WHEREAS, In the 1860s, Westerners first settled permanently in Titusville along the fertile banks of the White River, now called the Green River; and

WHEREAS, Hop production was the major source of income for Titusville residents during the 1880s, and in 1889, Titusville was renamed Kent for Kent County, the major hop producing region in England; and

WHEREAS, Just six months after Washington State was founded, Kent became the second city in King County to be incorporated, with a population of 793; and

WHEREAS, The Kent Valley has some of the most fertile land in Washington, and hundreds of early immigrants were attracted to the Valley to farm fruits and vegetables; and

WHEREAS, The first telephone was installed in Kent in 1902 and the first automobile arrived in 1905; and

WHEREAS, West Valley Highway was partially paved in 1912, and four years later the Kent City Council passed the first speed limit law; and

WHEREAS, The first lunar rover was developed at Boeing's Kent Space Center, followed by the creation of next generation rockets at Blue Origin in Kent, and brilliant scientists and engineers today are developing the world's most advanced vehicles in Kent; and

WHEREAS, The Kent Valley is now the fourth largest manufacturing and distribution center in the United States, making it an economic engine that generates $49 billion annually, one-eighth of Washington State's entire gross domestic product; and

WHEREAS, Kent is home to constituents in Washington State's 11th, 33rd, and 47th Legislative Districts; and

WHEREAS, From its roots in hops and lettuce farming to aerospace and high-tech manufacturing, Kent has come a long way since it was first incorporated on May 28, 1890; and

WHEREAS, Kent is now a globally connected hub of innovation, with nearly 125,000 residents, making it the sixth largest city in Washington, and home to a culturally fluent population who collectively speak 137 different languages;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate celebrate the City of Kent's 125th anniversary, and the many contributions that Kent makes to our state and region.

I, Hunter G. Goodman, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8671,

adopted by the Senate

April 21, 2015

HUNTER G. GOODMAN

Secretary of the Senate