Lubbock is the largest city in the Panhandle of Texas and serves as the area's agricultural and economic hub. Lubbock, commonly known as the Hub City, is in the center of the South Plains, an expansive cotton-growing region. Lubbock has experienced steady growth for several decades and today occupies approximately 125 square miles. The city is home to 250,000 residents and students. Lubbock is the seat of Lubbock County, the site of state and national parks, two major medical systems, three universities, and is unique among other growing Texas cities in that its sustained economic development and growth are not supported by heavy industry.

History

Lubbock County was founded in 1876, named after Thomas S. Lubbock, when a state administrator penciled in names of counties on a crude map of the Panhandle - at random. The modern town of Lubbock was not established until 1890 when old-Lubbock and the smaller town of Monterey struck an unusual alliance and merged the two communities. A deal most likely initiated by rival town promoters hired by area ranchers and merchants to lobby Ft. Worth & Denver for a rail depot. The site of Monterey was chosen in lieu of the new township's name, Lubbock. Old-Lubbock's residents relocated to Monterey just south of the Yellowhouse Canyon, dragging the Nicollete Hotel with them on rollers. Lubbock became the county seat in 1891 and incorporated as a city in 1909.

In 1923 Texas Technological College was founded after a contentious bid war among several area cities including Amarillo and Plainview. The city of Lubbock was a mile away from the only campus building during its first session.

A category F-5 tornado cut a 8-mile gash through the city on the evening of May 11, 1970, resulting in $125 million in property damage and the loss of 26 lives. The devastation received international news coverage and was among the first natural disaster recoveries to be documented on television. The coordinated effort served as a model for disaster recovery research and planning. The destruction of several thousand homes effectively ended segregation throughout the city.

Orientation
 • 33-35' N, 101-51'W
 • Elevation: 3256 FT

Lubbock is the largest developed area atop the Llano Estacado plateau. The area, when first explored, was a featureless grassland, and, according to legend, Spanish conquistadors drove large, brightly colored, stakes into the ground to plot their position. The region was later named the staked plains or Llano Estacado. The first settlers encountered banditos or native Comanche who would often hold new arrivals for ransom. The portion of the Caprock Escarpment just east of Lubbock is known as Ransom Canyon.

Activities

Festivals
Mid-morning during 4th on Broadway. Texans love a good party, and Lubbockites are no exception. Lubbock plays host to some of the highest attended outdoor events in the country. Most of these events are not well known outside the area, and are blessedly free of tourists.
 • Lubbock Arts Festival - April, 2nd or 3rd Weekend, $15. The largest arts festival in the region combining fine arts, arts & crafts, food and music. The festival traditionally features an exhibit of Texan studio art. Sponsored by the Lubbock Arts Alliance and local businesses. The event grows in popularity each year with 20 to 30,000 attending.
 • Ulterior Motifs - April or May, FREE. Annual art exhibition sponsored by the Wheeler Brothers Gallery. The event attracts rock, folk and country music acts, performance artists and assorted strange people. The opening celebration often begins in the Depot District and ends with a midnight concert near the Wheeler Brothers Gallery. Ulterior Motifs is heavily promoted as the alternative arts event of the year. Originally conceived as a single event, the exhibition has become an annual feature.
 • 4th on Broadway - Independence Day, FREE. The largest free festival in the country! Every year over 100,000 people will walk along the 1/2 mile portion of Broadway blocked off for the street fair. At dusk the festival moves into the canyon for concert and cook out. The Lubbock Symphony Orchestra is featured during the fireworks. Space and parking are at a premium, especially in the evening.
 • National Cowboy Symposium - September, 1st Weekend, $15. A modest gathering of 20 to 50 thousand enthusiasts celebrating the prototypical cowboy. Features music, lecture series, cook-offs and horse show.
 • Fiestas del Llano - September, 2nd or 3rd Weekend, $5. Cultural festival which focuses on Hispanic history and traditions. Between 10 and 20,000 attend this festival each year. The folk-dance and conjunto banda competitions are very popular.
 • Panhandle-South Plains Fair - September, Last Week, $20 & Parking $5-$15. The nine-day festival is one of the largest regional fairs in the nation. As many as 300,000 people have been known to tread the fairgrounds during fair week. The carnival midway and concerts are the most popular, especially in the evening. Parking is an absolute nightmare. Take a taxi, but be prepared to wait.

Wineries
Lubbock is prone to fits of severe weather, but the relatively stable climate year round has allowed a small local winery industry to flourish.
 • Cap*Rock Winery, 408 E Woodrow Rd., 806 863-2704 - An award-winning winery south of Lubbock.
 • Llano Estacado Winery, FM 1585 & US 87 (3 mi East), 806 745-2258 - What began as an experiment by biologists at Texas Tech, has become a successful, self-sufficient winery. Wines from Llano Estacado are considered a flagship for Texas wines. The winery will host tours. Call for schedule.
 • Pheasant Ridge Winery, I-27 at Exit 15 (3 mi East), 806 746-6033 - A new and very promising winery north of Lubbock.

Amusement Parks
 • Joyland Amusement Park, Mackenzie Park, 806 763-2719, $5-$10. A small park with plenty of carnival-style rides and a tram line. Schedule varies, but open most weekends from spring to fall.
 • Science Spectrum, 2579 S. Loop 289, 806 745-6299 - M-Fr 10AM-5PM, Sat 10AM-6PM, Sun 1AM-5PM, $5-$10. An interactive science museum with over 250 permanent exhibits and touring exhibits throughout the year. The Science Spectrum is well-known throughout the area and very popular during weekends. The OMNI domed theater is in the same facility.
 • Texas Water Rampage, 6602 Brownfield Rd., 806 796-0701, $5-$25. Mid-sized water park with over three dozen water rides, and a wave pool. Open most weekends during spring and summer. Call for schedule and gate price.

Theaters & Performing Arts
 • Ballet Lubbock, 5702 Genoa Ave., 806 785-3090 - Founded in 1969, Lubbock Ballet is the only ballet company with a pre-professional school in the region. The company's annual staging of The Nutcracker with the help of the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra smashes attendance records each year. Lubbock Ballet hosts several events and competitions throughout the year.
 • Cactus Theater, 1812 Buddy Holly Ave., 806 762-3233 - The 400-seat Cactus originally opened in 1938 as a second-run theater. The unique venue closed after television and the drive-in fad in the late '50s cut audiences to a bare minimum. Local notable, Don Caldwell, re-opened the Cactus in the early '90s as a center for live music in the Depot District.
 • Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, 1313 Broadway, 806 762-1688 - The LSO was first established in 1945 when the city's superintendent of schools demanded each school have an orchestra teacher as well as a band teacher. The men and women recruited to teach were the first members of the LSO. In 1967 the LSO was reorganized as a professional organization. The orchestra maintains an extensive music score library.
 • OMNI Theater, 2579 S. Loop 289, 806 745-6299 - $5-$10, Call for Showtimes. The only large-format theater in area, and its well-known 60-foot, 160-degree panoramic screen. Before each screening, a light and sound show shows off the theater's 80,000 watt sound system, featuring music from local composers.

Also visit Lubbock's Attractions

Dining

 • For some of the best pizza and calzones in town, be sure to check out Giorgio's Pizza. It is located at 1018 Broadway St, just east of the main "Big Building" in town. The food is terrific, and the service is great as you will be greeted as "my friend" even though George has never met you. Please note that this restaurant is only open from 10-6 on weekdays. It is home to the Texas sized pizza which is the largest pizza in the city.
 • A place to get traditional Mexican food can be found at 4620 50th St. The name of the restaurant is Mexican Border Grill, and it is right across the street from a mediocre Tex Mex joint called Don Pablos. The food is traditional, and a favorite is Tacos Carbon.
 • The best place in town to get margaritas is at Mi Tio's on 7412 University Ave. The food is on par, but the drinks are out of this world. You should stop by that restaurant for margaritas, then head to Ruby Tequila's a little farther south at 8601 University Ave to get some good food (the sunset fajitas are by far the best item on the menu).
 • The best Chicken Fried Steak can be found at the Cotton Patch Cafe located at 6810 Slide Rd. This is the best battered Chicken Fried that you can find!
 • If you are in a hurry, you can go to one of the many Rosa's restaurants in the city. Rosa's is a fast food/sit down Mexican food restaurant that is a favorite and frequented by many locals.
 • For the best hamburger in town, be sure to visit Jumbo Joe's. While there are many locations in town, the one at 1520 Avenue Q definitely has the best burgers and usually runs a $1.99 burger and fries special.
 • There is no better place to get fine dining than at Stella's Restaurant on 4646 50th St. The bread they give you before the meal is delectable, and they have many interesting Italian concoctions.
 • Finally, if you are in the mood for Thai food, you can't go wrong with Thai on 5018 50th St. The restaurant has made a recent appearance in Texas Monthly, and serves up some tasty food. Be sure to get a Thai tea to wash it down.

Drink

• Lubbock's Depot District, surrounding the Buddy Holly Center, is the main place to go out for a night on the town.
• Jake's - Live music and good drinks.