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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Proud area residents are joining together to |
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| 6 | 7 | | celebrate Austin County Day at the State Capitol on March 31, 2015, |
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| 7 | 8 | | and this occasion provides a fitting opportunity to recognize the |
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| 8 | 9 | | county's unique contribution to the story of the Lone Star State; |
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| 9 | 10 | | and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, American settlement in the county dates to the early |
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| 11 | 12 | | 1820s, when the area became part of Stephen F. Austin's first |
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| 12 | 13 | | colony; the first town to be established was San Felipe de Austin, |
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| 13 | 14 | | which served as the administrative seat of the colony and as a |
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| 14 | 15 | | social, cultural, and commercial center; and |
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| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Austin County was created by the Constitution of |
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| 16 | 17 | | 1836 and was formally organized by 1837; San Felipe was the county |
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| 17 | 18 | | seat until 1848, when the county government was moved to Bellville; |
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| 18 | 19 | | and |
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| 19 | 20 | | WHEREAS, Blessed with an abundance of water, grassland, and |
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| 20 | 21 | | forests, the county drew a steady stream of settlers, most of whom |
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| 21 | 22 | | were engaged in agriculture; a number of towns grew substantially |
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| 22 | 23 | | during the 19th century, including Bellville and Wallis and the |
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| 23 | 24 | | railroad towns of Sealy and Kenney; and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, During the 1800s, German and Czech immigrants began |
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| 25 | 26 | | arriving in Austin County in appreciable numbers, and their |
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| 26 | 27 | | influence is felt throughout the region in the societies that they |
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| 27 | 28 | | established and the many communities that they founded; the |
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| 28 | 29 | | cultural mosaic of the county has been further enriched by |
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| 29 | 30 | | immigrants from Mexico, the largest foreign-born group to settle |
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| 30 | 31 | | there in the 20th century, and by African Americans, who played a |
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| 31 | 32 | | fundamental role in the county's development and in the creation of |
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| 32 | 33 | | numerous social and religious institutions; and |
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| 33 | 34 | | WHEREAS, Among the prominent Texans who have resided in |
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| 34 | 35 | | Austin County was Gail Borden Jr., a surveyor and newspaper |
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| 35 | 36 | | publisher who later invented a successful process for condensing |
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| 36 | 37 | | milk; another early citizen, Robert Justus Kleberg, fought in the |
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| 37 | 38 | | Battle of San Jacinto and held several prestigious public offices; |
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| 38 | 39 | | and |
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| 39 | 40 | | WHEREAS, Today, visitors and residents alike can explore the |
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| 40 | 41 | | county's rich heritage, preserved at the San Felipe de Austin State |
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| 41 | 42 | | Historic Site and in rural communities throughout the area, and |
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| 42 | 43 | | they enjoy hunting and fishing opportunities as well as a wealth of |
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| 43 | 44 | | special recreational events; and |
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| 44 | 45 | | WHEREAS, The citizens of Austin County have together built a |
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| 45 | 46 | | vibrant and distinctive corner of Texas, and they may indeed take |
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| 46 | 47 | | pride in their notable history as they look forward to a future |
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| 47 | 48 | | filled with promise; now, therefore, be it |
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| 48 | 49 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 49 | 50 | | Legislature hereby recognize March 31, 2015, as Austin County Day |
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| 50 | 51 | | and extend to the visiting delegation a warm welcome to the State |
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| 51 | 52 | | Capitol. |
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