H.R. No. 577

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Citizens of Wharton County are gathering in Austin
	on March 3, 2015, to celebrate Wharton County Day at the State
	Capitol; and
	WHEREAS, Wharton County was founded in April of 1846, and its
	name commemorates two heroes of the Texas Revolution, brothers
	William Harris Wharton and John Austin Wharton; and
	WHEREAS, Wharton County is located on the Coastal Plain
	southwest of Houston; the county is bounded by Matagorda, Colorado,
	and Jackson Counties and by the San Bernard River, which forms its
	northeastern border and marks the county line with Fort Bend
	County; and
	WHEREAS, Wharton County has more than 41,000 residents and
	encompasses 1,086 square miles of land, which is divided primarily
	between prairie and timberland; the Colorado River traverses the
	county from northwest to southeast, dividing it roughly in half and
	flowing through Wharton and Glen Flora; and
	WHEREAS, Prospective landowners first came to the plains of
	the Colorado River in 1822, led by Stephen F. Austin under contract
	with the Mexican government; the Mexican Imperial Colonization Law
	of 1823 granted 177 acres to the heads of families for farming and
	4,428 acres for raising cattle; and
	WHEREAS, During the time of the Republic of Texas, the area
	was divided into three counties, Matagorda, Jackson, and Colorado,
	and the area consisted of isolated plantation homes and two growing
	towns, Preston and Egypt; and
	WHEREAS, After Texas entered the United States in 1845,
	Wharton County was formed of parts of the three existing counties
	near the intersection of the mail routes from Matagorda to Columbus
	and from Houston to Victoria; and
	WHEREAS, The advent of railroads and irrigation brought
	increased settlement to the area, which remains a center of
	agricultural, educational, industrial, and medical services for a
	large region; and
	WHEREAS, Wharton County's largest cities and townships are El
	Campo, Wharton, East Bernard, Boling, and Louise; and
	WHEREAS, Wharton, the county seat, is known for its
	small-town way of life and its Czech, Danish, and Mexican heritage;
	it offers proximity to both Houston and the Gulf Coast, and
	outstanding festivals; it is also noted for its excellent schools
	and championship football teams; and
	WHEREAS, Residents of Wharton County can take pride in their
	rich history and heritage as they look forward to a promising
	future; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
	Legislature hereby recognize March 3, 2015, as Wharton County Day
	at the State Capitol and extend sincere best wishes to all
	participants for an informative and enjoyable day in Austin.
	Stephenson
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 577 was adopted by the House on March
	12, 2015, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House