The population of Lubbock has changed dramatically since its incorporation in 1909, from a tiny frontier settlement of a couple of hundred people to the estimated 272,086 in 2024. However, you don’t have to be 116 years old to have noticed significant increases in Lubbockites. For those of us who grew up here, the change is beyond noticeable; it’s significant.

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The Big Increases

According to data from the city of Lubbock, we’ve had some big population booms between decades, particularly

1910-1920, when the population more than tripled from about 3600 people to nearly 12000 people

1940-1950, when the population doubled from around 50K to 100K people.

Decreases? Not Here

Lubbock’s population has never decreased between the decades. However, we have leeched population from our surrounding communities, which have at times seen negative population growth.

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From A Personal Standpoint

As someone who was a child living in Lubbock in the 1990s, the increase can be a little daunting if I think about it too long. I lived near 82nd and University as a kid, and I remember crossing a cotton field to walk to the brand new United on 82nd and Boston. That space has long been occupied by Tinseltown, and I feel absolutely ancient relaying this story.

Similarly, my bestie moved from Roswell to Lubbock in the late 90s and lived at 140th and Indiana area, which was the country at the time. Now it is completely coated in new housing developments, restaurants, and retail, and Loop 88 is under construction to handle the new traffic patterns for the area.

Lubbock Population Future

Any number of things could happen to either grow or limit Lubbock’s future population. However, a 2028 Lubbock population estimate shows a fairly stable amount of growth in the upcoming years. Lubbock Economic Alliance projects a population of 273,473. If you broaden the scope to Lubbock County, you can add about another 100K people, making Lubbock a retail and entertainment hub worth investing in.

Lubbock’s Most Extreme Weather Records

A look at the most extreme weather records Lubbock has set.

Gallery Credit: Renee Raven