SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 352
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
join the citizens of Waco in celebrating City of Waco Day at the
State Capitol on March 28, 2023; and
WHEREAS, Situated on the banks of the Bosque and Brazos
Rivers, the Waco Village was founded in 1849 on the site of an
ancient Huaco Indian agricultural community and was named the
county seat of McLennan County one year later; in 1856, Waco
Village was incorporated as the town of Waco, and upon completion
of the Waco Suspension Bridge over the Brazos River in 1870, the
town was reincorporated as the City of Waco; and
WHEREAS, Primarily driven by cotton production, Waco's
early economy began to boom with the arrival of the Waco and
Northwestern Railroad in 1871 and, in 1881, the Saint Louis and
Southwestern Railroad, and the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad,
which connected Waco's cotton farmers and nascent industries
with factories and consumers across the nation; and
WHEREAS, Waco's dynamic transportation network stimulated
the city's shipping industry and spurred regional population
growth; by 1884, Waco had approximately 12,000 residents, and an
estimated 50,000 bales of cotton and hundreds of thousands of
pounds of wool and hides were being shipped through the city; and
WHEREAS, Waco's population and economy continued to grow
rapidly during World War I and World War II, as the military's
high demand for cotton and cotton products brought war plants and
military bases to the region; by 1942, Waco's mattress and canvas
industries had expanded, making Waco the military's leading
manufacturer of tents, cots, mattresses, and duffel bags; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, Waco has developed into a vibrant
commercial hub that has made considerable contributions to the
prosperity and security of the Lone Star State; the birthplace of
Dr. Pepper in 1885, Waco is home to numerous culturally significant
spaces, including the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum and the
Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Waco also is renowned for such
institutions of higher learning as Baylor University, McLennan
Community College, and Texas State Technical College; and
WHEREAS, The Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, a business
leadership organization founded in 1899 as the Waco Business
Men's Club, has done much to create a resilient,
business-friendly environment in the Waco area; partnering with
local businesses, the chamber has facilitated economic growth
and promoted a high quality of life in the region while adapting
to economic changes and technological advancements; and
WHEREAS, Blessed with many natural attractions, Waco is
home to the Waco Mammoth National Monument, a site that exhibits
the 68,000-year-old bones of mammoths found at the confluence of
the Bosque and Brazos Rivers, and Cameron Park, one of the
largest municipal parks in the Lone Star State and home to the
52-acre Cameron Park Zoo; the citizens of Waco may take great
pride in their city's rich and colorful history as they look
ahead to an even brighter future; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
Legislature, hereby recognize March 28, 2023, as City of Waco Day
at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation best
wishes for an enjoyable stay in Austin; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
the delegates as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
Birdwell
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on March 28, 2023.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate