TITLE: Celebrating Culberson County Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Celebrating Culberson County Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to join the residents of Culberson County in celebrating Culberson County Day at the State Capitol; and WHEREAS, Culberson County covers 3,815 square miles and is located in the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas; the land is both level and mountainous, with elevations ranging from 3,000 feet to Guadalupe Peak's 8,751 feet; Guadalupe Peak is the highest point in the state and a major tourist attraction in Guadalupe Mountains National Park; and WHEREAS, The Apaches, the area's most famous indigenous inhabitants, arrived about 600 years ago; the forbidding terrain and the presence of the Apaches deterred most Spanish exploration and settlement; a Folsom point found in the Guadalupe Mountains is evidence of human occupation of the area as early as 12,000 years ago; and WHEREAS, By the middle of the 19th century, new routes were being sought to connect central and eastern Texas with El Paso and California, and the 1849 gold rush increased the demand; with the completion of the Texas and Pacific Railway in the 1880s, settlement in the area began in earnest; Culberson County was created in 1911 from El Paso County and named after David B. Culberson; the county was organized and Van Horn was named its county seat in 1912; and WHEREAS, The extraction of minerals has long been important in Culberson County; its land has yielded copper, silver, molybdenum, gypsum, talc, and many other minerals; in 1953, oil was discovered; and WHEREAS, The citizens of Culberson County have long appreciated their county's assets and the benefits of attracting visitors to the area, and tourism has become increasingly important to the local economy; and WHEREAS, Culberson County Day at the State Capitol provides an opportunity to honor the county's rich history and its many amenities and contributions to this state; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the residents of Culberson County and extend best wishes to the county's delegation for a memorable Culberson County Day at the State Capitol; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in honor of the citizens of Culberson County. Uresti President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 28, 2011.