85R8171 KSM-D
By: Bonnen of Brazoria H.R. No. 738
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Brazoria County are gathering in
Austin to celebrate Brazoria County Day at the State Capitol on
March 7, 2017; and
WHEREAS, This section of coastal prairie along the Brazos
River was inhabited during the first three centuries of Texas'
recorded history by the nomadic Karankawa Indians; the Spanish
explorer Cabeza de Vaca passed through the area as early as 1528,
and the pirate Jean Lafitte was rumored to have used the mouth of
the Brazos as a refuge; and
WHEREAS, The region was settled in the 1820s by members of
Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred; Henry Smith of Brazoria
served as the first American-born governor of the Mexican territory
of Texas and as a leader of the movement for independence; the town
of Columbia was the capital of Texas during the first Texas
Congress, and in 1836, Brazoria County became one of the original
counties established by the new republic; and
WHEREAS, Farming and ranching initially constituted the
mainstays of the county's economy; the discovery of oil and sulfur
deposits in the early 20th century helped the region grow, and
chemical processing became increasingly important during World War
II and after; commercial fishing and the recreation industry have
helped to ensure continuing economic development; and
WHEREAS, Today, the numerous cities and towns of Brazoria
County boast excellent schools and affordable housing; visitors and
residents alike take great pleasure in miles of sandy beaches, bay
and offshore fishing, scuba diving, outstanding bird-watching, and
the Brazoria and San Bernard National Wildlife Refuges; the county
is also home to such attractions as the Nolan Ryan Center and the
Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site, and the county seat of
Angleton annually hosts the Brazoria County Fair, one of the
largest events of its kind in Texas; and
WHEREAS, The educational opportunities available to students
at Alvin Community College, Brazosport College, and the University
of Houston-Clear Lake Pearland Campus further contribute to the
county's many amenities; and
WHEREAS, The largest chemical complex in North America, the
Texas Gulf Coast Regional Airport, and a flourishing health care
industry are among the major contributors to economic growth in the
county, and Port Freeport, ranked 26th in the United States in
foreign tonnage, is one of the fastest growing ports on the Gulf
Coast; and
WHEREAS, The people of Brazoria County take great pride in
their rich history as they work together to build an even brighter
future, and it is indeed a privilege to honor them and their unique
contributions to the story of the Lone Star State; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 7, 2017, as Brazoria County Day
at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best
wishes for a meaningful and enjoyable stay in Austin.