed through the region as early as 1528,
and the pirate Jean Lafitte was rumored to have used the mouth of
the Brazos as a refuge; and
WHEREAS, The region was settled in the 1820s by members of
Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred; Henry Smith of Brazoria
served as the first American-born governor of the Mexican territory
of Texas and as a leader of the movement for independence, and the
town of Columbia served as the capital of Texas during the first
Texas Congress; in 1836, Brazoria County became one of the original
counties established by the new republic; and
WHEREAS, Farming and ranching initially constituted the
mainstays of the county's economy; the discovery of oil and sulfur
deposits in the early 20th century helped the region grow, and
chemical processing became increasingly important during World War
II and after; commercial fishing and the recreation industry have
helped to ensure continuing economic development; and
WHEREAS, Today, the eight cities of the Brazosport
area--Clute, Freeport, Jones Creek, Lake Jackson, Oyster Creek,
Quintana, Richwood, and Surfside Beach--boast excellent schools
and affordable housing; visitors and residents alike take great
pleasure in miles of sandy beaches, bay and offshore fishing, scuba
diving, and outstanding bird-watching at the Brazoria and San
Bernard National Wildlife Refuges; and
WHEREAS, Angleton, the county seat, abounds with antique
shops and scenic parks and hosts the county fair, one of the largest
in Texas, every October and Christmas on the Square in December; the
town of Alvin is home to the Nolan Ryan Center, which celebrates the
career of its native son and Baseball Hall of Famer; moreover, the
nearby town of Pearland is a center for the chemical and oil
industries; and
WHEREAS, The educational opportunities available to students
at Alvin Community College and Brazosport College further
contribute to the county's many amenities; and
WHEREAS, Even as they celebrate their rich heritage, the
hardworking citizens of Brazoria County are looking ahead to the
opportunities of the future and continuing to contribute greatly to
the growth and prosperity of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 8, 2011, as Brazoria County Day
at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best
wishes for a memorable and meaningful stay in Austin.