Timeline of Lubbock, Texas facts for kids

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Lubbock, Texas, USA.

19th century

• 1876 - Lubbock County established; named after Thomas Saltus Lubbock.
• 1890 - Lubbock settlement formed by merger of Old Lubbock and Monterey.
• 1891
  • Lubbock designated seat of Lubbock County.
  • Leader newspaper begins publication.
  • Nicolett Hotel building moved to Lubbock from nearby North Town (approximate date).
• 1900 - Lubbock Avalanche newspaper begins publication.

20th century

• 1909
  • Railroad begins operating.
  • City of Lubbock incorporated.
  • Frank E. Wheelock becomes mayor.
• 1910 - Population: 1,938.
• 1913 - Chamber of Commerce formed.
• 1914
  • South Plains Fair begins.
  • St. Paul's-on-the-Plains Church established.
• 1917 - Lubbock Sanitarium (hospital) and Mt. Gilead Baptist Church established.
• 1920 - Population: 4,051.
• 1923 - Texas Tech University is formed
• 1924 - San Jose Catholic Church and Palace Theatre built.
• 1925
  • Texas Technological College opens.
  • The Daily Toreador student newspaper begins publication.
  • Rex Theatre in business.
• 1926 - Texas Technological College Dairy Barn built.
• 1929 - West Texas Museum established.
• 1930
  • Guadalupe School built.
  • Population: 20,520.
• 1931 - Lubbock High School built.
• 1932 - KFYO (AM) radio begins broadcasting from Lubbock.
• 1933
  • Baptist Church established.[1]
  • Texan Theatre in business.
• 1936
  • September 7: Musician Buddy Holly born.
  • Lubbock Lake Site archaeological remains discovered.
• 1937
  • South Plains Airport begins operating.
  • Shaareth Israel Synagogue established.
• 1940
  • New Lindsey Theatre built.
  • Population: 31,853.
• 1941 - U.S. Army Flying School established near city.
• 1942 - U.S. Army South Plains Flying School established.
• 1943-1944 - Royal Air Force airmen cadets flew routinely to Lubbock on training missions from the RAF training base at Terrell, Texas.
• 1945 - Chatman Hospital opens.
• 1946
  • Lubbock Symphony Orchestra formed.
  • Plains Theatre in business.
• 1949 - U.S. military Reese Air Force Base active.
• 1950 - Population: 71,747.
• 1951
  • Regional "High Plains Water Conservation District #1" established.
  • Country Club Drive-In cinema in business.
• 1952 - KCBD-TV and KDUB-TV (television) begin broadcasting.
• 1953 - KDAV radio begins broadcasting.
• 1957 - Lubbock Christian College opens.
• 1959 - Lubbock Avalanche-Journal newspaper in publication.
• 1960 - Population: 128,691.
• 1961 - South Plains Genealogical Society founded.
• 1962 - San Jose Catholic Church rebuilt.
• 1965 - Green Fair Manor apartment building constructed.
• 1966 - City "urban renewal relocation housing project" completed.
• 1969
  • Lubbock State School opens.
  • Texas Tech University School of Medicine and Lubbock Civic Ballet established.
  • Preston Smith of Lubbock becomes Governor of Texas.
• 1970
  • May 11: 1970 Lubbock tornado.
  • Population: 149,101.
• 1977 - Lubbock Memorial Civic Center built.
• 1978 - May 19 Bombing at Faith Club Alcoholics Anonymous. Stevie Ray Vaughan played at Stubbs BBQ and AC/DC played at the Municipal Coliseum.
• 1979 - Lubbock Heritage Society formed.
• 1980 - Population: 173,979.
• 1983 - Roman Catholic Diocese of Lubbock established.
• 1990 - Population: 186,206.
• 1998 – City website online (approximate date).
• 2000 - Population: 199,564.

21st century

• 2003 - Randy Neugebauer becomes U.S. representative for Texas's 19th congressional district.
• 2008 - Tom Martin becomes mayor.
• 2010 - Population: 229,573.
• 2012 - Glen Robertson becomes mayor.
• 2016 - Dan Pope becomes mayor.
• 2020 - Population: 257,141.