Lubbock, Texas is many things -- the Hub City of the South Plains, home of Buddy Holly and countless nationally prominent musicians, cotton capital of Texas, major health care center, and center of a burgeoning wine industry.

Settled in the heart of West Texas, Lubbock is a thriving city of nearly 200,000 people who take great pride in their surroundings. The cost of living is moderate, and opportunities for economic development are expanding daily. Lubbock has been mentioned favorably by presidents, written into movie scripts and sung about in songs.

A young community, Lubbock's development occurred in a short period of time. Two communities grew as a result of land promotion and the 1887 Texas Land Act. Located on opposite sides of Yellow House Canyon were Old Lubbock and Monterey, each with 250 residents. In 1890, the residents agreed to combine and form a new town on a one-square mile site that today is in downtown Lubbock. Industrialization came to Lubbock in 1909 with the railroad, and people found land was cheap, cotton grew because there was no insect problem, and the arid climate and flat land made farming easier.

Today, Lubbock offers a fantastic array of activities, from nearby hunting and fishing to outings at one of 62 city parks (3,000 acres) or 275 restaurants. The elevation is 3,241 feet, providing for comfortable summers, fantastic falls and mild winters. The sun shines an average of 267 days a year, more than any other major city in Texas, making outdoor activities the rule rather than the exception.

Evidence has been recently unearthed that proves man has felt comfortable in the Lubbock region for 11,500 years, which is as far back as evidence of humankind goes in North America. The 307-acre Lubbock Lake Landmark State Historical Site is internationally known for its complete cultural remains of the Clovis Man -- man's earliest presence on the South Plains.

The Lubbock area has been a major supplier to the entertainment field. Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings, Roy Orbison, Bobby Keys and Mac Davis are some of the more prominent products. John Denver was a former Texas Tech student. The city continues to offer excellent entertainers, along with live theater, professional symphony and ballet. The city's Depot District is a rising star among the state's up-and-coming entertainment areas.

One of the region's newest crazes is a rapidly growing wine industry. Llano Estacado, one of three local wineries, has gained international fame for its excellent, high-quality wines over the past decade. It's economic impact is in the annual range of $30 million.

Lubbock's territory holds more than one-fourth of the nation's oil, a third of its natural gas, a fourth of its cotton, most of its sheep and goats and 27 percent of its marketed feed cattle. In recent years, the cotton crop annually has poured more than a billion dollars into the South Plains region.

As a financial center, Lubbock's banks boast the largest resources between Dallas-Fort Worth (318 miles to the east) and El Paso (345 miles to the west-southwest), and between Austin (380 miles to the southeast) and Denver (500 miles to the northwest). Travel, though, is no problem due to the Lubbock International Airport. With four airlines and more than 80 arrivals and departures each day, all major Texas cities are easily within reach. Major ski resorts are within easy driving distance and a number of area lakes offer fishing and water skiing opportunities.

© 2006 Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport
5401 N. Martin Luther King Blvd.
Lubbock, Texas, USA 79403
(806) 775-2044

Updated 3/2006 Benjamin L. Clark