85R10466 KSM-D
By: Flynn H.R. No. 422
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Hopkins County are gathering in
Austin on March 9, 2017, 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 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
36,000, with approximately 16,000 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; the city's striking all-glass restroom downtown
has drawn national attention and was the first of its kind in the
United States; 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 may take great pride in the history and
character of their splendid communities; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 9, 2017, as Hopkins County Day
at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere
best wishes for an informative and enjoyable stay in Austin.