89R11198 KRT-D By: Leach H.R. No. 271 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, Proud residents of Allen are gathering in Austin on February 27, 2025, to celebrate City of Allen Day at the State Capitol; and WHEREAS, The community's location in southwestern Collin County was first inhabited by the Caddo, Kiowa, and Comanche people, and later, immigrants of European descent, who were drawn to the area's fertile land and plentiful water; in 1870, the city was established by the Houston and Texas Central Railway and named for Ebenezer Allen, former attorney general of Texas; and WHEREAS, After the Houston and Texas Central Railway constructed a stone dam, water tower, and pump house on Cottonwood Creek, the town became a commercial center for local farmers, who were able to more easily transport their products; the railroad helped usher in an era of significant growth for the city, which by 1884 had a population estimated at 350, three churches, a school, a chair factory, and a flour mill; and WHEREAS, Today, Allen is a vibrant and diverse community with a population of more than 100,000 people, and its economy benefits from the financial services, information technology, professional services, and telecommunications industries; moreover, it is home to the Collin College Technical Campus and is in close proximity to The University of Texas at Dallas, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and many other leading universities; and WHEREAS, With its abundance of natural beauty, visitors and residents alike enjoy nearly 2,000 acres of parkland, more than 80 miles of hike-and-bike trails, and numerous recreation facilities, including a municipal golf course, an aquatic center, and one of the state's largest outdoor skate parks; other attractions include musical, dance, and theatrical productions by the Allen Arts Alliance, and the Credit Union of Texas Event Center is home to the Allen Americans hockey team and the Dallas Sidekicks soccer team; and WHEREAS, Boasting a rich history, thriving cultural institutions, and a dynamic business community, Allen has established itself as an outstanding place to live and work, and its citizens may indeed take pride in the place they call home; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas Legislature hereby recognize February 27, 2025, as City of Allen Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting delegation.