SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 155
WHEREAS, Proud residents are gathering in Austin on
February 13, 2023, to celebrate Hardin County Day at the State
Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Situated northeast of Houston, Hardin County is
predominantly made up of pine and hardwood forests in the East
Texas Timberlands region; attracted by the mineral waters of
Medicine Lake, Native Americans visited the area long before it
became part of the Atascosito District of Spanish and Mexican
Texas; attempts at colonization began in earnest in 1834 when the
Mexican government made land grants, and in 1835, Stephen Jackson
founded a settlement at Sour Lake; and
WHEREAS, Following the Texas Revolution, the area was
split between the jurisdictions of Liberty and Jefferson
Counties; in 1858, the State Legislature established Hardin
County, drawing territory from both parent counties; under state
law, the county's name honored the Hardin family of Liberty, and
the county seat also bore that name; in 1881, the Sabine and East
Texas Railroad bypassed Hardin in favor of its own newly
established town, Kountze, which ultimately became the county
seat; and
WHEREAS, Early farmers in Hardin County raised corn, sweet
potatoes, hogs, cattle, sheep, and horses; as early as 1878,
loggers were floating cut timber to the Neches River and on to
Beaumont, and by 1881, at least two lumber-processing mills were
operating in the county; the subsequent arrivals of other railway
companies further stimulated the lumber industry; a big economic
boost came with the discovery of oil at Saratoga and Batson and
the development of the Sour Lake oil field in 1903; today,
chambers of commerce in Kountze, Lumberton, Silsbee, and Sour
Lake promote economic development in their communities; and
WHEREAS, Hardin County is further buoyed by its robust
ecotourism, which offers ample opportunities for camping,
paddling, fishing, hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing; a major
attraction is the Big Thicket National Preserve, where visitors
can explore nine different ecosystems; moreover, Village Creek
State Park sits along one of the few free-flowing creeks in
Texas, and the Roy E. Larsen Sandyland Sanctuary protects diverse
plant communities; and
WHEREAS, Residents of Hardin County are working together
to build an even brighter future, and this special day provides a
fitting opportunity to pay tribute to the county and its people;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
Legislature, hereby recognize February 13, 2023, as Hardin
County Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the
visiting delegation.
Nichols
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on February 14, 2023.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate