89R21520 KRT-F
By: Leach H.R. No. 697
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents from Collin County are gathering in Austin
on April 1 and 2, 2025, to celebrate Collin County Days at the State
Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Collin County is one of the largest and
fastest-growing counties in the state; more than 90 percent of its
workforce over the age of 25 hold a high school diploma and about
half have earned at least a bachelor's degree; such highly skilled
workers also make the county a leader in job growth; and
WHEREAS, With a population of over 292,000, Plano is the
largest city in the county and home to more than 70 iconic global
corporations, including Toyota Motor North America, Liberty Mutual
Insurance, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Boeing Global Services, NTT DATA,
JCPenney, FedEx Office, Frito-Lay, Samsung, and Capital One
Finance; the city is consistently ranked as one of America's safest
cities, and it has been named one of the best places to live in
America and one of the best cities to buy a house in America by
Niche; it has also been recognized as one of the best places to
raise a family by WalletHub, one of the healthiest cities in America
by SmartAsset, and one of the best cities in America for jobs by
Forbes, while maintaining its status as one of the best-performing
cities in America by the Milken Institute; this thriving
municipality boasts nationally recognized schools, award-winning
parks, a lively historic downtown district, and multicultural
neighborhoods that appeal equally to families, young singles, and
retirees; its excellent restaurants, vibrant shopping districts,
exciting entertainment venues, and active local arts scene all
contribute to the city's high quality of life; and
WHEREAS, The county seat and one of the fastest-growing
cities in the country with a current population of over 224,000, the
city of McKinney continues to thrive as a hub of innovation,
opportunity, and exceptional quality of life; major employers such
as Raytheon, Emerson, SRS Distribution, Globe Life, and Encore Wire
anchor a diverse and expanding economy; upcoming projects include a
20,000-seat open-air amphitheater and a new terminal at the
McKinney National Airport to accommodate commercial service by
2026; nearly 50 technology startups have received funding to grow
their businesses in the community through the city's
internationally recognized Innovation Fund; the city has also
positioned itself on the global map for next-generation industries
by bringing one of the world's leading innovation platforms, Plug
and Play, to the local business community; more than 2,300
single-family permits and 76 non-residential permits were issued
last year; furthermore, the city's award-winning historic downtown
encompasses over 170 unique small businesses and restaurants; the
community is recognized among the best places to live in the U.S.,
and residents enjoy more than 70 parks, over 100 miles of trails,
and premier recreational facilities; and
WHEREAS, Allen is a dynamic and welcoming home to more than
113,000 residents and has been ranked among the safest, most
affordable, and most family-friendly cities nationwide, and the
city continues to enhance the Texas workforce through the addition
and expansion of such international companies as NETSCOUT, Boss
Fight Entertainment, and Amphenol Fiber Systems International; in
2017, the city was named the number two "Best Place to Live" and
number one "Best Place to Live in the South" by Money magazine, and
the city received the National Recreation and Park Association Gold
Medal Award in 2016 for the coveted stewardship of its parkland,
which today includes more than 1,864 acres, 67 parks and
facilities, and 83 miles of hike-and-bike trails; moreover, its
volunteer efforts were recognized with the 2012, 2016, and 2022
Keep Texas Beautiful Governor's Community Achievement Award for
efforts in environmental education, community beautification, and
litter prevention; the city is also part of the Six Cities trail
plan, a blueprint for creating a regional trail system connecting
Allen, Plano, McKinney, Richardson, Frisco, and Garland; and
WHEREAS, Defining "Progress in Motion," Frisco is one of the
fastest-growing cities in the country and the fastest-growing
community over the past decade, according to the United States
Census Bureau; it has maintained its quality of life amid rapid
development, and the Dallas Morning News named Frisco among its top
10 suburbs for schools, safety, families with children, young
adults, empty nesters, and "Best Overall" neighborhoods; known for
top-notch public safety services, the city received the highest
rating for fire protection, and it enjoys one of the lowest crime
rates, as well as low taxes; this once-small town is home to Collin
College, Preston Ridge Campus, world-class venues, and a number of
professional sports organizations, namely the Frisco RoughRiders,
Dallas Stars, FC Dallas, Texas Legends, Dallas Cowboys, and the PGA
of America; active residents have access to 49 parks, 86 miles of
trails, and an athletic center featuring an outdoor water park;
health care facilities include three hospitals, and the favorable
business climate supports more than nine million square feet of
retail and restaurants; among the cultural amenities are three
museums and hundreds of public and private art installations
displayed throughout Frisco's approximately 70-square-mile area;
recently, the University of North Texas opened a campus in Frisco,
becoming the first four-year college in Collin County; and
WHEREAS, The City of Wylie, Wylie Independent School
District, Wylie Chamber of Commerce, and Wylie Economic Development
Corporation work in concert to build a strong community that
strives to honor the past, embrace the present, and plan for the
future, while valuing unity, relationships, and trust; known as
"Wide Awake Wylie," the town of more than 63,000 residents fosters a
spirit of cooperation and features a thriving business environment
as well as outstanding schools; it is a place people treasure and
proudly call home, set apart by its strong sense of community and
long history; and
WHEREAS, The city of Richardson, which is known globally for
its high-tech business leadership, is home to the Telecom Corridor
area and was named the International Business Capital of North
Texas by the 82nd Texas Legislature; Richardson is a major
employment center, with companies including Blue Cross and Blue
Shield of Texas, Fossil, RealPage, Fujitsu Network Communications,
and Cisco Systems having headquarters in the city; other major
employers include State Farm, Raytheon, UnitedHealthcare, Texas
Instruments, and AT&T; Richardson offers a high quality of life, a
diverse array of neighborhoods, and easy access to a multimodal
transportation infrastructure; the city has repeatedly been
recognized as one of the top places to live, work, and obtain an
education by national and local media; in 2018, CBS News ranked
Richardson the 16th-best city in the United States to live, and it
finished ninth nationally among top cities for STEM workers by
Livability; Richardson is home to The University of Texas at
Dallas, one of the fastest-growing universities in the state, and
the city remains dedicated to continued improvement as well as to
the principles of open government and two-way communication with
residents; and
WHEREAS, The city of Murphy, a diverse, historically
significant residential community in southeastern Collin County,
continues to create a distinctive ambience of homeowner pride and
neighborhood vitality, and it has been designated multiple times as
a Top 10 Best Suburb by D Magazine; Murphy's commitment to an
enhanced quality of life is reflected in the number and level of
excellence in its parks system, as well as its highly regarded
year-round special events; the business community offers a wide
range of desirable retail and culinary options, and residents enjoy
the safety and security of professionally managed public safety
functions; and
WHEREAS, With approximately 46,000 residents, Prosper is
dedicated to high-quality development while promoting a strong
sense of community; located where the rapidly expanding Dallas
North Tollway meets the booming U.S. 380 Corridor, the town is
poised for continued commercial, office, retail, and residential
development that aligns with the Town Council's Strategic Vision;
more than $500 million in pediatric medical care facilities have
been built in Prosper, such as Cook Children's Medical Center and
Children's Health Specialty Center; the establishment of major
retailers, including the Gates of Prosper, Costco, and H-E-B,
contribute to the city's economy, and the acceleration of
infrastructure is at the forefront of its growth strategy, which is
reflected in the town's multimillion dollar Capital Improvement
Plan; the town has implemented several projects downtown to enhance
existing businesses and attract new ones, and it recently adopted a
Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan and a Library Master
Plan to serve the growing community; Prosper is utilizing
leading-edge technology to prevent crime through the deployment of
the Flock program; the Prosper Independent School District serves
over 29,000 students, and thanks to its excellent programs and
highly qualified teachers, it is one of the top school districts in
Texas and the nation; Prosper has a CAPRA-accredited Parks and
Recreation Department with more than 727 acres of parks and open
space and over 62 miles of hike-and-bike trails, and the town offers
such community engagement programs as the Prosper Citizens Academy,
the Citizens Police and Fire Academies, and special events for all
ages and interests; Prosper continues to live up to its name and
motto as "a place where everyone matters"; and
WHEREAS, Embracing its natural setting, the town of Fairview
has distinguished itself as a platinum-level Scenic City in Texas
since 2011; it has also been recognized as a Tree City USA community
and earned a Growing Green Cities Award, and it is home to the first
street in Texas to be illuminated by LED lighting; the town is a
three-time recipient of the Texas Municipal League Municipal
Excellence Award and continues to earn the annual Certificate of
Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the
Government Finance Officers Association; the Fairview Economic
Development Corporation was awarded a Certificate of Achievement
for Economic Excellence by the Texas Economic Development Council
in 2017, and for three consecutive years, the Texas Chapter of the
American Planning Association honored Fairview with Certificates
of Achievement for Planning Excellence; in addition, the town's
Veterans Park has been recognized with a Patriotic Achievement
Award from the Military Order of the World Wars; Fairview also
features two high-ranking school districts and continues to be one
of the safest and most desirable places to live in Texas; and
WHEREAS, With 78 square miles of land, Celina has the
second-largest geographic footprint of any city in Collin County;
strategic growth plans allow the city to manage new development
along the Dallas North Tollway, Preston Road, and future Collin
County Outer Loop corridors; with its population increasing from
17,000 in 2020 to 54,000 in 2025, Celina has been named the
fastest-growing city in the nation by the United States Census
Bureau, and its projected build-out population of 340,000 makes it
one of the future population centers of Collin County; the city's
robust "Texas historic" downtown is filled with a number of unique
shops, offices, and award-winning restaurants, and its business
community is growing rapidly; Celina recently celebrated the
opening of its first hospital, Celina Methodist, which represents a
$270 million investment into the city; its school district was
recognized for its academic achievements with a prestigious "A"
rating, and the city has received numerous accolades for its
outstanding budgeting and financial reporting; residents and
visitors come together to enjoy a number of special events
throughout the year, including Movie Nights on the Square,
Oktoberfest, Splash & Blast, and Cajun Fest; Celina is focused on
being "The City of the Future, Connected to its Past," welcoming new
members of the community while maintaining its small-town culture;
and
WHEREAS, Lucas was founded in 1888 and became incorporated as
a city government on February 19, 1959; the city is currently home
to more than 9,000 residents, and in recent years, it has
experienced significant growth spurred by its quality housing,
large lot sizes, exceptional education systems, low crime rate, and
animal-friendly neighborhoods; the community has maintained a
peaceful, rural lifestyle, helping to sustain a high quality of
life for its citizens; the city is pleased to offer 25 miles of
trails along Lake Lavon for pedestrians and equestrian enthusiasts,
and it continues to focus on wildlife habitat preservation, making
it the perfect home for the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center; the
city's many honors include the 2022 Governor's Community
Achievement Award from Keep Texas Beautiful, the Community
Partnership Award from the International City/County Management
Association, and certification as a silver level Scenic City; each
year, area residents enjoy taking part in a number of special
events, such as Founders Day, Country Christmas, and an annual
trail cleanup; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of Parker are proud to be living in one
of D Magazine's top suburbs in the DFW Metroplex, and they also
enjoy a low municipal tax rate; the residents number more than
6,000, and they cherish their uniquely "country" lifestyle;
characterized by its large lots and comfortable atmosphere, Parker
is known to millions of television viewers as the home of the
legendary Southfork Ranch from Dallas; and
WHEREAS, Boasting an area of 64 square miles, Anna is one of
the fastest-growing cities in North Texas, with a current
population of more than 27,000, and it is projected to grow to over
100,000 by 2050; the city serves as the northern gateway of Collin
County, with its strategic location along U.S. Highway 75, State
Highway 5, and State Highway 121; Anna's residents enjoy a high
quality of life, with expansive parks and trails, vibrant community
events, and seamless access to both the DFW Metroplex and Red River
corridor; the city has invested in key infrastructure to support
its growth, including a new fire station, major roadway
improvements, and the forthcoming Anna Community Library; strong
partnerships between the City of Anna, the Anna Independent School
District, the Anna Community Development Corporation, and the
Greater Anna Chamber of Commerce help maintain a welcoming,
hometown atmosphere amid rapid development; Anna also honors its
historic roots, as it was once home to Collin McKinney, one of the 5
drafters and 59 signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence;
and
WHEREAS, Farmersville, located 15 miles east of McKinney,
took its name from the primary occupation of its original
residents; established in 1849 as a settlement on the
Jefferson-McKinney Road and near the Republic of Texas National
Road, the town was incorporated in 1873; agriculture kept pace as it
became a trade center, and in the 1930s, Farmersville shipped over
1,000 carloads of onions annually, earning the nickname "Onion
Capital of North Texas"; today, Farmersville is a gigabit
infrastructure city that is working to advance local industries and
railroad projects, and it is home to a number of businesses; in
addition, the Farmersville Independent School District and the
Collin College Farmersville Campus help strengthen the city's
workforce; Farmersville has a nationally recognized Main Street
Program, with many historic downtown buildings, eateries, and
shopping attractions; near the restored Onion Shed is the trailhead
for the 130-mile Northeast Texas Trail, a beautiful site for
walking, hiking, and bicycling; and
WHEREAS, Settled in the mid-1850s, the city of Lavon is
nestled along the southeastern shore of Lake Lavon, and it is home
to approximately 10,000 residents who enjoy the friendliness of the
small-town atmosphere combined with the benefits of living near an
exciting metro area; the city's growing parks and trail system,
planned capital improvements, attraction of quality business
development, growth opportunities, and commitment to service
contribute to an outstanding quality of life; and
WHEREAS, The city of Melissa is one of the fastest-growing
communities in Collin County, gaining roughly one new family per
day; residents enjoy a friendly atmosphere and close access to a
number of amenities, as well as more square feet per dollar for the
price of homes; in 2024, SafeWise ranked Melissa as the safest city
in Texas based on FBI data, demonstrating that safety is not lost in
high growth; Melissa is home to such businesses as Buc-ee's, H-E-B,
Green Acres Nursery, and Taco Casa, to name but a few, and it will
continue to grow commercially to provide its citizens with even
more amenities; and
WHEREAS, Other communities add much to Collin County's
allure; the growing community of Blue Ridge is committed to
revitalizing its downtown by providing a small-town rural feel;
with its beautiful rolling hills, open skies with magnificent
sunrises and sunsets, and friendly residents, Blue Ridge has a
quaint charm all of its own; Cattlemans Cafe, established in 1953
and featured in D Magazine and on Texas Country Reporter, adds to
the town's neighborly atmosphere with its outstanding chicken fried
steak; known as the "Home of the Last Texas Prairie in Collin
County," Blue Ridge is replete with scenic open spaces dotted with
cattle and horses; and
WHEREAS, Located in the center of Collin County, the city of
Princeton is a planned community that is currently working to
become a Smart City; the community was named the number one place
for first-time home buyers in the DFW area by NerdWallet in 2016,
and it was recognized as a Prime Designated U.S. Site by Trade and
Industry Development in 2022; the city has continued to lead Collin
County as one of its fastest-growing cities with an average 20
percent growth rate since 2017, and it issued nearly 2,000
single-family permits in 2024; with its Certified Scenic City
Designation and its new Municipal Center and 100-acre Municipal
Park, Princeton has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to
cultivating a small-town atmosphere by prioritizing the addition of
new parks, trails, and open space, and it maintains a low crime rate
by national standards; the city places emphasis on an open and
transparent government, and it has been consistently recognized
with the Government Finance Officers Association's Distinguished
Budget Presentation Award and its Certificate for Excellence in
Financial Reporting; the Princeton Independent School District
earned an "A" rating from the state, and it is home to the CATE
Center, which provides vocational training across numerous
skill-based fields; moreover, the district participates in the Jump
Start Program and offers students the opportunity to receive an
associate's degree while attending high school; and
WHEREAS, Sachse is a vibrant, diverse, well-educated, and
growing community that offers its residents a high quality of life
while retaining its small-town charm; named as one of the safest
cities in Texas, the community prides itself on providing its
families with a safe place to live; strategically located along the
President George Bush Turnpike, Sachse is home to an increasingly
large retail trade area that includes a growing mixed-used
development called The Station; and
WHEREAS, Also contributing to the development of Collin
County are the residents of Copeville, Josephine, Lowry Crossing,
Nevada, New Hope, Royse City, St. Paul, Westminster, and Weston,
along with parts of Dallas and Garland, and these communities play
an important part in the county's flourishing, diversified economy
and its quality of life; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of this notable North Texas county are
working to preserve the best of their past even as they look forward
to a bright and promising future, and they are sure to figure
prominently in the growth and prosperity of the Lone Star State in
the years ahead; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize April 1 and 2, 2025, as Collin County
Days at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation
sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable stay in Austin.