Lubbock, Texas is located in the extreme northwestern portion of the state. Lubbock is home to 212,000 residents and covers one hundred fifteen square miles of Texas. Lubbock was founded in 1876 by a Confederate colonel named Thomas Saltus Lubbock. The town wasn't incorporated until 1890 when two smaller towns - Old Lubbock and Monterey - were combined to create the present day city. Lubbock has a rich university history like no other in the state of Texas. Texas Tech University was the first university established in Lubbock, dating back to 1923. Several more would follow over the coming decades. In addition to Texas Tech University, Lubbock is also home to a medical school of the same name, Lubbock Christian University, Wayland Baptist University, South Plains College, and the Sunset International Bible Institute. In 1951, a series of mysterious v-shaped lights, referred to as the Lubbock Lights, put the city on the map as a major player in the phenomena of UFOs. The sightings were consistent and frequent, with many people recounting similar experiences from different parts of the city - leading credence to the UFO theory. Several investigations of the Lubbock Lights were conducted through Texas Tech University as well as The United States Air Force. Some of those reports tried to dismiss the sightings as formations of moths or birds, but the true source of the lights remains a mystery even today. Lubbock is home to many unique attractions. As with many other areas in Texas, farming and ranching played vital roles in the history of the city. The National Ranching Heritage Center houses a collection of artifacts from Lubbock’s formative days as well as exhibits depicting some historic events in the city. The Depot District is an entertainment complex that is housed in the city’s oldest railroad depot. The Depot District includes several shops, pubs, a brewery, winery, and other retail outlets and businesses. It is also the site of the Buddy Holly Center, a museum dedicated to the life of the musician who died in a plane crash in 1959 along with Richie Valens and The Big Bopper. Lubbock was Buddy Holly’s hometown. There are a total of sixteen buildings and homes in Lubbock that have received recognition by the National Register of Historic Places. Mackenzie Park is another popular site in the city. The park is home to a small amusement park called Joyland Amusement Park. Joyland is comprised of thirty rides in all, including three roller coasters, a train, and bumper cars. Prarie Dog Town and the American Wind Power Center are also located in Mackenzie Park.. The American Wind Power Center is home to over on hundred historic windmills, which are scattered acres the center’s twenty eight acres. There are some interesting facts about Lubbock worth mentioning. The area around Lubbock produces seventy five percent of the state’s peanuts, forty five percent of the state’s wine, and cultivates nearly half of the state‘s grapes. Ninety percent of the country’s grain sorghum is also produced in here.