SENATE RESOLUTION 47

(By Senators Beach, Prezioso, Sypolt, Clements, Maroney, Smith, Plymale and Stollings)

[Introduced March 21, 2017]

Celebrating the achievements and contributions of Monongalia County and its citizens to the great State of West Virginia.

Whereas, Monongalia County, the mother county in whole or part of eighteen northern West Virginia counties and three southwestern Pennsylvania counties, was founded in 1776 from the West Augusta County of Virginia, following small settlements along the Monongahela River and its tributaries to the Ohio River; and

Whereas, Monongalia County, being the third largest county by population (106,262) of the 55 counties of West Virginia, has had an annual growth rate exceeding 1.6 percent for more than a decade; and

Whereas, Monongalia County was recognized by the West Virginia Association of Counties with the first Patti Hamilton Imagine award for the efforts of community leaders from the public and private sectors to cooperate and collaborate on new ways to solve the region’s problems; and

Whereas, Monongalia County is home to West Virginia University, a public land-grant institution, founded in 1867, and recognized as a top research university by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. WVU welcomes and shapes the minds of students from across the State of West Virginia, every state in the United States and approximately one hundred other nations; and

Whereas, Monongalia County has an award-winning baseball park which is the home of the West Virginia University baseball team and the home of the West Virginia Black Bears minor league team that provide all our citizens the ability to follow our baseball heroes throughout their Pittsburgh Pirates career; and

Whereas, Monongalia County offers to its citizens and visitors from around the world the best in medical care; tourism experiences from Mountainfest to the University Arts Series; a beautiful view from Cooper’s Rock to a peaceful stroll on the Caperton Trail; top-rated educational experiences at all levels; a thriving and innovative business community; a nationally acclaimed economic model; and a place that offers big city amenities with the neighborly feel of small town life; and

Whereas, Monongalia County has been recognized in recent years in the following ways: Best Performing Small Metros (Milken Institute); Best Small Metros for Business and Careers (Forbes); Best Quality of Life and Knowledge Worker Metros (Expansion Manage.); Smart Places to Live (Kiplinger’s); Boom Town (Inc.); Morgantown-Top College Destination (American Institute for Economic Research); Designated Retirement Community (CLIC); Best Places to Retire for under $100 a Day (AARP); Most Secure Small Cities (Farmer’s Insurance); Adventure Town (National Geographic Adventure Magazine); Best Small Town to Live (Men’s Journal); and Best Sports Cities (Sporting News); and

Whereas, In Monongalia County, from Blacksville to Star City, from Westover to Granville, in the heart of Morgantown and everywhere in between, every day is a great day to be a mountaineer; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby celebrates the achievements and contributions of Monongalia County and its citizens to the great State of West Virginia; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate acknowledges the vibrancy and contributions made to our state and nation by the people, past and present, of Monongalia County; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the appropriate representatives of Monongalia County.