TITLE: Recognizing February 5, 2013, as McAllen Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing February 5, 2013, as McAllen Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Residents of the City of McAllen are gathering at the State Capitol on February 5, 2013, to celebrate their community's contributions to the vitality of the Lone Star State; and WHEREAS, The development of present-day McAllen began in 1797 when Spanish settler Jose Manuel Gomez founded the Santa Anita Ranch in southern Hidalgo County; the ranch grew in size and, after passing through the hands of several heirs, it was inherited by his great-granddaughter, Salome Balli; Salome married John McAllen, and together they continued to add to the property and renamed it McAllen Ranch; and WHEREAS, In 1904, Mr. McAllen and other early settlers established a town site called West McAllen, and a year later, the Saint Louis, Brownsville, and Mexico Railroad arrived; other developers founded East McAllen in 1907, and the two towns eventually merged and became home to several businesses, churches, residences, and a newspaper; by 1920, the city's population exceeded 5,000 residents and was continuing to grow; and WHEREAS, Over the last four decades, McAllen has grown into a center for business, commerce, and government in the Rio Grande Valley, and it is part of one of the fastest-growing metropolitan statistical areas in the country; in 2012, Forbes magazine ranked McAllen as the top mid-sized city in the nation for jobs; CNN/Money in 2012 listed McAllen as one of the fastest-growing United States cities, and the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics ranked the city number one for job growth for 2012; such designations continue a trend of recognition for McAllen dating back to at least 1996, when it was named an All-American City; and WHEREAS, The unique landscape of the Rio Grande Valley offers rich soil for farming and a hospitable environment for cultivating citrus fruits, cotton, sugarcane, and many other crops and vegetables; and WHEREAS, A vibrant cultural center, McAllen is home to the International Museum of Art and Science, which serves as a showcase for traveling exhibitions, loaned works from the Smithsonian Institution, and an extensive collection of Latin American folk art; the city's Arts District holds regular art walks, drawing thousands of art enthusiasts monthly; McAllen is also a regional hub for banking, shopping, and conventions, thanks to La Plaza Mall and a $75 million convention center; the city also recently opened a 123,000-square-foot public library; and WHEREAS, Tourists and residents alike enjoy such festive annual events as the Candlelight Posada, the Fourth of July Celebration, and PalmFest, and in 2012, the city celebrated its fifth annual New Year's Eve bash, a free, community-wide event; and WHEREAS, The citizens of McAllen are justifiably proud of their city, which has played a significant role in the annals of Texas history and is celebrating its 102nd anniversary as a municipality this year; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd Legislature, hereby recognize February 5, 2013, as McAllen Day at the State Capitol and extend to all McAllen residents who are present on this day sincere best wishes for a memorable visit to Austin. Hinojosa, Lucio President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 5, 2013.