[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 3 (Monday, January 14, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E21]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             IN RECOGNITION OF THE CITY OF HIGHLAND VILLAGE

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                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 14, 2013

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the City of 
Highland Village as they celebrate their 50th Anniversary as an 
incorporated city.
  Highland Village was voted into existence by approximately 100 
residents on February 14, 1963, with 53 supporting votes and seven 
opposed. Over the subsequent 50 years the 5.5 square-mile city has 
transitioned from a small population and weekenders from Dallas to the 
lakeside community that is now home for almost 16,000 permanent 
residents.
  Highland Village has a long history that includes its role as a 
hideout in the 1870s for the notorious highwayman, Sam Bass, who was 
drawn to the privacy of the trees and hills that are unique to much of 
north Texas. The same natural beauty that attracted the infamous also 
beckoned wealthy Dallasites seeking respite from the city. The growth 
continued and development by groups such as Mobil Land Development 
Corporation transformed the small, rural town into a suburban city in 
the 1970s. It eventually became a Home Rule City in 1986 as its 
population surpassed 5,000.
  Residential expansion led to improvements in infrastructure and 
economic growth. Diversification of the community's revenue base 
through commercial development led to the city's current vibrant retail 
market. Roadway improvements to FM 407 and the extension of FM 2499 as 
a major north south route which will eventually connect DFW Airport 
with Denton residents has also fostered the community's prosperity. 
Managing its growth in a conservatively fiscal manner, Highland Village 
prioritized services that would enhance and preserve the quality of 
life for residents. As a result, current residents enjoy living in a 
municipality identified as the ``Safest City in Texas'', with full-time 
fire and emergency services, an extensive system of community trails 
and membership in the Denton County Transportation Authority with 
nearby rail connectivity to the international commerce hub of Dallas.
  As Highland Village celebrates their 50th anniversary, I salute the 
unique community that I and my family have also known as home. It is my 
privilege today to represent the City of Highland Village and its 
residents in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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