H.R. No. 757
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud residents of La Salle County are gathering in
Austin on April 24, 2025, to celebrate La Salle County Day at the
State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Situated in South Texas and traversed by the Nueces
and Frio Rivers, the area that is now La Salle County has been
inhabited for approximately 11,000 years; in the 1850s, the U.S.
Army briefly operated the Fort Ewell outpost on the road from
San Antonio to Laredo, and by 1871, some 60 people lived in the
nearby town of Guajoco; a number of ranchers moved into the region,
and in 1880, the county was formally organized, with Stuart's
Rancho near Guajoco designated as its first seat of government;
soon after, the International-Great Northern Railroad extended its
line into the county, with landowner Joseph Cotulla donating land
to encourage the railroad to pass through a townsite he was
developing; over the years, Cotulla became the most populous town
in the county, and the county seat was eventually moved there; and
WHEREAS, During the first decades of the 20th century, the
introduction of commercial agriculture ushered in a new period of
development, and national advertising campaigns attracted numerous
settlers, more than doubling the county's population to over 4,700
by 1910; in addition to cattle ranching, lucrative crops such as
onions, peaches, pears, plums, figs, and cotton became staples of
the local economy; in 1940, the first oil well was drilled, and
production continued to rise in the succeeding decades, with nearly
two million barrels of crude oil produced in 1990; and
WHEREAS, Today, La Salle County has a population of more than
6,600; the majority of the region's residents are concentrated in
the cities of Cotulla, which is home to the county's courthouse and
airport, and Encinal; since 2008, shale oil production has further
bolstered economic conditions; and
WHEREAS, Even as they celebrate their unique heritage, the
citizens of La Salle County are looking ahead to the opportunities
of the future, and they may reflect with pride on their
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 April 24, 2025, as La Salle County Day
at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting
delegation.
Guillen
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 757 was adopted by the House on April
17, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 133, Nays 7, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House