H.R. No. 79
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the
89th Texas Legislature are pleased to recognize the city of
Palestine and to honor its residents for the important
contributions they are making to the Lone Star State; and
WHEREAS, In 1846, the first legislature of the State of Texas
established Anderson County, and a county seat was laid out at its
center on a 100-acre tract; it was named Palestine after a town in
Illinois, the previous home of early settlers; the town's early
prosperity derived from the shipment of agricultural goods down the
Trinity River; in 1875, the county gave a $150,000 bonus to the
International-Great Northern Railroad for locating its
headquarters in Palestine, and within five years, the town's
population doubled to more than 4,000; prominent citizens hired
such noted architects as Nicholas Clayton and Wesley Clark Dodson
to design numerous buildings that are now landmarks; and
WHEREAS, Palestine has continued to thrive as a
transportation and shipping hub, due to its favorable location on
major highways as well as the Union Pacific Railroad; in the 1980s,
Walmart built its first distribution center outside of Arkansas in
Palestine, and the retail giant added another center in 1994; the
city is also home to wholesale beverage and aerospace parts
distributors and a growing medical industry; nurturing a
well-educated workforce, it supports two colleges, Trinity Valley
Community College-Palestine and The University of Texas at Tyler
Palestine Campus; and
WHEREAS, A designated Texas Main Street City, Palestine draws
visitors with a magnificent architectural legacy of structures
dating from the early 19th to the mid-20th centuries, among them
many restored Victorian homes; it boasts more than 1,800 historic
sites, and the Texas State Railroad, the oldest heritage railway in
the state, offers both steam and diesel train excursions; in
addition, travelers flock to Palestine to marvel at the unique
beauty of the dogwood trees at Davey Dogwood Park, a 254-acre park
with eight miles of unincorporated hiking and biking trails and
scenic views; and
WHEREAS, Palestine has practiced careful stewardship of its
rich past and natural beauty while adapting to the changing demands
of modern commerce, and its residents may take justifiable pride in
the dynamic and beautiful place they call home; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize the city of Palestine and extend to
its citizens sincere best wishes for the future.
Harris
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 79 was adopted by the House on March
6, 2025, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House