What would Lubbock be now if it didnt happen? (Center: construction, tornado)

[whitegiant]

What does everybody think Lubbock would be now if the 1970 tornado had not of happened. Do you think it would be bigger or the same?

[juggler]

I don't think the tornado had much of an effect on the population growth of Lubbock. It may have scared some potential residents away, who feared a repeat, but it also caused many buildings downtown to be rebuilt or repaired, and resulted in the creation of the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.

I've also heard speculation that the tornado shifted growth patterns to south and southwest Lubbock, by virtue of destroying much of north and northeast Lubbock.

[Westerner92]

Originally Posted by juggler

I don't think the tornado had much of an effect on the population growth of Lubbock. It may have scared some potential residents away, who feared a repeat, but it also caused many buildings downtown to be rebuilt or repaired, and resulted in the creation of the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.

I've also heard speculation that the tornado shifted growth patterns to south and southwest Lubbock, by virtue of destroying much of north and northeast Lubbock.

Well said. I would have said almost the exact same thing.

[GayleTX]

I agree.....we went thru it, lived to tell about it and moved away shortly thereafter (altho NOT because of the tornado)....when we went back to visit a vew years later I was very pleased to see the cleanup and improvements that had taken place downtown. It was a frightening, sad event, but Lubbock did a good job of making the best of a bad situation.

[case44]

If it hadn't happened, certainly it would be bigger today, probably a population of about 300,000. Who knows what potential construction could have taken place in the 1970s? Well, that only means now that Lubbock gets to do something more modern and much better.