HR 9027 2003
1	House Resolution
2	A resolution recognizing March 13, 2003, as "St. Johns
3	County Day" in Tallahassee.
4
5	WHEREAS, on September 8, 1565, Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles
6	founded St. Augustine, the oldest continuously occupied European
7	settlement in the United States, and
8	WHEREAS, St. Johns County is the site for Fort Mose,
9	established by Spaniards and former African slaves in 1738, the
10	first free black fort and settlement in North America, and
11	WHEREAS, on July 21, 1821, St. Johns County, named for the
12	St. Johns River, became one of Florida's first two counties by
13	ordinance proclaimed by Major General Andrew Jackson, and
14	WHEREAS, St. Johns County encompasses 609 square miles,
15	from the many miles of beautiful beaches to the scenic Bartram
16	Trail Highway that runs along the St. Johns River, and
17	WHEREAS, St. Johns County is a popular tourist destination,
18	hosting more than 2 million visitors each year to the historic
19	City of St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach, and its other
20	communities, and
21	WHEREAS, St. Johns County is one of the nation's most
22	recognized golf destinations and is home to the World Golf Hall
23	of Fame, the PGA Tour's annual Players Championship, and the
24	Senior PGA Tour's Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, played at the
25	World Golf Village, and
26	WHEREAS, St. Johns County is also home to the Association
27	of Tennis Players Tour, headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, and
28	WHEREAS, agriculture is a critical component of the economy
29	of St. Johns County, with its 149 farms on 49,631 agricultural
30	acres comprising more than 12.7 percent of all the lands in the
31	county and producing more than $46 million in revenue annually,
32	and
33	WHEREAS, the Legislature recognizes St. Johns County for
34	its rich history and cultural diversity, NOW, THEREFORE,
35
36	Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
37	Florida:
38
39	That March 13, 2003, be recognized as "St. Johns County
40	Day" in Tallahassee.