H.R. No. 492
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud residents are joining together to celebrate
Austin County Day at the State Capitol on March 8, 2023; and
WHEREAS, Situated between the Post Oak Savannah and the
Coastal Prairie regions, the Austin County area became part of
Stephen F. Austin's first colony in the early 1820s; the town of San
Felipe de Austin was the administrative seat of the colony, and it
played an important role in the Texas Revolution, hosting the
conventions of 1832 and 1833 and briefly serving as the capital of
the provisional government; and
WHEREAS, Austin County was created by the Constitution of
1836 and was formally organized a year later; San Felipe was the
county seat until 1848, when the county government was moved to the
new community of Bellville; and
WHEREAS, Blessed with an abundance of water, grassland, and
forests, the county attracted settlers engaged in agriculture, and
a number of towns grew substantially during the 19th century,
including Bellville and Wallis and the railroad towns of Sealy and
Kenney; German and Czech immigrants also arrived in Austin County,
and their influence is felt throughout the region in the societies
that they established and the many communities they founded; the
cultural mosaic of the county has been further enriched by
immigrants from Mexico, the largest foreign-born group to settle
there in the 20th century, and by African Americans, who played a
fundamental role in the county's development and in the creation of
numerous social and religious institutions; and
WHEREAS, Among the prominent Texans who have resided in
Austin County was Gail Borden Jr., a surveyor and newspaper
publisher who later invented a successful process for condensing
milk; another early citizen, Robert Justus Kleberg, fought in the
Battle of San Jacinto and held several prestigious public offices;
and
WHEREAS, Today, visitors and residents alike can explore the
county's rich heritage, preserved at the San Felipe de Austin State
Historic Site and in rural communities throughout the area, and
they enjoy hunting and fishing opportunities as well as a wealth of
special recreational events; and
WHEREAS, Honoring their history as they embrace the
opportunities of the future, the citizens of Austin County may
indeed take great pride in their unique 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 March 8, 2023, as Austin County Day at
the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting
delegation.
Kitzman
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 492 was adopted by the House on March
8, 2023, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House