SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 392
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 Senate of the State of Texas, 85th
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.
Hall
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on March 7, 2017.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate