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| 6 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, Proud residents of Washington County are gathering |
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| 8 | 9 | | in Austin on February 26, 2025, to celebrate the unique role their |
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| 9 | 10 | | county has played in the history and ongoing development of the Lone |
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| 10 | 11 | | Star State; and |
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| 11 | 12 | | WHEREAS, In 1821, settlers recruited by Stephen F. Austin |
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| 12 | 13 | | began to homestead this region of rolling hills just west of the |
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| 13 | 14 | | Brazos River; during the Texas Revolution, the ferry crossing known |
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| 14 | 15 | | as Washington-on-the-Brazos became the headquarters of General Sam |
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| 15 | 16 | | Houston and the site of the Convention of 1836, which declared the |
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| 16 | 17 | | independence of Texas; the town was the capital of the new republic |
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| 17 | 18 | | from 1842 to 1845; and |
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| 18 | 19 | | WHEREAS, Washington County was organized in 1837, and Brenham |
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| 19 | 20 | | became the county seat in 1844; the county's prospects were |
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| 20 | 21 | | improved by the thousands of immigrants from Germany and Poland who |
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| 21 | 22 | | arrived during the 1860s and 1870s, and its economy was further |
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| 22 | 23 | | spurred by the arrival of the railroad in 1880; in those years, |
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| 23 | 24 | | cotton, corn, and poultry were the region's mainstays; and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, The area played an important role in the history of |
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| 25 | 26 | | higher education in Texas; Baylor University was founded in the |
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| 26 | 27 | | county in 1846, and in 1855 Soule University was founded in Chappell |
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| 27 | 28 | | Hill; today, Blinn College in Brenham carries on the proud |
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| 28 | 29 | | tradition; and |
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| 29 | 30 | | WHEREAS, Washington County's central role in the history of |
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| 30 | 31 | | Texas draws visitors from across the state and nation; the Star of |
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| 31 | 32 | | the Republic Museum, Independence Hall, and the Barrington |
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| 32 | 33 | | Plantation State Historic Site at the Washington-on-the-Brazos |
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| 33 | 34 | | State Historic Site vividly evoke the years of the Texas Republic; |
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| 34 | 35 | | the Chappell Hill Historic District includes a historical museum |
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| 35 | 36 | | and a Masonic cemetery with descendants of William B. Travis and is |
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| 36 | 37 | | the site of the "Official Bluebonnet Festival of Texas," which is |
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| 37 | 38 | | held each year in April; and |
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| 38 | 39 | | WHEREAS, Other popular attractions include the recreation |
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| 39 | 40 | | opportunities of Lake Somerville, local wineries, dozens of bed and |
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| 40 | 41 | | breakfast lodging properties, the Antique Rose Emporium, the |
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| 41 | 42 | | county's scenic country roads where wildflowers bloom in profusion, |
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| 42 | 43 | | Unity Theatre, and the Barnhill Center; the county also benefits |
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| 43 | 44 | | economically from the presence of Blue Bell Creameries, where one |
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| 44 | 45 | | of the nation's best-selling brands of ice cream is made, as well as |
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| 45 | 46 | | major production and global distribution facilities for BRIANNAS |
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| 46 | 47 | | Fine Salad Dressings and its parent corporation, Del Sol Food |
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| 47 | 48 | | Company; and |
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| 48 | 49 | | WHEREAS, Honoring their rich history as they continue to |
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| 49 | 50 | | build an even brighter future, the residents of Washington County |
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| 50 | 51 | | have many reasons to be proud of the place they call home; now, |
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| 51 | 52 | | therefore, be it |
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| 52 | 53 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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| 53 | 54 | | Legislature hereby recognize February 26, 2025, as Washington |
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| 54 | 55 | | County Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the |
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| 55 | 56 | | visiting delegation. |
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