Lubbock is an American city in the
stateA U.S. state is any one of 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government . Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile...
of
TexasTexas is the second-largest U.S. state in both area and population, and the largest state in the contiguous United States.The name had wide usage among native Americans, meaning "friends" or "allies"...
. Located in the
northwesternWest Texas is a region in the southwestern United States that primarily encompasses the arid and semi-arid lands in the western portion of the state of Texas....
part of the state, a region known historically as the
Llano EstacadoLlano Estacado is a region in the southwestern United States that encompasses parts of eastern New Mexico and northwestern Texas, including the South Plains and parts of the Texas Panhandle. One of the largest mesas or tablelands on the North American continent, the elevation rises from in the...
, it is the
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
of
Lubbock CountyLubbock County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, the population was 242,628. Its county seat is Lubbock. Lubbock is named for Thomas Saltus Lubbock, a Confederate colonel and Texas Ranger .Lubbock County, along with neighboring Crosby County, form the Lubbock Metropolitan...
, and the home of
Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public, coeducational, research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System...
. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the city population was 199,564, making it the 90th largest city in the United States and the 11th largest in Texas. The 2006 population was estimated to be 212,169.
Lubbock CountyLubbock County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, the population was 242,628. Its county seat is Lubbock. Lubbock is named for Thomas Saltus Lubbock, a Confederate colonel and Texas Ranger .Lubbock County, along with neighboring Crosby County, form the Lubbock Metropolitan...
had an estimated 2006 population of 254,862.
Lubbock's nickname is the "Hub City" which derives from being the economic, education, and health care hub of a multi-county region commonly called the
South PlainsThe South Plains is a region in West Texas comprising the area north of the Caprock Escarpment on the Llano Estacado, and extending north into the Texas Panhandle, centered at Lubbock. While prominent in the area of petroleum production, the South Plains is mainly an agricultural region, producing...
. The area is the largest contiguous
cottonCotton is a soft, staple fiber that grows in a form known as a boll around the seeds of the cotton plant, a shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Americas, India and Africa. The fiber most often is spun into yarn or thread and used to make a soft,...
-growing region in the world and is heavily dependent on
irrigationIrrigation is an artificial application of water to the soil. It is usually used to assist in growing crops in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
water drawn from the
Ogallala AquiferThe Ogallala Aquifer, also known as the High Plains Aquifer, is a vast yet shallow underground water table aquifer located beneath the Great Plains in the United States...
.
History
The county of Lubbock was founded in 1876, named after
Thomas Saltus LubbockThomas Saltus Lubbock was a Texas Ranger and soldier in the Confederate army during the American Civil War.- Biography :...
, a
ConfederateThe Confederate States of America was a separatist political entity existing between 1861 to 1865, established by eleven southern slave states of the United States of America, each of which had previously declared their secession from the United States...
colonelColonel is a military rank of a commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every country in the world. It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
and member of the
Terry's Texas RangersThe 8th Texas Cavalry, , popularly known as Terry's Texas Rangers, was a group of Texas volunteers for the Confederate States Army assembled by Colonel Benjamin Franklin Terry in August 1861...
, a group of Texas volunteers for the Confederate Army. As early as 1884, a federal post office named Lubbock existed in Yellowhouse Canyon. However, the town of Lubbock was not founded until 1890, when it was formed from a unique merger arrangement between two smaller towns, "Old Lubbock" and Monterey. The terms of the compromise included keeping the Lubbock name but the Monterey townsite, so the previous Old Lubbock residents relocated south to the Monterey location, including putting Old Lubbock's Nicolette Hotel on rollers and pulling it across a canyon to its new home. In 1891 Lubbock became the county seat and on March 16, 1909 Lubbock was incorporated.
Texas Technological College (now
Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public, coeducational, research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System...
) has been a part of Lubbock since 1923. Its medical school, the
Texas Tech University Health Sciences CenterThe Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center offers Schools of Allied Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy. The HSC has campuses located in Lubbock, as well as in Abilene, Amarillo, Dallas, El Paso, Marble Falls, and Odessa...
, opened in 1969.
Lubbock Christian UniversityLubbock Christian University is a private Christian university associated with the Churches of Christ located in Lubbock, Texas, in the United States. It was established in 1957. 1,961 students are enrolled at Lubbock Christian University.-History:...
, founded in 1957, and
Sunset International Bible InstituteSunset International Bible Institute is a Churches of Christ-affiliated institution of higher education in Lubbock, Texas. It was established in 1962 by Cline Rex Paden , a native of Hunt County, upon his return to Lubbock from an extended missionary trip to Italy...
, both affiliated with the Churches of Christ, have their main campuses in the city.
South Plains CollegeSouth Plains College is a community college located in Levelland, Texas. It operates satellite branches in Plainview and at the Reese Technology Center, formerly Reese Air Force Base, in Lubbock...
and
Wayland Baptist UniversityWayland Baptist University is private, coeducational Baptist university based in Plainview, Texas, U.S.A. Wayland Baptist has a total of fourteen campuses in four additional Texas cities, five other states, and the country of Kenya. On August 31, 1908, the university was chartered by the state of...
operate branch campuses in Lubbock.
The city is home to the
Lubbock Lake LandmarkLubbock Lake Landmark, also known as Lubbock Lake Site, is an important archeological site and natural history preserve in the city of Lubbock, Texas. It has evidence of nearly 12,000 years of use by ancient cultures on the Llano Estacado. It is run by the Museum of Texas Tech University.Visitors...
, part of the
Museum of Texas Tech UniversityThe Museum of Texas Tech University is part of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. It is made up of the main museum building, the Moody Planetarium, the Natural Science Research Laboratory, the research and educational elements of the Lubbock Lake Landmark, and the Val Verde County research...
. The landmark is an archaeological and natural history preserve at the northern edge of the city. It shows evidence of almost twelve thousand years of human occupation in the region. Another part of the museum, the
National Ranching Heritage CenterThe National Ranching Heritage Center, a museum of ranching history, is located in Lubbock, on the campus of Texas Tech University. It features almost fifty authentic ranch buildings dateing from the late 1700s to the mid 1900s...
, houses historic ranch-related structures from the area.
In August 1951, a v-shaped formation of lights was seen over the city. The "
Lubbock LightsThe Lubbock Lights were an unusual formation of lights seen over the city of Lubbock, Texas, from August-September 1951. The Lubbock Lights incident received national publicity and is regarded as one of the first great UFO cases in the United States....
" series of sightings received national publicity and is regarded as one of the first great UFO cases. The sightings were considered credible because they were witnessed by several respected science professors at Texas Technological College and were photographed by a Texas Tech student. The photographs were reprinted nationwide in newspapers and in
LifeLife generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
magazine.
Project Blue BookProject Blue Book was one of a series of systematic studies of unidentified flying objects conducted by the United States Air Force . Started in 1952, it was the second revival of such a study...
, the US Air Force's official study of the UFO mystery, did an extensive investigation of the Lubbock Lights. They concluded that the photographs were not a hoax and showed genuine objects. However, they did dismiss the UFOs themselves as being either "night-flying moths" or a type of bird called a
ploverPlovers are a widely distributed group of wading birds belonging to the subfamily Charadriinae. They are known to dive in lakes looking for fish. There are about 40 species in the subfamily, most of them called "plover" or "dotterel"...
. The Air Force argued that the underside of the plovers or moths was reflected in the glow of Lubbock's new street lights at night. However, other researchers have disputed these explanations, and for many the "Lubbock Lights" remain a mystery.
On May 11, 1970, the
Lubbock TornadoThe 1970 Lubbock tornado was a tornado event that occurred in Lubbock, Texas, on May 11, 1970. It was one of the worst tornadoes in Texas history, and occurred exactly 17 years to the day after the deadly Waco Tornado...
struck the city. Twenty-six people died, and damage was estimated at $125 million. The downtown NTS Tower, then known as the Great Plains Life Building, at in height, is believed to have been the tallest building ever to survive a direct hit from an
F5The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
tornado. Then
Mayor"Mayor" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government....
Jim Granberry and the Lubbock City Council, which included Granberry's successor as mayor,
Morris W. TurnerMorris Wayne Turner, also known as Moe Turner was a businessman who served in the nonpartisan position of mayor of Lubbock, Texas, from 1972-1974. He was also a member of the Lubbock City Council from 1968 until the time of his election as mayor.Turner was one of four children born to Clay Turner ...
, were charged with directing the task of rebuilding the downtown in the aftermath of the storm.
In 2008 Lubbock celebrated its centennial.
Geography
Lubbock is located at (33.564735, -101.877793). The official elevation is above sea level, but stated figures range from 3195 to 3281. Lubbock is considered to be the center of the
South PlainsThe South Plains is a region in West Texas comprising the area north of the Caprock Escarpment on the Llano Estacado, and extending north into the Texas Panhandle, centered at Lubbock. While prominent in the area of petroleum production, the South Plains is mainly an agricultural region, producing...
, and is situated north of the
Permian BasinThe Permian Basin is a sedimentary basin largely contained in the western part of the U.S. state of Texas and the southeastern part of the state of New Mexico. It reaches from just south of Lubbock, Texas, to just south of Midland & Odessa, extending westward into the southeastern part of the...
and south of the
Texas PanhandleThe Texas Panhandle is a region of the U.S. state of Texas consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state. The panhandle is a rectangular area bordered by the state of New Mexico to the west and the state of Oklahoma to the north and east...
. According to the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it (0.09%) is water.
Climate
Lubbock has a mild,
semi-aridA Semi-arid climate or steppe climate generally describes climatic regions that receive low annual rainfall . A more precise definition is given by the Köppen climate classification that treats steppe climates as intermediates between the desert climates and humid climates in ecological...
climate. On average, Lubbock receives 18 inches of rain and ten inches of snow per year.
Summers in Lubbock are hot, although temperatures usually drop 30 degrees overnight, creating lows between and . Average high temperatures are about in June, July, and August. The highest recorded temperature was in 1994.
Winter days in Lubbock are typically sunny and relatively mild, but nights are cold with temperatures dipping below freezing.
Demographics
As of the
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000, there were 199,564 people, 77,527 households, and 48,531 families residing in the city. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 1,738.2 people per square mile (671.1/km
2). There were 84,066 housing units at an average density of 732.2/sq mi (282.7/km
2). The racial makeup of the city was 72.87% White, 8.66% African American, 0.56% Native American, 1.54% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 14.32% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 27.45% of the population.
There are 77,527 households, of which 30.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.6% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% are classified as non-families by the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
. Of 77,527 households, 3,249 are unmarried partner households: 2,802 heterosexual, 196 same-sex male, and 251 same-sex female households. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 17.9% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,844, and the median income for a family was $41,418. Males had a median income of $30,222 versus $21,708 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the city was $17,511. About 12.0% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.9% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The Lubbock area is the largest contiguous
cottonCotton is a soft, staple fiber that grows in a form known as a boll around the seeds of the cotton plant, a shrub native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including the Americas, India and Africa. The fiber most often is spun into yarn or thread and used to make a soft,...
-growing region in the world and is heavily dependent on
irrigationIrrigation is an artificial application of water to the soil. It is usually used to assist in growing crops in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
water drawn from the
Ogallala AquiferThe Ogallala Aquifer, also known as the High Plains Aquifer, is a vast yet shallow underground water table aquifer located beneath the Great Plains in the United States...
. However, the aquifer is being depleted at a rate that is not
sustainableSustainable agriculture integrates three main goals: environmental stewardship, farm profitability, and prosperous farming communities. These goals have been defined by a variety of disciplines and may be looked at from the vantage point of the farmer or the consumer.-Description:Sustainable...
in the long term. Much progress has been made in the area of
water conservationWater conservation refers to reducing the usage of water and recycling of waste water for different purposes like cleaning , manufacturing , agriculture etc.- Home :Water-saving technology for the home includes:...
and new technologies such as Low Energy Precision Application (LEPA) irrigation were originally developed in the Lubbock area. A pipeline to Lake Alan Henry is expected to supply up to 3.2 billion gallons of water per year upon completion in 2012.
Adolph R. HanslikAdolph Rudolph Hanslik was a Lubbock businessman and philanthropist known as the "dean of the West Texas cotton producers." Hanslik was among the first in the United States to export cotton to Bangladesh in Asia. "He knew the cotton industry better than anyone I've ever known. . ....
, who died in 2007 at the age of ninety, was called the "dean" of the Lubbock cotton industry, having worked for years to promote the
exportIn economics, an export is any good or commodity, transported from one country to another country in a legitimate fashion, typically for use in trade. Export goods or services are provided to foreign consumers by domestic producers. Export is an important part of international trade...
trade. Hanslik was also the largest contributor (through 2006) to the Texas Tech University Medical Center. He also endowed the Texas Czech Heritage and Cultural Center's capital campaign for construction of a new library museum archives building in
La GrangeLa Grange is a city in Fayette County, Texas, near the Colorado River. The population was 4,478 at the 2000 census. The 2006 estimated population was 4,645. La Grange is the county seat of Fayette County.-History:...
in
Fayette CountyFayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of 2000, the population was 21,804. Its county seat is La Grange. Fayette is named for the Marquis de la Fayette, a French nobleman who became an American Revolutionary War hero...
in his native southeastern Texas.
The ten largest employers in terms of the number of employees are:
Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public, coeducational, research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System...
, Covenant Health System,
Lubbock Independent School DistrictLubbock Independent School District was established in 1907. Accredited by the Texas Education Agency, LISD is the largest school district that serves the city of Lubbock, Texas . The Lubbock Independent School District covers 85.5 square miles and contains nearly 900 acres of school properties...
, University Medical Center,
United SupermarketsUnited Supermarkets is a Lubbock, Texas based supermarket chain whose roots go back to 1916, when H.D. Snell opened his first United Cash Store in Sayre, Oklahoma...
, City of Lubbock,
Texas Tech University Health Sciences CenterThe Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center offers Schools of Allied Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy. The HSC has campuses located in Lubbock, as well as in Abilene, Amarillo, Dallas, El Paso, Marble Falls, and Odessa...
, AT&T,
ConvergysConvergys Corporation is a multi-national corporation that provides relationship management solutions, outsourced customer and HR management solutions, consulting and professional services, billing services, and multichannel self-care technology solutions to its clients...
, and
Lubbock CountyLubbock County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, the population was 242,628. Its county seat is Lubbock. Lubbock is named for Thomas Saltus Lubbock, a Confederate colonel and Texas Ranger .Lubbock County, along with neighboring Crosby County, form the Lubbock Metropolitan...
. A study conducted by a professor at the
Rawls College of BusinessThe Jerry S. Rawls College of Business Administration is the business school of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. The college offers curriculum for both undergraduate and graduate students and receives its business accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business...
determined that Texas Tech students, faculty and staff generate about $1.5 billion with about $297.5 million from student shopping alone.
Lubbock has one regional enclosed mall,
South Plains MallSouth Plains Mall is a shopping mall located in Lubbock, Texas. It is located at the southwest corner of Loop 289 and Slide Road in the busy shopping district of southwest Lubbock...
, which includes two
Dillard'sDillard's , based in Little Rock, Arkansas, is a major department store chain in the United States, with 330 stores in 29 states. Its locations are concentrated in Texas and Florida; with a major presence in other states including Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Alabama, Georgia,...
, JC Penney,
SearsSears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American mid-range chain of international department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Roebuck in the late 19th century...
, and
BeallsBealls is a United States chain of department stores headquartered in Texas. It is owned by Stage Stores Inc. The chain overlaps with the Florida-based Bealls chain, although the two are not related...
. More than 150 specialty retailers are located in the center, including Hollister,
Abercrombie & FitchAbercrombie & Fitch is an American fashion retailer, headed by chairman and CEO Michael S. Jeffries. The A&F brand focuses on casualwear for a target consumer ages of 18 through 22. With over 300 locations in the United States, the brand has embarked on international expansion throughout various...
, Forever 21, Christopher & Banks, aerie, Aldo, Cardinal's Sports Center, American Eagle Outfitters, Buckle, Finish Line,
Victoria's SecretVictoria's Secret is an American retailer of women's wear, lingerie and beauty products. It is the largest segment of publicly-traded Limited Brands with sales surpassing US$5 billion and an operating income of $1 billion in 2006...
, and many others.
Lubbock also has numerous open air shopping centers, most located in the booming Southwest area of Lubbock: Kingsgate Shopping Center includes numerous upscale tenants such as Malouf's, Anderson Bros. Jewelers, Banana Republic, Coldwater Creek, Woodhouse Day Spa, Chico's, Harold's, Ann Taylor, and others. The Village Center is home to Zoo-kini's Restaurant, Ribbons & Bows, The Radiant Lily, Subway Restaurant, Cokesbury Books & Church Supplies, and others. Rockridge Plaza offers a Lowe's Grocery/Ace Hardware, O'Hana's Japanese Steakhouse, Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts, among other tenants.
Lubbock's newest, open air shopping center is Canyon West, located off the newly constructed Marsha Sharp Freeway (named after the renowned Texas Tech Women's Basketball coach, retired). Canyon West opened the first stores in mid-2007, with new stores continuing to open as of October 2008. Canyon West offers shoppers a new Target,
Burlington Coat FactoryBurlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation is a national department store retailer focusing on clothing and shoes, with over 360 stores in 42 states . In 2006, it was acquired by Bain Capital, LLC in a take-private transaction. -History:...
,
PetsmartPetSmart, Inc. is a retail chain doing business in the United States and Canada engaged in the sale of specialty pet supplies and services such as grooming and dog training, PetSmart PetsHotel dog and cat boarding facilities and Doggie Day Care...
,
Office DepotOffice Depot is a supplier of office products and services. The company's selection of brand name office supplies includes business machines, computers, computer software and office furniture, while its business services encompass copying, printing, document reproduction, mailing and shipping...
, Ulta Salon & Cosmetics, Kirkland's, DSW Shoes, Rack Room Shoes, World Market, Ross, and
LifeWay Christian ResourcesLifeWay Christian Resources, based in , is one of the largest providers of Christian resources in the world. "LifeWay" has been recognized as one of the "Best Employers in Tennessee" by BusinessTN magazine.-Background:...
bookstore. In close proximity to Canyon West is a
StarbucksStarbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington, United States. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 16,120 stores in 49 countries, including around 11,000 in the United States, followed by nearly 1,000 in Canada and...
(with drive-thru),
Cracker BarrelCracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., is a chain of "Old Country Stores," each combining a retail store and a restaurant. As of September 2009, the company, founded and based in Lebanon, Tennessee, was operating 591 full-service locations located in 41 states in the United States...
restaurant, and Main Event - an indoor recreation and entertainment center.
As of March 2007, there are four
Wal-MartWal-Mart Stores, Inc. is an American public corporation that runs a chain of large, discount department stores. It is the world's largest public corporation by revenue, according to the 2008 Fortune Global 500. The company was founded by Sam Walton in 1962, incorporated on October 31, 1969, and...
Supercenters in the city, with two having been recently completed. The downtown supercenter is at the intersection of Avenue Q and Mac Davis Lane across from the renovated Radisson Hotel.
Economic Development
Originally founded as Market Lubbock in 1997, the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance (LEDA) was established by the City to recruit new business and industry to Lubbock and to retain existing companies. LEDA's mission is to promote economic growth through the creation of high quality jobs, attract new capital investment, retain and expand existing businesses, and improve the quality of life in Lubbock, Texas.
Legalization of packaged alcohol sales
Up until May 9, 2009, Lubbock County and the City of Lubbock had an unusual legal situation regarding the sale of
alcoholic beverageAn alcoholic beverage is a drink that contains ethanol . Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits....
s. The county allowed package sales but not "by the drink" sales except at private institutions such as
country clubA country club is a private club and it may have a closed membership. Most offer a variety of recreational sports facilities and are located in city outskirts or rural areas.. Activities may include, for example, any of golf, tennis, swimming or traditional polo...
s. Inside the Lubbock city limits, the situation was reversed with restaurants and bars able to serve alcohol but liquor stores forbidden. Lubbock remained legally dry until an election on April 9, 1972, made liquor by the drink, but not package sales, legal, and Lubbock abandoned its distinction as the largest dry city in the country.
Previously, packaged alcohol could only be obtained under special circumstances. In 2006, the Lubbock City Council voted 5-1 to annex "The Strip", making package alcohol sales legal within the city limits. There existed, however, significant barriers to entry for stores outside "The Strip" area to sell packaged alcohol. The new annexation contributed a sales tax of 1.5 percent, or 10 cents for every 7 dollars, to the city. Because of state law, liquor sales were be limited to the newly annexed area.
Petition effort
On August 12, 2008 the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce announced that they would lead the effort to get enough signatures to force an up-or-down vote on allowing county-wide packaged alcohol sales. A Political Action Committee (PAC) entitled Let Lubbock Vote was formed shortly after for this purpose. A total of 18,747 signatures were required for the issue to be placed on the May 9, 2009 ballot. The petition drive kicked off on October 1, 2008 and was run by Texas Petition Strategies, a firm hired by the PAC. Within two weeks Texas Petition Strategies (TPS) had collected over 25,000 valid signatures on the two petitions which read "the legal sale of all alcoholic beverages for off-premise consumption only" and "the legal sale of mixed beverages in restaurants by food and beverage certificate holders only." Another PAC called
The Truth About Alcohol Sales, was formed in early October to oppose the petition. On November 12, 2008 Let Lubbock Vote turned in over 33,000 signatures to the county election administrator. Lubbock County Commissioners placed the issues on the May 9, 2009 ballot on December 22, 2008 after 25,720 signatures were verified by elections officials.
May 9 ballot
Early voting, for the May 9 ballot, began on April 27, 2009 and ended May 5, 2009, during this time about 41,000 ballots were cast. On May 9, election day, 9,552 voters cast ballots, bringing the total to approximately 50,700 or 35% of Lubbock County's registered voters. Proposition 1, which expanded the sale of packaged alcohol in the county, passed by nearly a margin of 2 to 1 with 64.5 percent in favor. Proposition 2, which legalized the sale of mixed-drink in restaurants county-wide, passed with 69.5 percent in favor.
Legal battle
Majestic Liquor, Inc. and Pinkie's, Inc., owners of several of the stores at the strip, filed suit against the city of Lubbock and the
Texas Alcoholic Beverage CommissionThe Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission was created in 1935. The TABC has the task of inspecting, supervising and regulating every phase of business related to alcoholic beverages...
(TABC) on May 4, 2009. In their lawsuit, the corporations claim that the ordinance unfairly discriminates amongst retailers, violating Texas State Law. The lawsuit states that the ordinance attempts to limit the size of packaged stores to in some areas, while other business do not have such a restriction. The two companies requested that a temporary restraining order be placed against the city and the TABC preventing the issuance of new alcohol sale permits. After the lawsuit was filed 237th District Judge Sam Medina issued the restraining order, which was effective until May 18, 2009 when a hearing on a temporary injunction was held. Following the hearing on May 18, 2009, the temporary injunction was extended for another 90 days.
On June 4, 2009 Lubbock city planners unanimously approved new ordinance amendments to address the concerns of the two companies. The amendments would remove size restrictions in zones that include major shopping centers, and would increase the limit from to in smaller commercial zones. The ordinance amendments were approved by the Lubbock City Council on June 23, 2009, but must be approved a second time before they are passed. The second reading of the amendments was held at the July 8, 2009 city council meeting, where the amendments were unanimously passed without discussion. The two retailers dropped the lawsuit August 10, 2009 after the new ordinance went into effect.
However, the legal challenges did not end there. On August 10, 2009, two Lubbock residents filed protests with the TABC citing that the May 9, 2009 vote is contrary to the wishes of voters in New Deal, Abernathy and parts of Lubbock. By Texas state law the wet or dry status of a smaller municipality, like a city or town, supersedes the status of a larger area, like a county. The protesters argued that if residents of a community voted at any point against the sale of alcohol, the May 9, 2009 vote would not be applicable to that community. Local officials had already heard this challenge shortly after the May 9, 2009 vote, and found that those rules did not apply. On September 3, 2009 the TABC dismissed the protests filed by the two residents stating that it was beyond the agency's authority. The TABC issued permits to more than 80 stores on September 23, 2009 bringing an end to the more than 4 months of legal battles.
Government
City government (as of May 2008):
| Mayor |
Tom Martin |
| District 1 |
Linda DeLeon |
| District 2 |
Flyod Price |
| District 3 |
Todd R. Klein |
| District 4 |
Paul R. Beane |
| District 5 |
John W. Leonard III |
| District 6 |
Jim Gilbreath (Mayor Pro Tem) |
Lubbock has a
council-manager governmentThe council-manager government is one of two main variations of representative municipal government in the United States....
system, with all governmental powers resting in a legislative body called a
city councilA city council is the legislative body that governs a city, municipality or local government area.-Australia:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council may vary slightly...
. Voter's elect six council members, one for each of Lubbock's six districts, and a mayor. The council members serve for a term of four years, and the mayor serves for two years. After the first meeting of the city council after newly elected council members are seated, the council elects a Mayor pro tempore who serves as mayor in absence of the elected mayor. The council also appoints a city manager to handle the ordinary business of the city. There are currently no term limits for either city council members or mayor.
The Lubbock Police Department was shaped by the long-term administration of Chief J.T. Alley (1923-2009), who served from 1957-1983, the third longest tenure in state history. Under Alley, the department acquired its first Juvenile Division, K-9 Corps, Rape Crisis Center, and
Special Weapons and TacticsA SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in American and some international law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
teams. He also presided over the
desegregationDesegregation is the process of ending racial segregation, most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in Brown v...
of the department and coordinated efforts during the 1970 tornadoes.
Education
Lubbock is home to
Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public, coeducational, research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System...
, which was established on February 10, 1923, as Texas Technological College. It is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the seventh largest student body in the state of Texas. With , it has the second largest contiguous campus in the United States and is the only school in Texas to house an undergraduate institution, law school, and medical school at the same location. Altogether, the university has educated students from all 50 U.S. states and over 100 foreign countries. Enrollment has continued to increase in recent years and growth is on track with a plan to have 40,000 students by the year 2020.
Lubbock also has other college campuses in the city including Lubbock Christian University,
South Plains CollegeSouth Plains College is a community college located in Levelland, Texas. It operates satellite branches in Plainview and at the Reese Technology Center, formerly Reese Air Force Base, in Lubbock...
,
Wayland Baptist UniversityWayland Baptist University is private, coeducational Baptist university based in Plainview, Texas, U.S.A. Wayland Baptist has a total of fourteen campuses in four additional Texas cities, five other states, and the country of Kenya. On August 31, 1908, the university was chartered by the state of...
, and Sunset International Bible Institute.
Most of Lubbock is served by the
Lubbock Independent School DistrictLubbock Independent School District was established in 1907. Accredited by the Texas Education Agency, LISD is the largest school district that serves the city of Lubbock, Texas . The Lubbock Independent School District covers 85.5 square miles and contains nearly 900 acres of school properties...
. Small portions of Lubbock extend into the neighboring districts of
FrenshipFrenship Independent School District is a public school district based in Wolfforth, Texas .In addition to Wolfforth, the district serves western portions of Lubbock and southwestern Lubbock County. A small part of Hockley County also lies within the district. 6,647 students are enrolled at...
,
Lubbock-CooperLubbock-Cooper Independent School District is a 3-A school district located south of the city of Lubbock, Texas , centered on the small community of Woodrow. School colors are red and black, and the mascot is the Fighting Pirates...
, and
RooseveltRoosevelt Independent School District is a public school district located in east central Lubbock County, Texas .The district serves the unincorporated communities of Acuff and Roosevelt along with the incorporated towns of Buffalo Springs and Ransom Canyon...
.
The Lubbock area is also home to many private schools, such as Christ the King High School, Christ the King Junior High, Christ the King Elementary,
Trinity Christian High SchoolTrinity Christian High School is a private high school run by Trinity Church of Lubbock, Texas with around 875 students. The school was founded in 1977 and graduated its first senior class in 1991...
, Kingdom Preparatory Academy, Lubbock Christian High School, and All Saints Episcopal School.
People and culture
Lubbock is the birthplace of
rock and rollRock and roll is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States after World War II in the late 1940s, from a combination of the rhythms of the blues, from the African American culture, and from America's country music and gospel music scenes...
legend
Buddy HollyCharles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
and features a cultural center named for him. The city previously hosted an annual Buddy Holly Music Festival. However, the event was renamed Lubbock Music Festival after Holly's widow increased usage fees for his name. Similarly, the city renamed the Buddy Holly West Texas Walk of Fame to honor area musicians as the West Texas Hall of Fame. On January 26, 2009, the City of Lubbock agreed to pay Holly's widow $20,000 for the next 20 years to maintain the name of the Buddy Holly Center. Additionally, land near the center will be named the Buddy and Maria Holly Plaza. Holly's legacy is also remembered through the work of
deejayA deejay is a reggae or dancehall musician who sings and toasts to an instrumental riddim .Deejays are not to be confused with DJs from other music genres like Hip-Hop, where they select and play music. Dancehall/reggae DJs who select riddims to play are called selectors...
s such as
Bud AndrewsCurcy Hendricks Andrews, Jr., known as Bud Andrews , is a popular morning deejay at Radio KDAV in Lubbock, Texas, who in 1970 is said to have "discovered" the Mississippi-based humorist Jerry Clower.-Early career:...
and
Virgil JohnsonVirgil Lewis Johnson is a popular African American deejay at radio station KDAV in Lubbock. He was formerly the lead singer of The Velvets, a vocal quintet from Odessa, also in West Texas. They are best remembered for their 1961 hit "Tonight ", which peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard pop charts...
on
radioRadio is the transmission of signals by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
station
KDAVKDAV is an AM radio station licensed to Lubbock, Texas broadcasting an oldies format.-History:KDAV is called "the Buddy Holly Station" because young Holly did a country show there before he shot to stardom...
.
Lubbock's Memorial Civic Center hosts many events. Former Mayor Morris Turner (1931-2008), who served from 1972-1974, has been called the father of the Civic Center.
The city has also been the birthplace or home of several
country musicCountry music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains...
ians including
Delbert McClintonDelbert McClinton is a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and musician. Active as a side-man since at least 1962 and as a band leader since 1972, he has recorded several major-label albums, and has charted singles on the Billboard Hot 100, Mainstream Rock Tracks, and Hot Country Songs charts...
,
Jimmie Dale GilmoreJimmie Dale Gilmore is a country singer, songwriter, actor, recording artist and producer, currently living in Austin, Texas.-Biography:...
,
Butch HancockButch Hancock is a country/folk music recording artist and song writer. He was born July 12, 1945 in Lubbock, Texas. Hancock is a member of The Flatlanders along with Joe Ely and Jimmie Dale Gilmore, but he has principally performed a solo career....
and
Joe ElyJoe Ely is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist whose music touches on honky-tonk, country and rock and roll....
(collectively known as
The FlatlandersThe Flatlanders are a country band with considerable country-rock influence from Lubbock, Texas founded by singers/songwriters/guitarists Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely, and Butch Hancock....
),
Mac DavisMorris Mac Davis, known as Mac Davis , is a country music singer and songwriter originally from Lubbock, Texas who has enjoyed much pop music crossover success. He became one of the most successful country singers of the 1970s and 1980s. He is also an actor...
, Terry Allen,
Lloyd MainesLloyd Maines is an American Grammy Award-winning country music record producer, musician and songwriter and who was born and raised in Lubbock, Texas and is now based in Austin, Texas....
and his daughter,
Dixie ChicksThe Dixie Chicks are a country music group, currently comprising Martie Maguire, Emily Robison and lead singer Natalie Maines. The group has sold 30.5 million albums in the United States through August 2009, making them the best-selling female group in the country.The group formed in 1989 in...
singer,
Natalie MainesNatalie Louise Maines Pasdar is an American singer-songwriter who achieved success as the lead vocalist for the female alternative country band, the Dixie Chicks...
, Texas Tech alums
Pat GreenPatrick Craven Green is an American country music artist. Active since 1995, he has recorded a total of ten studio albums, including several independent works, three for Republic Records and one for BNA...
and
Cory MorrowCory Morrow is a singer/songwriter who has gained popularity throughout the Southwest. Morrow started playing guitar at Memorial High School in Houston. He continued to develop as a musician while attending Texas Tech University, where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity...
, and
Coronado High SchoolCoronado High School is the second newest high school in the Lubbock Independent School District. Coronado, named for the great Spanish adventurer and explorer Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, opened its doors in 1965 as the third high school in Lubbock. The mascot of the school is the Mustang and...
graduate
Richie McDonaldRichard Vance "Richie" McDonald is an American country music artist. From 1992 until his departure in 2007, he was the lead singer of the group Lonestar, which recorded seven studio albums on BNA Records during his tenure as lead vocalist. McDonald co-wrote several of the band's singles, and sang...
(lead singer of
LonestarLonestar is an American country music group consisting of Cody Collins , Michael Britt , Keech Rainwater and Dean Sams...
until 2007).
Pete OrtaPete Orta Pete Orta Pete Orta (born August 26, 1971 in Port Lavaca, Texas is a Christian rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter and music producer. He was a member of Christian rock band Petra from 1996 to 2000....
from the Christian rock group
PetraPetra was a prominent Christian rock band, regarded by many as a pioneer of the Christian rock and of the Contemporary Christian music genres. Petra was formed in 1972, in Fort Wayne, Indiana by Bob Hartman, Greg Hough and John DeGroff while they were students of the Christian Training Center...
, basketball players
Craig EhloJoel Craig Ehlo, referred to as Craig Ehlo , is a retired American National Basketball Association player....
and
Daniel SantiagoDaniel Gregg Santiago is a professional Puerto Rican/American basketball player, currently playing at the center position for the Efes Pilsen S.K. of Turkey. Santiago is the fourth player from Puerto Rico to play in a NBA game...
, and football player
Mason CrosbyMason Walker Crosby , is a professional American football placekicker for the Green Bay Packers in the National Football League. Crosby's first two seasons as a professional have seen him post more points than any player in NFL history during their first two seasons...
have also called Lubbock home. The city is also the birthplace of actor
Chace CrawfordChristopher Chace Crawford is an American actor best known for his role as Nate Archibald in Gossip Girl on The CW.-Early life:...
(
The CovenantThe Covenant is a 2006 supernatural thriller film directed by Renny Harlin and written by J. S. Cardone.-Plot Summary:In 1692, in the Ipswich Colony of Massachusetts, five families with magical abilities, referred to as "the Power", form a covenant of silence to protect themselves from persecution...
,
Gossip GirlGossip Girl is an American drama television series based on the book series of the same name written by Cecily von Ziegesar. The series was created by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and premiered on The CW on September 19, 2007. On February 24, 2009 The CW renewed the show for a third season...
), singer Travis Garland from the band
NLTNLT was an American boy group consisting of Travis Garland, Kevin McHale, Justin Joseph Thorne , and Vahe Sevani . They were discovered by Chris Stokes and signed to his TUG Entertainment-label in 2006. As of 2009, the group has split.-History:On December 18 2007, they released a R&B influenced...
, and public interest attorney, author, and political activist
William John CoxWilliam John Cox is an American public interest lawyer, retired prosecutor, author and political activist.- Background :...
(Billy Jack Cox).
The National Cowboy Symposium and Celebration, an annual event celebrating the prototypical
Old WestThe American Old West comprises the history, geography, peoples, lore, and cultural expression of life in the Western United States, most often referring to the period of the latter half of the 19th century, between the American Civil War and the end of the century...
cowboyA cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century became a figure of special significance and legend. A subtype, called a wrangler,...
, takes place in Lubbock. The event is held in September and features art, music,
cowboy poetryCowboy poetry is a form of poetry which grew out of a tradition of extemporaneous composition carried on by workers on cattle drives and ranches. After a day of work, cowboys would gather around a campfire and entertain one another with tall tales and folk songs...
, stories, and the presentation of scholarly papers on cowboy culture and the history of the American West. A
chuckwagonA chuckwagon was originally a wagon that carried food and cooking equipment on the prairies of the United States and Canada. They would form a part of a wagon train of settlers or feed nomadic workers like cowboys or loggers. It was common for the "cookie" who ran the wagon to be second only to...
cook-off and
horseThe horse is a hoofed mammal, a subspecies of one of seven extant species of the family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
parade also take place during the event.
Every year on July 4, Lubbock hosts the 4th on Broadway event, an
Independence DayIn the United States, Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
festivalA festival is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on some unique aspect of that community.Among many religions, a feast or festival is a set of celebrations in honour of God or gods. A feast and a festival are historically interchangeable...
. The event is entirely free to the public, and is considered the largest free festival in Texas. The day's activities usually include a morning parade, a street fair along Broadway Avenue with food stalls and live bands, the Early Settlers' Luncheon, and an evening concert/fireworks program. Broadway Festivals Inc., the non-profit corporation which organizes the event, estimates a 2004 attendance of over 175,000 people. Additionally, the College Baseball Foundation holds events relating to its
College Baseball Hall of FameThe College Baseball Hall of Fame, located in Lubbock, Texas, is a museum operated by the College Baseball Foundation serving as the central point for the study of the history of college baseball in the United States...
during the 4th on Broadway event.
Lubbock's main newspaper is the
Lubbock Avalanche-JournalLubbock Avalanche-Journal is a newspaper based in Lubbock, Texas, U.S. It is owned by the Morris Communications Company. The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal was a combination of two newspapers, the Lubbock Avalanche and the Lubbock Daily Journal....
, which is owned by
Morris CommunicationsMorris Communications of Augusta, Georgia is a privately held media company with diversified holdings that include newspaper and magazine publishing, outdoor advertising, radio broadcasting, book publishing and distribution, visitor publications and online services. Newspapers are the foundation...
. Texas Tech University publishes a student-run daily newspaper called,
The Daily ToreadorThe Daily Toreador is the student newspaper of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. The newspaper started in 1925 after the founding of Texas Technological College in 1923. It was originally called The Toreador to reflect the Spanish Renaissance architectural of the campus's buildings...
.
Local TV stations include
KTXT-TVKTXT-TV is a PBS member station broadcasting on digital channel 39. KTXT is owned by Texas Tech University and housed on its campus in Lubbock, Texas.-History and facilities:...
-5 (PBS),
KCBDKCBD "NewsChannel 11" is the NBC network affiliate serving the entire Lubbock, Texas metropolitan area, owned and operated by Raycom Media.- History :...
-11 (
NBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices in Burbank,California...
), KLBK-13 (
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American television network, one of television's original "big three", which also include NBC and ABC. Like NBC, CBS started out as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System...
),
KAMCKAMC is the ABC network affiliated television station serving the entire Lubbock, Texas metropolitan area. Its transmitter is located in Lubbock.KAMC is licensed to broadcast digitally on UHF channel 27...
-28 (
ABCThe American Broadcasting Company is an American television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. It first broadcast on television in 1948...
), and
KJTV-TVKJTV-TV is the Fox affiliate serving Lubbock, Texas, owned by Ramar Communications. KJTV was a charter station for its network, having broadcast the network since its launch on October 9, 1986. It broadcasts on UHF digital channel 35...
-34 (
FoxThe Fox Broadcasting Company , commonly referred to as Fox , is an American television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, from 2004 to 2009 Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the 18–49 demographic...
).
According to a study released by the non-partisan Bay Area Center for Voting Research, Lubbock is the second most conservative city in the United States with a population over 100,000.
Attractions
The
National Ranching Heritage CenterThe National Ranching Heritage Center, a museum of ranching history, is located in Lubbock, on the campus of Texas Tech University. It features almost fifty authentic ranch buildings dateing from the late 1700s to the mid 1900s...
, a museum of ranching history, is located in Lubbock. It features a number of authentic early Texas
ranchA ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
buildings as well as a railroad depot and other historic buildings. There is also an extensive collection of weapons on display.
Jim HumphreysJames O'Neill Humphreys, Sr., usually known as Jim Humphreys , was a prominent Texas rancher and the former board chairman of the National Ranching Heritage Center, an entity of Texas Tech University in Lubbock...
, late manager of the
Pitchfork RanchThe Pitchfork Ranch, established in 1883, encompasses some in Dickens and King counties in West Texas, in the United States, with an annex in Jefferson County in southern Oklahoma. Previous properties in Kansas and Wyoming have been since sold....
east of Lubbock, was a prominent board member of the center.
The Southwest Collection, an archive of the history of the region and its surroundings which also works closely with the College Baseball Foundation, is located on the campus of
Texas Tech UniversityTexas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public, coeducational, research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System...
, as are the Moody Planetarium and the
Museum of Texas Tech UniversityThe Museum of Texas Tech University is part of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. It is made up of the main museum building, the Moody Planetarium, the Natural Science Research Laboratory, the research and educational elements of the Lubbock Lake Landmark, and the Val Verde County research...
.
The Depot District, an area of the city dedicated to music and nightlife, is located in the old railroad depot area and boasts a number of
theatreTheatre is a branch of the performing arts. While any performance may be considered theatre, as a performing art, it focuses almost exclusively on live performers creating a self contained drama. A performance qualifies as dramatic by creating a representational illusion...
s, upscale restaurants, and cultural attractions. The Depot District is also home to several shops, pubs and nightclubs, a radio station, a brewery, a magazine, a winery, a salon, and other establishments. Many of the buildings were remodeled from the original Fort Worth & Denver South Plains Railway Depot which originally stood on the site. The Buddy Holly Center, a museum highlighting the life and music of
Buddy HollyCharles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
, is also located in the Depot District. So is the restored community facility, the
Cactus TheaterThe Cactus Theater is a theater located in Lubbock, Texas, US. It hosts live music productions, musicals, and theatrical plays.-History:In 1938, Lubbock businessmen Joe H. Bryant, M. A. Sanders, and Glenn Woody, built Lubbock’s first suburban neighborhood movie theater. The Art Deco style theater...
.
Lubbock is also home to the
Silent Wings MuseumSilent Wings Museum, "The Legacy of The World War II Glider Pilots", is a museum in Lubbock, Texas.-History:In 1971, former pilots of the U.S. Army Air Force banded together to form the National World War II Glider Pilots Association, Inc...
. Located on North I-27, Silent Wings features photographs and artifacts from the World War II era glider pilots.
The Science Spectrum is an interactive museum and
IMAX DomeIMAX is a motion picture film format and projection standard created by Canada's IMAX Corporation. The traditional version of IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
theatre with a special focus on children and youth.
Mackenzie Park
Mackenzie Park is home to
Joyland Amusement ParkThe Joyland Amusement Park is a small family owned traditional amusement park, located in Lubbock, Texas, USA within Lubbock's Mackenzie Park. It typically operates from March to September of each year, opening 7 days a week but only during the evening on weeknights.-History:The park was founded in...
,
Prairie DogPrairie dogs are burrowing rodents native to the grasslands of North America. There are five different species of prairie dogs: black-tailed, white-tailed, Gunnison, Utah, and Mexican prairie dogs. They are a type of ground squirrel. On average, these stout-bodied rodents will grow to be between ...
Town, and both a
disc golfDisc golf is a disc game in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, "The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc." Disc golf is inexpensive...
and regular golf course. The park also holds the
American Wind Power CenterThe American Wind Power Center is a museum of wind power in Lubbock, Texas. It is on of city park land in downtown Lubbock. The Center has over 160 American style windmills on exhibit.-History:...
which houses over 100 historic windmills on 28 acres. The Brazos river winds through Mackenzie Park. It is collectively part of the rather extensive Lubbock Park system.
In March 1877, Mackenzie Park was the site of the
Battle of Yellow House CanyonThe Battle of Yellow House Canyon was a battle between a group of Quahadi Comanche and Apaches and a group of bison hunters that occurred on March 18, 1877, near the site of the present-day city of Lubbock...
, which occurred during the
Buffalo Hunters' WarThe Buffalo Hunters' War or Staked Plains War occurred in 1877. Approximately 170 Comanche warriors and their families led by Black Horse left the Indian Territory in December, 1876, for the Llano Estacado of Texas. In February, 1877, they attacked buffalo hunters' camps in the Red River country of...
.
Sports
The
Texas Tech Red RaidersThe Texas Tech Red Raiders are the athletic teams that represent Texas Tech University . The women's basketball team uses the name Lady Raiders; however, the school's other women's teams use the "Red Raiders" name. The university's athletic program fields teams in 17 varsity sports and 30 club sports...
have seventeen teams in eleven different varsity sports. Men's varsity sports at Texas Tech are baseball, basketball,
cross countryCross country running is a sport in which runners compete to complete a course over open or rough terrain. The courses used at these events may include grass, mud, woodlands, and water...
, football, golf, tennis, and indoor and outdoor track & field. Women's varsity sports are basketball, cross country, golf, indoor and outdoor track & field,
soccerCollege soccer is a term used to describe soccer that is played by teams operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
, softball, tennis, and volleyball. The university also offers 30 club sports, including cycling,
equestrianEquestrianism refers to the skill of riding or driving horses. This broad description includes both use of horses for practical, working purposes as well as recreational activities and competitive sports.-Overview of equestrian activities:...
, ice hockey, lacrosse,
poloPolo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a long-handled mallet...
,
rodeoRodeo is a sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States, western...
,
rugbyRugby football may refer to a number of sports through history descended from a common form of football developed in different areas of the United Kingdom. Today it refers to either rugby league or rugby union.- History :...
, running, sky diving, swimming, water polo, and wrestling. In 2006, the polo team, composed of Will Tankard, Ross Haislip, Peter Blake, and Tanner Kneese, won the collegiate national championship.
The
footballTexas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The program began in 1925 and has an overall...
program has been competing since October 3, 1925. The Red Raiders have won eleven conference titles and been to 31 bowl games, winning five of the last seven.
The
men's basketballThe Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team represents Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas in NCAA Division I basketball competition. The Red Raiders, coached by Pat Knight, son of former Texas Tech coach and Hall of Famer Bob Knight, currently compete in the Big 12 Conference...
program, started in 1925 and presently coached by
Pat KnightPatrick Knight is the head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team. He previously served in other coaching, administrative, and scouting capacities with United States Basketball League, International Basketball Association, NCAA, NBA, and Continental Basketball Association teams...
, son of
hall-of-famerThe Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame honors exceptional basketball players, all-time great coaches, referees, executives, and other major contributors to the game.Named after basketball inventor Dr...
and former Texas Tech coach Bob Knight, has been to the
NCAA TournamentThe NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single elimination tournament held each spring featuring 65 college basketball teams. college basketball teams in the United States...
14 times—advancing to the Sweet 16 three times.
Of the varsity sports, Texas Tech has had its greatest success in women's
basketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of 5 players try to score points against one another by placing a ball through a
10 foot high hoop under organized rules...
. Led by
Sheryl SwoopesSheryl Denise Swoopes is an American professional basketball player who played most recently for the Seattle Storm in the WNBA. She was the first player to be signed in the WNBA when it was created. She has won three Olympic Gold Medals and is a three-time WNBA MVP...
and head coach
Marsha SharpMarsha Sharp is the former head coach of Texas Tech University's women's basketball team, the Lady Raiders. She retired after twenty-three years at the conclusion of the 2005–2006 season....
, the Lady Raiders won the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship in 1993. The Lady Raiders have also been to the NCAA Elite Eight three times and the NCAA Sweet 16 seven times. In early 2006, Lady Raiders coach Marsha Sharp resigned and was replaced on March 30, 2006 by
Kristy CurryKristy Lynn Curry née Sims is the head coach of Texas Tech University's women's basketball team, the Lady Raiders. She took the job in 2006, following the retirement of Marsha Sharp.-Coaching career:...
, who had been coaching at
PurdueBoilermakers is the official moniker for the intercollegiate athletic teams of Purdue University. As is common with athletic nicknames, it is also used as colloquial designation of Purdue's students and alumni at large....
.
Other sports at Tech include cross country, baseball, golf, tennis, track, ice hockey, soccer, softball, volleyball, and polo.
High school athletics also feature prominently in the local culture. In addition, Lubbock is the home of the Chaparrals of Lubbock Christian University. In 2007, the
Lubbock RenegadesThe Lubbock Renegades were an expansion member of the af2. The team played its home games at the City Bank Coliseum, which was the former home of the IFL/NIFL team, the Lubbock Lone Stars/Gunslingers. The team was owned by Doug McGregor, Rick Dykes, and Bart Reagor. It was coached by former Texas...
began play as a member of the
af2AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
, a developmental league of the
Arena Football LeagueThe Arena Football League was founded in 1987 as an indoor American football by Jim Foster. It was played indoors on a smaller field than American football, resulting in a faster-paced and higher-scoring game...
.
In 2007, the Lubbock Western All-Stars Little League Baseball team made it to the final four of the
Little League World SeriesThe Little League World Series was a baseball tournament held August 17 through August 26 in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Eight teams from the United States and eight from throughout the world competed to decide the winner of the 61st installment of the Little League World Series. It was...
.
In 2009, the Lubbock Christian University baseball team won their second NAIA National Championship.
National Register of Historic Places
.jpg)
- Cactus Theater
The Cactus Theater is a theater located in Lubbock, Texas, US. It hosts live music productions, musicals, and theatrical plays.-History:In 1938, Lubbock businessmen Joe H. Bryant, M. A. Sanders, and Glenn Woody, built Lubbock’s first suburban neighborhood movie theater. The Art Deco style theater...
- Canyon Lakes Archaeological District
- Carlock Building
The Carlock Building, 1001 – 1013 13th Street, Lubbock, Texas, is an office building designed in the Art Deco style by J. B. Davies & Company of Fort Worth, Texas. It was constructed in 1930 as a Cotton exchange for J. D. Doughty and J. B. Kerby...
- Fort Worth and Denver South Plains Railway Depot
- Fred and Annie Snyder House
- Holden Properties Historic District
- Kress Building
- Lubbock High School
Lubbock High School is a 5A high school serving grades nine to twelve in Lubbock, Texas . Part of the Lubbock Independent School District, the school is known for its academic program and for the fact that it has produced a number of talented musicians, vocalists, businessmen, and scientists over...
- Lubbock Lake Landmark
Lubbock Lake Landmark, also known as Lubbock Lake Site, is an important archeological site and natural history preserve in the city of Lubbock, Texas. It has evidence of nearly 12,000 years of use by ancient cultures on the Llano Estacado. It is run by the Museum of Texas Tech University.Visitors...
- Lubbock Post Office and Federal Building
- South Overton Residential Historic District
- Texas Technological College Dairy Barn
The Texas Technological College Dairy Barn, located on the Texas Tech University campus in Lubbock, Texas, was constructed from 1926-27 and served as a teaching facility for 40 years. The building was designed by architect W. C. Hedrick of Fort Worth, Texas, with assistance from Agricultural Dean...
- Texas Technological College Historic District
- Tubbs-Carlisle House
Tubbs/Carlisle House or Tubbs House or Tubbs/Revier House is an historic house in Lubbock, Texas.-Construction:Construction was begun in 1907 and finished in 1908...
- Warren and Myrta Bacon House
The Warren and Myrta Bacon House, 1802 Broadway, Lubbock, Texas, was designed and built from plans by W. M. Rice of Amarillo, Texas in 1916. It was designed along neo-classical lines for Warren A. Bacon, a successful local businessman and civic leader...
- William Curry Holden
William Curry Holden , also known as Curry Holden, was an historian and archaeologist. In 1937, he became the first director of the Museum of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. During his tenure, the museum gained regional and state recognition for excellence...
and Olive Price Holden House
Transportation
The city's air services are provided by
Lubbock Preston Smith International AirportLubbock Preston Smith International Airport is an airport located just north of Lubbock, Texas. Originally known as Lubbock International Airport, it was renamed in 2004 to honor former Texas governor Preston E. Smith...
, which is named for the Lubbock businessman who became
lieutenant governorA lieutenant governor or lieutenant-governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction, but often the deputy or lieutenant to or ranking under a governor - a "second-in-command." In many Commonwealth of Nations states, lieutenant governors are usually deputy heads...
and
governorA governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Texas. It is located on the northeast side of the city. Public transportation is provided by
CitibusCitibus is the public transportation bus and paratransit system which serves Lubbock, Texas. It runs bus routes throughout the city, with the main routes converging at the Downtown Transfer Plaza, which also houses the Greyhound bus terminal. Citibus has been in continual service since 1971 when...
, a bus transit system running Monday through Saturday every week with a transit center hub in downtown.
Lubbock is served by major highways. Interstate 27 (the former Avenue H) links the city to
AmarilloAmarillo is the 14th-largest city in the U.S. state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 173,627 at the 2000 census. The Amarillo metropolitan area has an estimated population of...
and Interstate 40, a transcontinental route. I-27 was completed through the city in 1992 (it originally terminated just north of downtown). Other major highways include US 62 and US 82 which run concurrently (except for 4th Street (82) and 19th Street (62) through the city east-west as the
BrownfieldBrownfield is a city in Terry County, Texas, United States. The population was 9,488 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Terry County near Lubbock in West Texas.-Geography:Brownfield is located at ....
Highway (soon to be upgraded to Marsha Sharp Freeway, 19th Street (62 only), 4th Street/Parkway Drive (82 only) and
IdalouIdalou is a city in Lubbock County, Texas, United States. It is located 7 miles northeast of Lubbock near the intersection of Farm to Market Road 400 and US 62/US 82/SH 114. The population was 2,157 at the 2000 census...
Highway. US 84 (Avenue Q/
SlatonSlaton is a city in Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The population was 6,109 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Lubbock Metropolitan Statistical Area.Slaton is named for Lubbock rancher and banker O.L. Slaton, Sr...
Highway/
ClovisClovis is a city in and the county seat of Curry County, New Mexico, United States. Its population was 37,213 as of the 2009 census.Clovis is located in the Llano Estacado and eastern New Mexico regions. The largely agricultural town is also noted for its role in early rock music history...
Road) is also another east-west route running NW/SE diagonally. U.S. Highway 87 runs between
San AngeloSan Angelo is a city in and the county seat of Tom Green County, Texas, United States, in West Central Texas. As of 2009 according to an estimate published by the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total population of 91,880....
and Amarillo and follows I-27 concurrently. State Highway 114 runs east-west, following US 62/82 on the east before going its own way. Lubbock is circled by Loop 289, which suffers from traffic congestion despite being a potential bypass around the city, which is the reason behind I-27 and Brownfield Highway being built through the city to have freeway traffic flow effectively inside the loop.
The city is set up on a simple
grid planThe grid plan or gridiron plan is a type of city plan in which streets run at right angles to each other, forming a grid. In the context of the culture of Ancient Greece the grid plan is called Hippodamian plan.-Ancient grid plans:...
. In the heart of the city, numbered streets run east-west and lettered avenues run north-south — the grid begins at Avenue A in the east and First Street in the north. North of First Street, city planners chose to name streets alphabetically from the south to the north after colleges and universities. The north-south avenues run from A to Y. What would be Avenue Z is actually University Avenue since it runs along the east side of Texas Tech. Beyond that, the A-to-Z convention resumes, using U.S. cities found east of the Mississippi (e.g. Akron Avenue, Boston Avenue, Canton Avenue). Again, the Z name is not used, with Slide Road appearing in its place.
Lubbock has no
inter-city railInter-city rail services are express train passenger services which cover longer distances than commuter or regional trains.There is no clear definition of Inter-city rail. Most broadly, it includes all rail service except short distance commuter rail within one city area and slow regional rail...
service, although there have been various proposals over the years to remedy this. One, the
Caprock ChiefThe Caprock Chief or Caprock Xpress was a proposed Amtrak inter-city rail service which would run from Fort Worth, Texas to Denver, Colorado, passing through the Texas Panhandle, which currently does not have passenger rail service of any kind. Initially proposed 2000-2001, the project has not yet...
, would have seen daily service as part of a
Fort Worth, TexasFort Worth is the seventeenth-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city within the state of Texas. Located in and a cultural gateway into the American West, the city covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, and Denton counties, serving as the county seat for Tarrant...
—
Denver, ColoradoThe City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the state of Colorado, in the United States. Denver is a consolidated city-county located in the South Platte River Valley on the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
service, but it failed to gain traction.
External links