85R15528 KSM-D
By: Stephenson H.R. No. 813
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents of Jackson County are gathering in Austin
on March 14, 2017, to celebrate Jackson County Day at the State
Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Part of the Coastal Prairie, what is now Jackson
County was once inhabited by the Karankawa people, and it is thought
that the early European explorers Cabeza de Vaca and La Salle
visited the region; in the 1820s, a number of the "Old 300" families
in Stephen F. Austin's first colony arrived, and the communities
they founded became known as the Alabama Settlement because so many
of the new arrivals had previously resided in that state; and
WHEREAS, The area played a central role in the Texas
Revolution, serving as a training ground for Texan forces and
suffering destruction at the hands of the Mexican Army; after
independence was won in 1836, Jackson County was one of the original
23 counties formed in the newly established republic; and
WHEREAS, Cattle ranching and farming became the backbone of
the local economy in the mid-1800s, and these businesses remain
important to the county today, with rice, corn, and cotton being
prominent crops; moreover, oil and natural gas production have
employed many area residents since reserves were discovered in the
1930s; and
WHEREAS, The town of Edna was established in the 1880s as a
stop on a new railroad that was built through the coastal region; it
quickly eclipsed the existing county seat, Texana, and in 1883,
Edna became the center of government operations; other communities
in the county include Francitas, Ganado, LaSalle, La Ward, Lolita,
and Vanderbilt; and
WHEREAS, With Lake Texana and Lavaca Bay, Jackson County is a
great place for boating, fishing, and hiking, and these activities
draw many people to sites such as the Brackenridge Recreation
Complex, which includes the Brackenridge and Texana parks and
campgrounds, as well as the Main Event Center; hunting and
bird-watching are also popular, and visitors can learn about local
history at the Texana Museum and Old Jail House in Edna; and
WHEREAS, Celebrating their rich and colorful history as they
work together to build an even brighter future, the citizens of
Jackson County may take justifiable pride in the important role
their unique region continues to play in 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 14, 2017, as Jackson County Day
at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best
wishes for an informative and enjoyable stay in Austin.