Introduction to Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock, Texas is one of the state's largest cities and is famous for being the birthplace of Rock and Roll legend Buddy Holly. The city, county seat of Lubbock County, is located at the convergence of U.S. routes 62 and 84 in northwest Texas, about 60 miles east of the New Mexico border and 120 miles south of the city of Amarillo. Other major thoroughfares servicing Lubbock include Interstate I-27, U.S. Route 87, and Texas State Highway 114. Lubbock is home to Texas Tech University.
Founded in 1876, Lubbock was named after Thomas S. Lubbock, a former Texas Ranger and Confederate officer. The city became incorporated in 1909, shortly before the establishment of rail service which would help make Lubbock the agricultural marketing center of the region, earning it the name "Hub of the Plains." The city's growth continued throughout the 20th century, aided by the establishment in 1925 of Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University) and the opening of two military training bases during World War II. Today Lubbock continues to grow, relying on the area's vast agricultural resources in addition to a variety of manufacturing facilities.
Lubbock Attractions
The National Cowboy Symposium and Celebration is an annual September event which celebrates the prototypical Old West cowboy and features cowboy poetry, art, music, and presentations on cowboy culture and the history of the American West. Also included as part of the festivities are a chuckwagon cookoff and horse parade. On July 4, Lubbock hosts the "4th on Broadway" event, an Independence Day festival featuring a morning parade, a street fair along Broadway Avenue with food stalls and live bands, and an evening concert/fireworks program. Lubbock is also home to several places of interest, including the following:
- The National Ranching Heritage Center: A museum of ranching history which includes a number of authentic early Texas ranch buildings as well as a railroad depot
- The Buddy Holly Center: A museum celebrating the life and music of the legendary Rock & Roll pioneer
- The Silent Wings Museum: Features photographs and artifacts from World War II era glider pilots
- The Science Spectrum: An interactive museum and IMAX Dome theatre targeted largely for the young
- Mackenzie Park: Home to Joyland Amusement Park, Prairie Dog town, and golf courses for both disc-golf and conventional golf
- American Wind Power Center: Chronicles the entire history of the windmill from the 1800’s to present day
- American Museum of Agriculture
- Lubbock Area Veterans War Memorial
- The Louise H. Underwood Center for the Arts
- Cactus Theater
- Lubbock Community Theatre
Texas Tech University's athletic teams, known as the Red Raiders, belong to the Big 12 Conference and compete in the NCAA's Division I-A. The Lady Raiders were winners of the 1993 NCAA Women's Basketball Championship. For professional sports, Lubbock is home to the Lubbock Renegades of the af2 Arena Football league and also to the Cotton Kings, a hockey team in the Southwest Division of the Central Hockey League (CHL).