As the Hub City of the southern plains, Lubbock, Texas, finds itself as a rapidly expanding urban city while remaining deeply rooted in its agricultural heritage.
With a new loop highway system in progress, new business development and residential development everywhere you look city growth is on the rise.
According to the Lubbock Economic Development Alliance, Lubbock is the tenth largest city in Texas with a population of 264,973 in 2023. When considering the greater Lubbock metro area that includes towns like Wollforth, the population nears 340,000 people. With a projected growth of 3% through 2028, the Hub City is also the second largest city west of Interstate 35.
As an epicenter for food, fiber and fuel in West Texas, Lubbock has plenty of industry behind its growth. Yet, with agricultural production still accounting for much of Lubbock’s economy, how will the city balance its urban expansion with its farming community?
Rural and Urban Collide
Michael Farmer, an associate professor of agricultural and applied economics at Texas Tech University, said the growth of Lubbock makes total sense when considering the city’s main economic engines.
“I think the growth in Lubbock has been good for [Texas Tech] and the region in general,” Farmer said.
Farmer said the rural communities who come to the Hub City for medical and education resources also have to be accounted for when considering growth potential, Farmer said.
“We had to have those resources in Lubbock because we have so many rural people in our community,” Farmer said. “Now, we have more money and even more resources because of the city growth we are seeing.”
That growth also supports the city’s medical and higher education communities, he said.
Despite many of the positive outcomes from a growing city, more people means more water use. With water standing as the biggest issue facing the local agricultural industry, what does this growth mean for the region’s water resources?
Farmer said water used for residential properties does not interfere with farmers’ water resources. The City of Lubbock uses a mix of surface water and groundwater for its residential and commercial areas, never dipping into a farmers’ water supply.
According to the Lubbock Water Utilities Department, the City of Lubbock recently developed a 100-year water supply plan to diversify its water supplies. The main source of water for the city is groundwater from the Canadian River Municipal Water Authority’s Roberts County Well Field and the City’s Bailey County Well Field.
Farmer and other experts have expressed concern over whether the water infrastructure within the city has been overbuilt. As a result, residents are having to pay more for their water. But, as Lubbock continues to grow, Farmer thinks residential water prices will decrease.
The growth of Lubbock has allowed for more job opportunities to emerge, specifically in the healthcare, education and manufacturing sectors, Farmer said.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs in Lubbock has increased from 150,000 in 2014 to over 170,000 in 2024.
“The growth that we have had in employment with people who have slightly less education than populations in other cities has been proportionate for professional jobs, which has been great,” Farmer said.
Taking Action
Erik Rejino, one of two Lubbock assistant city managers, said the Hub City has experienced a significant residential boom in the last five years.
Effective planning is essential for guiding the orderly growth and development of Lubbock, while preserving its unique character and natural resources, Rejino said. Lubbock has adopted comprehensive planning strategies that emphasize smart growth principles, such as mixed land use and compact development sustainable design.
“Lubbock is 143 square miles, and in the last five years, we have annexed just shy of 5,600 acres,” Rejino said. “So, we have added just shy of 9 square miles since 2019, which is pretty significant.”
Rejino said the population of Lubbock experienced a 12.5% population growth between 2010 and 2020.
I remember playing as a kid looking across the road and only seeing cotton on 34th Street.
Sam Middleton
The Lubbock economy is very diverse, Rejino said, which can lead to economic growth.
“When the national economy is booming, Lubbock goes up but maybe not quite as high,” Rejino said. “On the other side of it, when the national economy is on a downturn, you do not see Lubbock have near the downturn.”
As such, Rejino said the Lubbock economy is steady.
Zoning regulations and land use policies also play a crucial role in shaping Lubbock’s growth patterns and ensure development occurs in a manner that is compatible with the neighborhoods and culture, Rejino said.
By promoting thoughtful land use planning, Farmer said Lubbock’s growth can continue while keeping the economy and environment in mind.
“The way we do zoning works for about 65% of our population,” Farmer said. “The zoning needs to continue to work for more than 50% of our population.”
Farmer said may residents want to build large lots that require large amounts of irrigation. However, the question that emerges is, ‘Are we thinking through that planning process?’
The biggest concern is not the water supply but the water infrastructure, Rejino said.
“We have the water right now, but we need pipelines and elevated source tanks,” Rejino said. “There are large projects emerging in the engineering division of the City of Lubbock to help combat and fight this issue.”
Lubbock strives to cultivate a culture rooted in collaboration and transparency, fostering trust and consensus among stakeholders while instilling a sense of ownership and pride in the community.
“There is a public hearing at the planning and zoning commission and a public hearing at the city council,” Rejino said. “I have seen people engage with that and their ideas are taken into consideration before decisions are made.”
This inclusive approach to decision-making ensures that the voices of residents and farmers alike are not only heard but also respected.
Lubbock and Texas Tech are intertwined when it comes to growth and the Davis College is playing a role in the development process.
According to Texas Tech Today, the university’s growth has been significantly aided by its diverse student population that has increased by nearly 9,000 in the last 10 years.
There are now nearly 41,000 students enrolled at Texas Tech. While not all of those students live on campus or even in Lubbock, increasing enrollment certainly impacts the city and its housing needs.
Farmers Faced with a Decision
Agriculture is a key industry within the Lubbock economy. Yet, as the city expands into what was once production land, producers are faced with a choice.
Peyton Wilde, a lifelong farmer, and current farmer in Lubbock County, said he has certainly noticed the city’s growth as it encroaches on his operation.
“Lubbock seems like it has grown doubled in size since I have been here,” said Wilde, who moved to the area in 2007 to go to college. Wilde studied animal science at Texas Tech and competed on the livestock judging team.
“Farms have gotten larger, and the number of farmers has decreased,” Wilde said.
Wilde said to make a living off of farming, you have to operate on a large number of acres. However, increased land prices from urban expansion are driving some farmers out.
With fewer families involved in farming operations, fewer people are tied to the land, Wilde said.
“Without family ties or an emotional connection to the land, people are selling their land for residential development,” Wilde said.
As a farmer, Wilde said it is essential the City of Lubbock keep up with infrastructure. Increased traffic on roadways not meant for heavy traffic creates a dangerous situation, Wilde said. As residential development outpaces road construction efforts, farmers struggle to navigate to their fields and move large equipment.
“It is difficult to drive equipment down narrow roads that are now near residential areas and the traffic has become heavier,” Wilde said.
However, for some older farmers, Lubbock’s growth provides an opportunity to transition into retirement. They can sell their land at high prices.
Sam Middleton, third-generation owner of Chas. S. Middleton and Son LLC, was born and raised in Lubbock. Middleton grew up in a home on 33rd Street and College Avenue, which is now University Avenue.
“I remember playing as a kid looking across the road and only seeing cotton on 34th Street,” Middleton said. “I have been able to witness the growth of Lubbock.”
Middleton’s grandfather started selling farm and ranch land in 1920 and the family business is still successful today.
“Farmland is a good investment,” Middleton said. “Depending on the conditions it can generate a 4% to 8% return and the land also appreciates around 6% a year.”
Land on the outskirts of Lubbock is selling anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000 an acre. That is too expensive to farm, so developers come in, Middleton said.
“Most farmers that decide to sell their land around Lubbock use it as a way to retire early or retire well,” Middleton said.
Kelly Jones, Lead Writer; Karley Stephens, Photo Director; Morgan Howe, Design Coordinator; Allison Gallaher, Digital and Advertising Manager
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