SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 341
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
join the citizens of Austin County in celebrating March 6, 2013,
as Austin County Day at the State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, This occasion provides a fitting opportunity to
recognize the county's outstanding contributions to the building
of the Lone Star State; and
WHEREAS, American settlement in the county dates to the
early 1820s, when the area became part of Stephen F. Austin's
first colony; the first town to be established was San Felipe de
Austin, which served as the administrative seat of the colony and
as a social, cultural, and commercial center; and
WHEREAS, Austin County was created by the Constitution of
1836 and was formally organized by 1837; San Felipe was the
county seat until 1848, when the county government was moved to
Bellville; and
WHEREAS, Blessed with an abundance of water, grassland,
and forests, the county drew a steady stream of settlers, most of
whom were engaged in agriculture; a number of towns grew
substantially during the 19th century, including Bellville and
Wallis and the railroad towns of Sealy and Kenney; and
WHEREAS, Pushed by difficult social and political
circumstances at home and pulled by glowing accounts of life in
Texas, many German immigrants came to settle in Austin County
during the 1800s; for recreational and civic purposes, they
organized singing, literary, dramatic, and political clubs, as
well as one of the oldest agrarian groups in the state, the Cat
Spring Agricultural Society; German communities in the county
include Industry, Cat Spring, Millheim, New Ulm, Shelby,
Welcome, Nelsonville, and Bleiblerville; and
WHEREAS, Austin County also proved attractive to
immigrants from Czechoslovakia, who began settling there in
sizable numbers after the Civil War and who continued to arrive
until after the turn of the 20th century; like the Germans, they
organized much of their social life around various societies,
which still play a vital role in the communities, and they were
largely responsible for the establishment of the community of
Frydek; and
WHEREAS, Following the Civil War, African Americans set
about creating their own social and religious institutions in the
county; in addition to the fundamental role they played in
developing the county's agricultural base, they also worked by
the hundreds on building the railroad lines that entered the area
in the latter part of the 1800s; and
WHEREAS, In the 20th century, the cultural mosaic of the
county was further enriched by the arrival of immigrants from
Mexico, who in the 1900s were the largest foreign-born group to
settle there; and
WHEREAS, Among the prominent Texans who have resided in
Austin County have been Gail Borden, Jr., a surveyor and
newspaper publisher who later invented a successful process for
condensing milk; another early citizen, Robert Justus Kleberg,
fought in the Battle of San Jacinto, held several prestigious
public offices, and in 1885 saw his youngest son become head of
the King Ranch; and
WHEREAS, Today, visitors and residents alike can explore
the county's rich heritage, preserved at the San Felipe de Austin
State Historic Site and in rural communities throughout the area,
and can enjoy hunting and fishing and special recreational events
throughout the area; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of Austin County should indeed take
pride in their notable history as they look forward to a future
filled with promise; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd
Legislature, hereby recognize March 6, 2013, as Austin County Day
and extend to the visiting delegation a warm welcome to the State
Capitol; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
the delegation in honor of Austin County Day.
Hegar
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on March 4, 2013.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate