www.ci.lubbock.tx.us Lubbock ( /ˈlʌbək/) is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and is home to three universities: Lubbock Christian University, Texas Tech University, and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. At the 2010 census, Lubbock had a population of 229,573, making it the 87th most populous city in the United States and the 11th most populous city in Texas. The city is the economic center of the Lubbock metropolitan area, which had an estimated 2009 population of 276,659. Lubbock's nickname is the "Hub City," which derives from it being the economic, education, and health care hub of a multi-county region commonly called the South Plains. The area is the largest contiguous cotton-growing region in the world and is heavily dependent on irrigation water drawn from the Ogallala Aquifer. Lubbock was selected as the 12th best place to start a small business by CNNMoney.com. They mentioned the community's traditional business atmosphere, less expensive rent for commercial space, and its central location and cooperation from city government. Lubbock High School has been recognized for three consecutive years by Newsweek as one of the top high schools in the United States. Lubbock High School is home to the only International Baccalaureate (IB) program in the region. The IB program is one of the criteria examined by Newsweek in formulating their list of top high schools.