Life in Lubbock | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Life in Lubbock

See What Lubbock Has To Offer

With a population of more than 252,500 Lubbock and the South Plains now rank 11th among the 25 Texas metropolitan areas. The area is best known to most Texans as the home of 36,550 Texas Tech University students. Around the world, it is remembered as the birthplace of rock music pioneer Buddy Holly.
As a large city, Lubbock includes the area's recreational center, a major symphony orchestra, world- class museums and libraries, and outstanding spectator events.
As a cozy college town, Lubbock boasts low housing costs, funky restaurants and boutiques, and a drive of less than 20 minutes to anywhere in the city.

The commercial hub of the Texas South Plains, Lubbock is a major agricultural center and provider of medical and other services to the region. A quarter of the annual U.S. cotton crop is produced here. With more than 100 shopping centers, the "Hub City" is also the area's retail center. Oil, finance, agribusiness, and light industry round out the economic environment. Because of this broad economic base, the rate of unemployment in Lubbock typically ranks among the lowest in the state.

Outdoor Adventures

Lubbock's citizens enjoy a wide range of amenities. The school system is excellent with three top rated school districts, and almost 200 churches welcome participants of every denomination. Lubbock averages 277 days of sunshine per year, providing plenty of sunny days for outdoor activities. For hiking, fishing, camping and winter sports, the mountains of New Mexico are only four hours away by car.

Lubbock is home to 10 renowned golf courses, including the Texas Tech Rawls Course, which was ranked as the second best golf course in the state of Texas by Golf Digest as well as the third best collegiate course in the United States and boasts Jerry Grill that overlooks the pristine course.

In addition to the many Playa Lakes that span the South Plains, there are two major recreational lakes ready for outdoor activities year long. Buffalo Springs Lake and Lake Alan Henry provide great venues for camping, fishing, boating, swimming, and relaxing on the lake side beaches.

Arts & Entertainment

One of Lubbock’s best kept secrets is its thriving arts and entertainment options.

For a fun evening with friends and family you can’t miss 4ORE Golf, the largest golf entertainment complex in West Texas. 4ORE Golf’s state of the art design has 60 climate-controlled tee boxes that can host up to six players at a time. The upscale, laid back atmosphere features more than 175 high definition flat screen tv’s with an extensive chef-driven food and beverage menu.

The Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts is recognized as a major contributor to the arts community of Lubbock. The venue houses visionary art galleries, a state- of-the-art theater, clay studio, a rehearsal hall, event spaces and classroom/studio spaces. The galleries and studios offer a world-class art experience as one of the finest facilities of its kind in the southwestern United States. Its First Friday Art Trail is a free, self-guided public art happening that has taken Lubbock to the forefront of the Texas art scene. Held predominately in the Lubbock Cultural District, this event brings together collectors, artists and community friends for an evening of art, music and fun. Featuring a variety of art centers, museums, galleries and businesses, First Friday Art Trail offers an ever-changing array of art exhibits in all media. 

The Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences is currently under construction and will be the cultural hub of Lubbock and the cornerstone of downtown arts. The $155 million project encompassing 218,000 square feet will have 2,200-seat theater and will be home to the Lubbock Ballet and Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, as well as traveling music and theater performances.

In the heart of one of the fastest growing wine regions in the country, Lubbock is known as “The Napa Valley of the South” with five unique, individual wineries within the city limits. In fact, the area surrounding Lubbock, known as the High Plains, produces 80 percent of the wine grapes in Texas. Our area’s wide open spaces provide ample ground for wine tours and cultivating the perfect grape to create even, delicious blends of West Texas wine. From award-winning wine to stunning architecture, indulge all your senses and come out to Lubbock for wine tours of the Llano Estacado Winery, Cap*Rock Winery, McPherson Cellars and others.