Howdy, partner! We have some exciting news for residents of Hub City. Lubbock was named the number one True Western Town of 2016 by True West Magazine. Let’s take a look at a few of the reasons that Lubbock earned this fitting title:

Though Lubbock is not a small town by any definition, the folks at True West were impressed by how such a large city could maintain its Western roots.

redraiderengineer/Wikimedia Commons Lubbock’s history goes back to 1876, when it was named for a Texas Ranger. Hub City became the “Hub of the Plains” after the Santa Fe Railroad came through in the early 1900s.

Lubbock is home to the National Ranching Heritage Center, which is one of the main reasons it was chosen.

Facebook/Visit Lubbock The site offers unparalleled views of life in the Old West, with almost 50 authentic ranch buildings from the 1500s to 1950s that were relocated to the center. Not to mention, this site (which is part of Texas Tech University) has six museum galleries telling the story of ranching history.

Not surprisingly, the center is also the annual host of the National Cowboy Symposium & Celebration.

Facebook/National Cowboy Symposium & Celebration The event is held every September (unfortunately, we just missed it this year). If you’re a fan of cowboy culture and the American West, you must add this event to your bucket list. There, you’ll find everything from cowboy art, history, and music to a chuckwagon cook-off.

True West also mentions that Lubbock is home to several other musuems and a lively cultural district.

Billy Hathorn/Wikimedia Commons True West noted the archaeological importance of the Lubbock Lake National Historic Landmark (pictured here), the early farm history detailed at Bayer Museum of Agriculture, and the WWII history preserved at the Silent Wings Museum.

Though it’s not exactly related to the town’s Western heritage, the magazine also mentioned Lubbock’s love of its native son and rock and roll icon, Buddy Holly.

Flickr/Kent Kanouse Pictured is the Buddy Holly Center, where the legendary performer’s glasses are on display, but you will find several other places in town that pay tribute to the fallen rock and roll figure.

There you have it, folks. These are just a few of the excellent reasons to pay a visit to Lubbock, the number one Western Town of 2016.

redraiderengineer/Wikimedia Commons

Lubbock’s history goes back to 1876, when it was named for a Texas Ranger. Hub City became the “Hub of the Plains” after the Santa Fe Railroad came through in the early 1900s.

Facebook/Visit Lubbock

The site offers unparalleled views of life in the Old West, with almost 50 authentic ranch buildings from the 1500s to 1950s that were relocated to the center. Not to mention, this site (which is part of Texas Tech University) has six museum galleries telling the story of ranching history.

Facebook/National Cowboy Symposium & Celebration

The event is held every September (unfortunately, we just missed it this year). If you’re a fan of cowboy culture and the American West, you must add this event to your bucket list. There, you’ll find everything from cowboy art, history, and music to a chuckwagon cook-off.

Billy Hathorn/Wikimedia Commons

True West noted the archaeological importance of the Lubbock Lake National Historic Landmark (pictured here), the early farm history detailed at Bayer Museum of Agriculture, and the WWII history preserved at the Silent Wings Museum.

Flickr/Kent Kanouse

Pictured is the Buddy Holly Center, where the legendary performer’s glasses are on display, but you will find several other places in town that pay tribute to the fallen rock and roll figure.

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