H.R. No. 577
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Citizens of Wharton County are gathering in Austin
on March 3, 2015, to celebrate Wharton County Day at the State
Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Wharton County was founded in April of 1846, and its
name commemorates two heroes of the Texas Revolution, brothers
William Harris Wharton and John Austin Wharton; and
WHEREAS, Wharton County is located on the Coastal Plain
southwest of Houston; the county is bounded by Matagorda, Colorado,
and Jackson Counties and by the San Bernard River, which forms its
northeastern border and marks the county line with Fort Bend
County; and
WHEREAS, Wharton County has more than 41,000 residents and
encompasses 1,086 square miles of land, which is divided primarily
between prairie and timberland; the Colorado River traverses the
county from northwest to southeast, dividing it roughly in half and
flowing through Wharton and Glen Flora; and
WHEREAS, Prospective landowners first came to the plains of
the Colorado River in 1822, led by Stephen F. Austin under contract
with the Mexican government; the Mexican Imperial Colonization Law
of 1823 granted 177 acres to the heads of families for farming and
4,428 acres for raising cattle; and
WHEREAS, During the time of the Republic of Texas, the area
was divided into three counties, Matagorda, Jackson, and Colorado,
and the area consisted of isolated plantation homes and two growing
towns, Preston and Egypt; and
WHEREAS, After Texas entered the United States in 1845,
Wharton County was formed of parts of the three existing counties
near the intersection of the mail routes from Matagorda to Columbus
and from Houston to Victoria; and
WHEREAS, The advent of railroads and irrigation brought
increased settlement to the area, which remains a center of
agricultural, educational, industrial, and medical services for a
large region; and
WHEREAS, Wharton County's largest cities and townships are El
Campo, Wharton, East Bernard, Boling, and Louise; and
WHEREAS, Wharton, the county seat, is known for its
small-town way of life and its Czech, Danish, and Mexican heritage;
it offers proximity to both Houston and the Gulf Coast, and
outstanding festivals; it is also noted for its excellent schools
and championship football teams; and
WHEREAS, Residents of Wharton County can take pride in their
rich history and heritage as they look forward to a promising
future; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 3, 2015, as Wharton County Day
at the State Capitol and extend sincere best wishes to all
participants for an informative and enjoyable day in Austin.
Stephenson
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 577 was adopted by the House on March
12, 2015, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House