Lubbock County vs. Irion County
From Hub City to Hill Ranch
Lubbock and Irion counties capture two views of West Texas life: one urban and entrepreneurial, the other rural and rooted. Lubbock, home of Texas Tech University, blends education, energy, and innovation. Irion County moves at a gentler pace, where ranch hands, oilfield crews, and families still gather under church steeples on Sundays. Together they show how Texas ingenuity and community coexist across landscapes.
Lubbock County (Population approx.317,000)
Known as the “Hub City,” Lubbock is the commercial and cultural center of the South Plains. Anchored by Texas Tech University, its economy stretches from cotton and wind energy to healthcare and technology start-ups. Growth brings optimism and concern: housing, water, and keeping graduates close to home. Yet Lubbock retains its West Texas identity: friendly faces, open roads, and music that changed American culture.
Irion County (Population approx.1,500)
Centered on Mertzon, Irion County balances ranching, energy, and civic duty. Volunteer groups maintain the parks; the same people who run the feed store serve on the school board. Droughts test resolve, but the land gives back in sunsets and community ties that city dwellers envy.
Why It Matters
Both counties remind Texans that progress doesn’t mean leaving heritage behind. Education and innovation depend on the same resilience that defines rural life.
Why Forward
Forward believes Texas’ strength lies in empowering both regional hubs and small rural towns.
In Lubbock County, open primaries and Ranked Choice Voting would encourage leaders to collaborate on water planning, education funding, and economic diversification—issues that affect families across the South Plains. These reforms would move campaigns toward solutions and away from partisan gridlock.
In Irion County, those same tools would preserve rural representation and give independent-minded ranchers and teachers a real voice in policy that often overlooks small counties. Ranked Choice Voting ensures every vote matters: even in local races decided by a handful of ballots.
Forward’s mission: to build trust, transparency, and teamwork; connects these two communities. From Lubbock’s classrooms to Irion’s pastures, Texans deserve representation that reflects their work ethic and pride of place.
Did You Know…
Rock and roll legend Buddy Holly was born in Lubbock in 1936.
Irion County was named for Robert Irion, secretary of state for the Republic of Texas in 1837.
Why Texans Love Living Here
Residents of Lubbock County love the blend of small-town hospitality and big-city energy that comes from being a college town on the plains. In Irion County, locals love the quiet beauty of ranch life and the dependable neighbors who show up for one another without being asked.
Key Events That Bring Neighbors Together
Lubbock Arts Festival – The largest fine-arts event in West Texas, celebrating local creativity through music, dance, and craft.
People & Tech Created This
The profiles and shared challenges were gathered from Texas Forward Party supporters and written using ChatGPT and Gemini models to combine verified public data, official county/state sources, and general knowledge from Texas historical and government records, including:
