H.R. No. 492
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, Proud residents are joining together to celebrate
  Austin County Day at the State Capitol on March 8, 2023; and
         WHEREAS, Situated between the Post Oak Savannah and the
  Coastal Prairie regions, the Austin County area became part of
  Stephen F. Austin's first colony in the early 1820s; the town of San
  Felipe de Austin was the administrative seat of the colony, and it
  played an important role in the Texas Revolution, hosting the
  conventions of 1832 and 1833 and briefly serving as the capital of
  the provisional government; and
         WHEREAS, Austin County was created by the Constitution of
  1836 and was formally organized a year later; San Felipe was the
  county seat until 1848, when the county government was moved to the
  new community of Bellville; and
         WHEREAS, Blessed with an abundance of water, grassland, and
  forests, the county attracted settlers engaged in agriculture, and
  a number of towns grew substantially during the 19th century,
  including Bellville and Wallis and the railroad towns of Sealy and
  Kenney; German and Czech immigrants also arrived in Austin County,
  and their influence is felt throughout the region in the societies
  that they established and the many communities they founded; the
  cultural mosaic of the county has been further enriched by
  immigrants from Mexico, the largest foreign-born group to settle
  there in the 20th century, and by African Americans, who played a
  fundamental role in the county's development and in the creation of
  numerous social and religious institutions; and
         WHEREAS, Among the prominent Texans who have resided in
  Austin County was Gail Borden Jr., a surveyor and newspaper
  publisher who later invented a successful process for condensing
  milk; another early citizen, Robert Justus Kleberg, fought in the
  Battle of San Jacinto and held several prestigious public offices;
  and
         WHEREAS, Today, visitors and residents alike can explore the
  county's rich heritage, preserved at the San Felipe de Austin State
  Historic Site and in rural communities throughout the area, and
  they enjoy hunting and fishing opportunities as well as a wealth of
  special recreational events; and
         WHEREAS, Honoring their history as they embrace the
  opportunities of the future, the citizens of Austin County may
  indeed take great pride in their unique contributions to the story
  of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
  Legislature hereby recognize March 8, 2023, as Austin 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. 492 was adopted by the House on March
  8, 2023, by a non-record vote.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House