SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 275
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Aransas County are gathering
in Austin to celebrate Aransas County Day at the State Capitol on
February 28, 2019; and
WHEREAS, This region of thousand-year-old oaks, coastal
prairie, and sandy beaches was first inhabited by native peoples
8,000 years ago; and
WHEREAS, In 1828, the Mexican government awarded an
empresario grant to bring in settlers from Ireland and Mexico,
and not long after the Civil War, in the mid-1860s, the towns of
Fulton and Rockport were founded as ports for the cattle
business; Aransas County was formed in 1871 and named after a
Spanish palace; and
WHEREAS, Aransas County is the gateway to the nearly
115,000-acre Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, where North
America's largest wild colony of the endangered whooping crane
spends the winter, and to Goose Island State Park, which has
between 150,000 and 200,000 visitors annually; and
WHEREAS, Rockport and Fulton Harbors are the home ports of
many popular boating excursions for birders, dolphin watchers,
and devotees of deep-sea and bay fishing, and the area offers
many first-rate opportunities for angling; and
WHEREAS, The county's history is evoked by the 19th century
Fulton Mansion and the 1870s Victorian-style Aransas County
History Center, while the official Texas Maritime Museum in
Rockport celebrates the marine heritage of the Lone Star State;
theRockportCenterfortheArtsisahubforthe region's
thriving cultural scene, and the area's festive annual events
include the Bountiful Bowl Pottery Fair, the Fulton Oysterfest,
the Rockport Film Festival, the HummerBird Celebration, LaMardi
Gras, and the Rockport Festival of Wines; and
WHEREAS, Aransas County was faced with multiple challenges
when Hurricane Harvey made its first devastating landfall and
directly hit Rockport in August of 2017; the county's citizens
displayed uncommon courage and resilience in the wake of the
storm, and due to their steadfast efforts, the area is well on its
way to recovery; and
WHEREAS, One of the treasures of the Lone Star State,
Aransas County is blessed with more magnificent bays than land,
more redfish and trout than cars, and a chamber of commerce with a
five-star rating; its citizens may indeed take great pride in
their heritage and look forward to a future filled with
opportunity and good times; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th
Legislature, hereby recognize February 28, 2019, as Aransas
County Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting
delegation sincere best wishes for a rewarding visit to Austin.
Kolkhorst
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on February 26, 2019.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate