H.R. No. 344 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, Proud citizens of Wharton County are gathering in Austin on February 25, 2025, to celebrate Wharton County Day at the State Capitol; and WHEREAS, Led by Stephen F. Austin under contract with the Mexican government, prospective landowners first came to the plains of the Colorado River in 1822; the Mexican Imperial Colonization Law of 1823 granted 177 acres to the heads of families for farming and 4,428 acres for raising cattle; and WHEREAS, Wharton County was founded in April of 1846, and its name commemorates two heroes of the Texas Revolution, brothers William Harris Wharton and John Austin Wharton; the advent of railroads and irrigation brought increased settlement to the area, which remains a center of agricultural, educational, industrial, and medical services for a large region; and WHEREAS, Today, nearly 42,000 people call the county home; encompassing just over 1,000 square miles of primarily prairie and timberland, it is divided roughly in half by the Colorado River, which flows through the communities of Wharton and Glen Flora; and WHEREAS, The county seat, Wharton, is known for its small-town way of life and its Czech, Danish, and Mexican heritage, as well as for its proximity to both Houston and the Gulf Coast, its excellent schools and championship football teams, and its popular festivals; the area also attracts visitors seeking hunting and outdoor recreation opportunities; the county's other largest towns include El Campo, East Bernard, Boling, and Louise; and WHEREAS, With their resilience and strong sense of community, the people of Wharton County are working to preserve the best of their past as they build an even brighter future, and it is indeed fitting to honor them for their unique contributions to the story of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas Legislature hereby recognize February 25, 2025, as Wharton 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. 344 was adopted by the House on February 25, 2025, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House