SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 255
WHEREAS, Residents of Hopkins County are gathering in
Austin on February 28, 2019, 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; 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; by 1990 the county
boasted nearly 500 dairies supplying 17 percent of the state's
total milk; and
WHEREAS, Today, population in the county has grown to about
36,000, with 16,000 people living in the county seat, Sulphur
Springs; dairy production continues to be a mainstay of the
economy, along with food processing and distribution, cattle
raising, and horse breeding; and
WHEREAS, Sulphur Springs features a number of popular
attractions, including the Southwest Dairy Museum and Education
Center, the Leo Saint Clair Music Box Museum, and the Hopkins
County Museum and Heritage 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, Citizens of Hopkins County are working to build a
prosperous future even as they honor the achievements of the
past, and they may take great pride in the history and character
of their notable region; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th
Legislature, hereby recognize February 28, 2019, 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
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on February 25, 2019.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate