The Battle of West Texas Hubs!! Amarillo or Lubbock?? (Houston: home, school)

[will_I_am29]

Both cities are big hubs of West Texas (Sorry El Paso, Midland and Odessa). Amarillo seemed to be a cleaner, well planned and internationally well travled city than Lubbock. When I think of Lubbock, I think of Texas Tech and cotton. Amarillo might be small in "Population" but to me it seems to be a more a city (Downtown Amarillo has a small but built skyline) than Lubbock. Lubbock has new developments, nightlife and shopping because of the college populations and presents, which does a lot for the city and has puts Lubbock on the map. Amarillo has a major interstate, the historical route 66, it has the most seasonal weather in Texas (snow), its a mid size city with decent amenities. The people there are old fashion and churchy, but its friendly for the most part. Both cities are segregated racially and economically, (Amarillo north-sides: Black with a growing Asian population and East/South sides are Hispanic where the Whites are mostly on the west and southwest sides) with Amarillo having a Midwestern or Great Plains vibe and a old west cowboy image. Lubbock is mostly in the shadows of Texas Tech, with some West "Texan" stereotypes. Lubbock's backdrop can look very industrial while Amarillo can look like a truck stop pit. Some parts of Amarillo can stink, especially at night when you can smell like cow manure and Lubbock can make your allergies bad with the cotton gins and dust that bowls around the city. Amarillo is very livestock and cattle orientated, a railroad bed, helium capital, medical and health services and a transcontinental truck stop. Lubbock is a cotton king, Texas Tech, music (rock and roll and country) and booming health service center. Both are somewhat similar in culture like other major cities in Texas ex: Dallas and Houston, with Houston being like Lubbock (with its industrial looks and various culture and Dallas like Amarillo (with its clean and orderliness) if you will. Im not bias (even though I am originally from Amarillo but have close family from Lubbock) but both cities are more comparable than superior to one of the other.

[Cathy4017]

For starters, Amarillo is not West Texas.

It's the Panhandle.

[will_I_am29]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

For starters, Amarillo is not West Texas.

It's the Panhandle.

Its actually considered both, depending on how you look at it. Even in wikipedia terms West Texas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

[rr2005]

They are both nice, economically stable cities. I agree that Amarillo has historically had more recognition, but I think that is starting to shift as the population gap widens between the two. (2009 estimates are Lubbock 226k and Amarillo 189k.)
I'm sometimes amazed at the temperature differences between the cities, considering their proximity. For that reason, along with the availability of top-notch healthcare and nightlife, I prefer Lubbock. Again, they are both great cities in my book and home to some of the finest people I know!

[Westerner92]

Lubbock industrial? Maybe if you don't get off the interstate, but it is dominated by education and healthcare. I can't really comment on Amarillo, but Lubbock isn't any more segregated than most cities. I also think Lubbock is newer/cleaner than Amarillo.

[Sandstorm214]

I like Amarillo, but prefer Lubbock. Having Texas Tech there helps bring in a lot of culture, business, and other positives that tilt the scale in Lubbock's favor. Plus, it's not quite as cold in the winters in Lubbock--Amarillo winters can be a bit rough by Texas standards.

[GayleTX]

I've lived 6 years in each of the cities. I found Amarillo much more 'blue collar' attitude with quite a few rough edges; Lubbock has more cultural activities and people who appreciate them more than Amarillo does. The weather in Lubbock is milder than Amarllo, the traffic more managable, the school system much better.

[First24]

Lubbock > Amarillo. It's the academic, cultural and commerce hub for a large portion of West Texas. Lubbock's Downtown however, is downright embarrassing for a city that size.

One big advantage Amarillo has over Lubbock is it's proximety to I-40. Lubbock sorely lacks a major East-West highway.

[rr2005]

[quote=Scout_972;17164762]Lubbock > Amarillo. It's the academic, cultural and commerce hub for a large portion of West Texas. Lubbock's Downtown however, is downright embarrassing for a city that size.

Agreed on the downtown issue. The good news is that local leaders also agree and downtown Lubbock is in the midst of a multi-million dollar revitalization project.

[will_I_am29]

Originally Posted by rr2005

They are both nice, economically stable cities. I agree that Amarillo has historically had more recognition, but I think that is starting to shift as the population gap widens between the two. (2009 estimates are Lubbock 226k and Amarillo 189k.)
I'm sometimes amazed at the temperature differences between the cities, considering their proximity. For that reason, along with the availability of top-notch healthcare and nightlife, I prefer Lubbock. Again, they are both great cities in my book and home to some of the finest people I know!

Your right about the population as they have widen, but with Lubbock its because of "Texas Tech" again. Tech brings alot of population of younger people and so the city needed to fix up and bring in nightlife, shopping and culture. But after they do graduate do they stay in Lubbock or move away to other larger major cities ie: Dalllas, Houston...