82R13363 MGR-D
By: Cain H.R. No. 941
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Hopkins County are gathering in
Austin on March 29, 2011, to celebrate Hopkins County Day at the
State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Hopkins County has an area of 789 square miles with
both blackland prairie and piney wood terrain; originally inhabited
by the Caddo and then the Cherokee people, the county was created in
1846 and named for a family of pioneers; Sulphur Springs was made
the county seat in 1870; and
WHEREAS, Corn, wheat, sheep, and cattle were agriculturally
important in the 19th century, but cotton became the dominant crop
between 1890 and 1930; in 1937 the Carnation Milk Company opened a
processing plant in the county, and its presence, in conjunction
with better road and rail transportation, allowed dairy farming to
become the major agricultural undertaking; in 1990 the county
boasted nearly 500 dairies supplying 17 percent of the state's
total milk; and
WHEREAS, Today, Hopkins County has a population of over
35,000, with more than 15,000 people residing in Sulphur Springs;
along with dairy production, tourism and food processing and
distribution are mainstays of the economy, as are beef cattle and
breeding horses; and
WHEREAS, Sulphur Springs features a number of popular
attractions, including the Southwest Dairy Center and Museum, the
Leo St. Clair Music Box Museum, and the Hopkins County Heritage
Museum and Park; moreover, the area is a well-known center for
aquatic recreation, with Lake Fork and Cooper Lake State Park
offering opportunities for trophy bass fishing, as well as boating
and swimming; bird-watchers, hikers, and campers also seek out the
county, and special events like the Texas State Champion Homemade
Ice Cream Freeze Off at the Hopkins County Dairy Festival in June
are enjoyed by residents and visitors alike; and
WHEREAS, Hopkins County is one of the Lone Star State's true
treasures, and its citizens justifiably take great pride in the
history and character of their splendid communities; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 29, 2011, as Hopkins County Day
at the State Capitol and extend sincere best wishes to the visiting
delegation for an informative and enjoyable stay in Austin.