Lubbock, Texas

Lubbock is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the county seat of Lubbock County. It is the 10th-most populous city in Texas and the 84th-most populous in the United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, in the Great Plains region, an area known as the Llano Estacado.

Lubbock's nickname, "Hub City," comes from it being an important center for the area. The area is the largest cotton-growing region in the world and depends on water from the Ogallala Aquifer for irrigation. Lubbock is home to Texas Tech University, one of the largest colleges in the state.

History

See also: Timeline of Lubbock, Texas

In 1867, the land that would become Lubbock was home to the Comanche people.

Lubbock County was created in 1876 and named after Thomas Saltus Lubbock, a former Texas Ranger. By 1884, a small post office existed in Yellow House Canyon, and a tiny town called Old Lubbock was built nearby. In 1890, Old Lubbock joined with another town called Monterey, and the new town kept the name Lubbock. Lubbock became the county’s main city in 1891 and officially became a city in 1909, the same year the first train arrived.

Texas Technological College, now known as Texas Tech University, started in Lubbock in 1923. Another school, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, opened in 1969. Today, both schools are part of the Texas Tech University System, which was created in 1996. Other schools, such as Lubbock Christian University, South Plains College, and Wayland Baptist University, also have campuses in the city.

Lubbock was once home to Reese Air Force Base, established in 1941. The base trained pilots until it closed in 1997 and is now a research and business area called the Reese Technology Center.

The city has important places like the Lubbock Lake Landmark and the National Ranching Heritage Center, which show the region’s long history.

During World War II, pilots from Britain often flew to Lubbock for training. In 1951, many people reported seeing strange lights in the sky, known as the "Lubbock Lights."

In 1970, a big storm hit Lubbock, causing damage. The city’s tallest building at the time, the Metro Tower, survived the storm.

In the 1980s, Texas Instruments, a big company, employed many people in Lubbock.

In 2009, voters in Lubbock decided to allow the sale of alcohol in stores and restaurants county-wide.

The city has a rich history with many changes over the years.

Geography

Lubbock is in a special area called the Llano Estacado, with Midland to the south and Amarillo to the north. The city covers a big space of 135.85 square miles, most of which is land with just a little water.

Lubbock has a dry climate with cool winters and hot summers. It gets about 18 inches of rain and 7 inches of snow each year. The city can get very windy and sometimes has big storms with hail.

Demographics

Lubbock, Texas, is a growing city with lots of different kinds of people. In 2020, the city had 257,141 people, making it the 10th-largest city in Texas. Most people lived in urban areas, and about a third of households had children under 18.

The city's population is very diverse. In 2020, about 48% of people were non-Hispanic white, 10% were Black or African American, and 36% were Hispanic or Latino. Other groups made up smaller parts of the population. The city has changed over time.

Lubbock is an important place for farming, especially cotton, and many jobs come from schools, hospitals, and local government. The area relies on water from a deep underground source. People are working on ways to save water and protect the environment.

Arts and culture

Annual cultural events

Every July 4, Lubbock has a big event called 4th on Broadway. It is a free festival for everyone. The day has a parade, a street fair with food and music, a lunch for early settlers, and a concert with fireworks at night. The South Plains Fair happens each year too. It has live music, fun rides, and food like a carnival. There are also contests for farms and animals.

The National Cowboy Symposium and Celebration happens in September. It honors cowboys from the Old West. There is art, music, cowboy poetry, and talks about cowboy life. There is also a chuckwagon cook-off and a parade of horses.

Monthly cultural events

On the first Friday of every month, Lubbock has an art walk in downtown. It is called the First Friday Art Trail and started in 2004. About 20,000 people come each month.

Music

Lubbock has a special place called the "West Texas Walk of Fame" for musicians. Buddy Holly, a famous musician from the area, is remembered there. Lubbock still has music venues like the Cactus Theater and The Blue Light Live. The Buddy Holly Center keeps his memory alive.

Lubbock is where rock and roll star Buddy Holly was born. The city changed its Buddy Holly Music Festival to the Lubbock Music Festival. A new place called the Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences opened in 2021. It has a bistro for meals.

Lubbock is also the birthplace of Mac Davis, who became a country music singer and actor. The Lubbock Symphony Orchestra started in 1946 and plays at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center Theatre.

The Moonlight Musicals Amphitheater opened in 2006. It is a place for concerts and shows.

Tourism

Lubbock is in a place where many grapes grow for wine. There are five wineries near Lubbock that people like to visit.

The National Ranching Heritage Center is a museum about ranching. It has real old buildings from Texas ranches.

The Depot District is an area with old railroad buildings. It has theaters, restaurants, shops, and the Buddy Holly Center. It also has the Cactus Theater.

The Silent Wings Museum has photos and items from World War II glider pilots.

The Science Spectrum is a museum for kids and teens with a big screen for shows.

National Register of Historic Places

• Cactus Theater
• Canyon Lakes Archaeological District
• Carlock Building
• Fort Worth and Denver South Plains Railway Depot
• Fred and Annie Snyder House
• Holden Properties Historic District
• Kress Building
• Lubbock High School
• Lubbock Lake Landmark
• Lubbock Post Office and Federal Building
• South Overton Residential Historic District
• Texas Technological College Dairy Barn
• Texas Technological College Historic District
• Tubbs-Carlisle House
• Warren and Myrta Bacon House
• William Curry Holden and Olive Price Holden House

Sports

The Texas Tech Red Raiders play in the Big 12 Conference and have teams in 11 different sports. For men, there is baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, tennis, and track and field. For women, there is basketball, cross country, golf, track and field, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball.

The football team has been playing since 1925. The men's basketball team has been to the NCAA Tournament many times. In 2019, they made it to the Final Four.

Texas Tech has done well in women's basketball. Led by Sheryl Swoopes and coach Marsha Sharp, the team won the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship in 1993.

Texas Tech has 30 club sports, such as cycling, equestrianism, ice hockey, lacrosse, polo, rodeo, rugby, running, sky diving, swimming, water polo, and wrestling.

Lubbock is also home to the Chaparrals of Lubbock Christian University. Their women's basketball team won national championships in 2016 and 2019. In 2009, the university's baseball team won a national championship.

High-school sports are important in Lubbock. In 2007, the Lubbock Western All-Stars Little League Baseball team reached the final four of the Little League World Series.

Parks and recreation

Lubbock has many beautiful parks. One of these parks is Mackenzie Park. Here you can find an old amusement park that is now closed, a special area for prairie dogs, and places to play disc golf and regular golf. The park also has a center with old windmills to learn about wind power.

The city has many other parks too. Many of these parks have small lakes that attract birds. Dunbar Historic Lake Park is one of the bigger parks. It has long hiking trails and an old railroad bridge built in 1911. These parks help manage water and are important for the local environment.

Government

Lubbock uses a council-manager government system. The city council has six elected members and a mayor. They make the important decisions. Council members serve for four years, and the mayor serves for two years. The council picks a city manager to handle daily city work. There are no limits on how many times someone can be elected.

Lubbock is part of Texas's 19th congressional district, represented by Republican Jodey Arrington. The city is known for its strong conservative views.

Education

K-12 Schools

Schools in Lubbock are run by several public school districts and other groups.

Public school districts serving Lubbock include:

• Lubbock Independent School District
• Frenship Independent School District
• Idalou Independent School District
• Lubbock-Cooper Independent School District
• New Deal Independent School District
• Roosevelt Independent School District
• Shallowater Independent School District

Private schools in the area include:

• All Saints Episcopal School
• Christ the King Cathedral School
• Trinity Christian School
• Lubbock Christian High School
• Kingdom Preparatory Academy
• Southcrest Christian School

Charter schools include:

• Harmony Science Academy
• Sharp Academy

Higher education

Main article: List of colleges and universities in Lubbock, Texas

Lubbock is home to Texas Tech University, founded on February 10, 1923. It is part of the Texas Tech University System. Many students from the U.S. and other countries attend. The university includes schools for undergraduate, law, and medical studies.

Other colleges in Lubbock include Lubbock Christian University, South Plains College, Wayland Baptist University, and Sunset International Bible Institute.

Covenant Health System offers programs in nursing, radiography, and surgical technology.

Media

See also: List of newspapers in Texas, List of radio stations in Texas, and List of television stations in Texas

Lubbock's main newspaper is the daily Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, owned by Gannett. The newspaper also publishes a lifestyle magazine, Lubbock Magazine, eight times a year. Texas Tech University has a student newspaper called The Daily Toreador.

Local TV stations include KTTZ-TV-5 (PBS), KCBD-11 (NBC), KLBK-13 (CBS), KLCW-TV-22 (The CW, with MyNetworkTV on DT2), KAMC-28 (ABC), and KJTV-TV-34 (Fox).

Texas Tech University Press, the book-publishing office of Texas Tech University, was founded in 1971 and has many books for readers of all ages.

Radio

• 88.1 KTXT-FM (College)
• 88.5 K203CB (Christian Contemporary)
• 89.1 KTTZ-FM (Public Radio)
• 89.7 KLTB (Spanish Christian)
• 90.1 KAMY-FM (Christian Contemporary)
• 90.5 KBAH (Religious)
• 90.9 KKLU (Christian Contemporary)
• 91.5 K218DI (Religious)
• 91.9 KPGA (FM)(Christian Contemporary)
• 92.3 K222CQ KLZK (Hip Hop)
• 92.7 KVCE (Religious)
• 93.1 K226CH KTTU-FM (Texas Country)
• 93.7 KLBB-FM (Classic Hits)
• 94.1 K231BE KLZK (Classic Country)
• 94.5 KFMX (Active Rock)
• 95.1 K236CP KFYO (AM) (News & Talk)
• 95.5 KAIQ (Regional Mexican)
• 95.9 K240FA KRFE (Talk)
• 96.3 KLLL (Country)
• 96.9 K245BG KTTU-FM (Classic Country)
• 97.3 KTTU-FM (Sports)
• 97.7 K249DU KTTU-FM (Oldies)
• 98.1 KKCL-FM (Classic Hits)
• 98.7 K254CI (Christian Contemporary)
• 99.1 KLCT LPFM (Religious)
• 99.5 KQBR (Country)
• 100.3 KMMX (Top-40)
• 100.7 K264AN (Sports Talk)
• 101.1 KONE-FM (Classic Rock)
• 101.7 K269HH KKLU (Christian Contemporary)
• 102.1 K271DE KAMY-FM (Christian Contemporary)
• 102.5 KZII (Top-40)
• 102.9 KVIO-FM LPFM (Religious)
• 103.5 KAMZ (Regional Mexican)
• 103.9 K280GU KKAM (Talk)
• 104.3 KHLK (Religious)
• 104.9 KBTE (Hip Hop)
• 105.3 KJDL-FM (Spanish Christian)
• 105.7 KRBL (Texas Country)
• 106.5 KXTQ-FM (Tejano)
• 106.9 KKYN (Country)
• 107.3 KSSL (Classic Country)
• 107.7 KLZK (Hot Adult Contemporary)

Infrastructure

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has an office in Lubbock. The Texas Department of Transportation has centers in the city, and the United States Postal Service has post offices here too.

Transportation

Highways

Lubbock has many important roads. Interstate 27 connects the city to Amarillo and links up with Interstate 40, a major road that goes across the country. Other key roads include US 62 and US 82, which run side by side through the city. US 84 and US Highway 87 are also important routes. The city has streets named in a special way.

Rail service

Lubbock does not have train services to other cities, but there have been ideas to add them. The city is served by several railway companies, including BNSF Railway, Plainsman Switching Company, and West Texas & Lubbock Railway. These companies help move goods like cotton, grains, and building materials.

Airports

See also: Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport

Lubbock's main airport is Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, named after a local businessman. It is one of the busiest airports in the state and serves as a center for small planes from FedEx.

Intercity bus service

Greyhound Lines has a station in Lubbock at 801 Broadway, near the Lubbock County Courthouse.

Public transportation

See also: Citibus (Lubbock)

The bus system, called Citibus, runs Monday through Saturday and has a main stop in downtown. Citibus has special buses for people using wheelchairs.

Modal characteristics

Most people in Lubbock drive to work alone, with some carpooling or using public transport. Only a small number walk or use other ways to get around. Not many households do not own a car.

Milwaukee Avenue

In the early 2000s, Lubbock changed Milwaukee Avenue from a dirt road into a major seven-lane road. The city spent a lot of money on this project, which has helped the area grow.

Lubbock Power and Light

Most of Lubbock gets its power from Lubbock Power and Light, started in 1916. In March 2024, LP&L will start competing with other electricity companies, becoming the first city-owned utility to do so in Texas.

Notable people

Main category: People from Lubbock, Texas

Lubbock has been home to many interesting people in different areas. In the arts and sciences, you’ll find actors like Chace Crawford and Erik Valdez, writers such as Dan Flores, and scientists like Spencer Wells. The city has also produced famous astronauts and professors, including Rick Husband.

In music, Lubbock has talented singers and musicians. Buddy Holly was important in early rock and roll, and the city has been home to many country and rock artists, including Mac Davis, Pat Green, and members of popular bands like The Chicks and The Flatlanders.

Politically, Lubbock has contributed leaders such as Jodey Arrington, who serves in the U.S. House of Representatives, and former Texas Governor Preston Earnest Smith.

In sports, the city has seen athletes succeed at the highest levels. Ryan Tannehill played quarterback in the NFL, and Trae Young is a well-known basketball player. Other notable athletes include swimmers, boxers, and soccer players who have all made their mark.

Sister cities

Current sister cities

Lubbock has a special friendship with the City of Musashino, Tokyo, Japan. This friendship began in 1983.