88R24208 BHH-D
By: Guillen H.R. No. 1143
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud residents of La Salle County are gathering in
Austin on April 18, 2023, to celebrate La Salle County Day at the
State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Situated in South Texas and traversed by the Nueces
and Frio Rivers, the area that is now La Salle County has been
inhabited for approximately 11,000 years; in the 1850s, the U.S.
Army briefly operated the Fort Ewell outpost on the road from San
Antonio to Laredo, and by 1871, some 60 people lived in the nearby
town of Guajoco; a number of ranchers moved into the region, and in
1880, the county was formally organized, with Stuart's Rancho near
Guajoco designated as its first seat of government; soon after, the
International-Great Northern Railroad extended its line into the
county, with landowner Joseph Cotulla donating land to encourage
the railroad to pass through a townsite he was developing; over the
years, Cotulla became the most populous town in the county, and the
county seat was eventually moved there; and
WHEREAS, During the first decades of the 20th century, the
introduction of commercial agriculture ushered in a new period of
development, and national advertising campaigns attracted numerous
settlers, more than doubling the county's population to over 4,700
by 1910; in addition to cattle ranching, lucrative crops such as
onions, peaches, pears, plums, figs, and cotton became staples of
the local economy; in 1940, the first oil well was drilled, and
production continued to rise in the succeeding decades, with nearly
two million barrels of crude oil produced in 1990; and
WHEREAS, Today, La Salle County has a population of more than
6,500; the majority of the region's residents are concentrated in
the cities of Encinal and Cotulla, which is home to the county's
courthouse and airport; since 2008, shale oil production has
further bolstered economic conditions; and
WHEREAS, Even as they celebrate their unique heritage, the
citizens of La Salle County are looking ahead to the opportunities
of the future, and they may reflect with pride on their
contributions to the story of the Lone Star State; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize April 18, 2023, as La Salle County Day
at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting
delegation.