Odessa was founded in 1881 as a water stop and cattle-shipping point on theTexas and Pacific Railway. The first post office opened in 1885. Odessa became the county seat of Ector County in 1891 when the county was first organized. It was incorporated as a city in 1927, after oil was discovered in Ector County on the Connell Ranch southwest of Odessa.[9]
With the opening of the Penn Field in 1929, and the Cowden Field in 1930, oil became a major draw for new residents. In 1925, the population was just 750; by 1929, it had risen to 5,000. For the rest of the 20th century, the city's population and economy grew rapidly during each of a succession ofoil booms (roughly in the 1930s–1950s, 1970s, and 2010s), often with accompanying contractions during the succeeding busts (particularly in the 1960s and 1980s).[9]
Odessa is said to have been named after Odessa in theRussian Empire (present dayOdesa, Ukraine). The settlement was named by Ukrainian workers building a railway in 1881, because the terrain reminded them of their homeland;[10] the localshortgrass prairies resembled thesteppes of the Russian Empire.[11]
Odessa is located along the southwestern edge of theLlano Estacado inWest Texas. It is situated above thePermian Basin, a large sedimentary deposit that contains significant reserves of oil and natural gas.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 44.0 square miles (114 km2); 43.9 square miles (114 km2) are land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.05%) is covered by water.
Odessa has ahot semiarid climate typical of West Texas. Summers are hot and sunny, while winters are cool and dry. Most rainfall occurs in late spring and summer; snowfall is rare. The area exhibits a large diurnal temperature range and frequent high winds.[12]
Climate data for Odessa, Texas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1950–present
Odessa city, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the2020 United States census, there were 114,428 people, 41,942 households, and 28,218 families residing in the city. As of the2010 census,[3] 99,940 people, 35,216 households, and 27,412 families resided in the city. The population density was 2,276.5 inhabitants per square mile (879.0/km2). There were 43,687 housing units at an average density of 995.1 per square mile (384.2/km2).
In 2010, theracial makeup of the city was 75.4% White, 5.7% Black, 1.1% Asian, 1.0% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 14.2% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race was 50.6%.[15] By 2020, the racial and ethnic makeup was 32.68% non-Hispanic white, 6.12% African American, 0.37% Native American, 2.14% Asian, 0.23% Pacific Islander, 0.31% some other race, 2.01% multiracial, and 56.14% Hispanic or Latino of any race, reflecting state and nationwide trends of greater diversification.[20][21][22]
Of the 35,216 households in 2010, 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% weremarried couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were not families. About 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65, and the average family size was 3.21. The population was distributed as 29.8% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.
At the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the city was $31,209, and the median income for a family was $36,869. Males had a median income of $31,115 versus $21,743 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $16,096. About 16.0% of families and 18.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 23.9% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over. The 2020American community Survey estimated the median household income increased to $63,829 with a mean income of $82,699.[23]
Prosperity Bank Building is the tallest building in Odessa.Oil Pumpjacks seen in an oil field inPenwell, west of Odessa in 2006. The oil industry has been a huge part of Odessa's economy since the 1920s.MCM Grande Hotel in Odessa includes the West Texas Events Center.
Historically, the Odessa economy has been primarily driven by the area's oil industry, booming and busting in response to rises and falls in the crudeoil price. Many of the city's largest employers are oilfield supply companies and petrochemical processing companies. In recent decades, city leaders have begun trying to decrease the city's reliance on the energy industry to moderate the boom-bust cycle and develop greater economic sustainability.[9]
Odessa has also taken steps to diversify the energy it produces. In 2009, awind farm has been constructed in northern Ector County.[24] Around the same time, acoal pollution mitigation plant had been announced for a site previously entered in theFuturegen bidding. The plant will be run by Summit Power and will be located nearPenwell.[25] This plant was supposed to lead to the creation of 8,000 jobs in the area.[26] Plans were also in place for a smallnuclear reactor called theHigh-Temperature Teaching and Test Reactor to be run as a test and teaching facility in conjunction with the nuclear engineering department atUniversity of Texas of the Permian Basin.[27][28]
Odessa's main enclosed shopping mall,Music City Mall, used to include an indoor ice skating rink.
As in many municipalities, some of the largest employers are in the education, government, and healthcare industries. Outside of those areas, the city's major employers are concentrated in the oil industry. According to the city's 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[29] the top employers in the city were:
Odessa welcome sign alongInterstate 20Ector Theater in Odessa, Texas as shown on May 30, 2020. The 700-seat Ector Theatre at 500 N. Texas Ave. in Odessa opened in 1951. Now closed for regular films, it still hosts occasional community events, performing arts, and musical expositions. The theater is undergoing a major renovation and is now attached to the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.The abandoned Rio Theater on North Grant Street in Odessa opened in 1947 as the Scott Theater. In 2010, a community group attempted to acquire the building.
The Midland–Odessa Symphony and Chorale (MOSC) was founded in 1962,[30] and is the region's largest orchestral organization, presenting both pops and masterworks concerts. The MOSC has three resident chamber ensembles: the Lone Star Brass, Permian Basin String Quartet, and West Texas Winds.
TheWhite-Pool House, built in 1887, is the oldest structure still standing in Odessa. Open to visitors at 112 East Murphy Street near South Grant Avenue, the building is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.Stonehenge replica on campus of theUniversity of Texas of the Permian Basin in OdessaParker Ranch House Museum at 1118 Maple Ave.: The restored structure was once the headquarters of a ranch that includes 175 sections of land in Andrews and Ector Counties. Owned from the 1930s to the 1950s by Jim and Bessie Parker, the museum features exhibits of the ranching family.
Odessa has acouncil–manager government, with a city council of five councillors (elected from geographic districts) and a mayor (elected at-large). The council appoints and directs other city officials, including thecity manager, and sets the city's budget, taxes, and other policies.[33]
In the 2014 fiscal year, the Odessa government had $179.1 million in revenues, $146.3 million in expenditures, $454 million in total assets, and $203 million in total liabilities. The city's major sources of public revenues were fees for services (such aspublic utilities),sales taxes, andproperty taxes, and its major expenses were for public safety and for water and sewer service.[34]
On December 14, 2022, the Odessa City Council voted to make Odessa a "sanctuary city for the unborn." In a 6–1 vote, Mayor Javier Joven and council members Denise Swanner, Mark Matta, Gilbert Vasquez, Chris Hanie, and Greg Connell established Odessa as the 62nd city to "outlaw" abortion.[35] The new city ordinance makes a person civilly liable if any person aids, abets, or assists anybody in an abortion operation.[36]
In October 2024, the city gained national attention after voting 5–2 to implement a transgender bathroom ban, in which any transgender person found using a publicly owned bathroom not matching their assigned gender at birth could be charged with trespassing. The ban was particularly notable for creating a private right to sue, under which any cisgender individual may seek damages from the transgender person of at minimum $10,000 in addition to attorney and court fees.[37][38] A month later, they expanded the law to cover all restrooms public or private, and allow anyone to sue regardless of if they're an Odessa or even Texas resident.[39]
TheUniversity of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) began in 1973. UTPB was an upper level and graduate university until the Texas Legislature passed a bill in spring 1991 to allow the university to accept freshmen and sophomores. As of 2006, the university was holding discussions with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission about the construction of a new High-Temperature Teaching and Test Reactor, which if successful, would finish licensing and construction around 2012. It would be the first university-based research reactor to be built in the US in roughly a decade, and be one of the few HTGR-type reactors in the world. In January 2006, UTPB's School of Business was awarded accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International, which is generally regarded as the premier accreditation agency for the world's business schools. According to the university, only 30% of business schools in the United States, and 15% of world business schools, have received AACSB accreditation.
TheTexas Tech University Health Sciences Center Permian Basin Campus opened as a school of medicine in 1979, beginning in the basement of Medical Center Hospital. Since 1994, TTUHSC Permian Basin has included a school of allied health, offering a master's degree in physical therapy. Also, on the campus of Midland College, it offers a physician-assistant program. Additionally, TTUHSC Permian Basin includes a school of nursing focusing on primary care and rural health. In June 1999, the Texas Tech Health Center opened as a clinic, providing increased access to primary and specialized health care for the Permian Basin. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Permian Basin also operates 21 WIC clinics located in nearby small communities.
Odessa College is a public, two-year college based in Odessa, serving the people of Ector County and the Permian Basin. It opened in 1952 and currently enrolls about 6,000 annually in its university-parallel and occupational/technical courses, and 11,000 students annually in its basic education, continuing education, and community recreation courses.[44]
Odessa College serves most of Midland, as in the parts in Ector County. Parts in Midland County are assigned toMidland College.[45]
TheEctor County Independent School District serves portions of Odessa in Ector County (the vast majority of the city).[46] ECISD was established in 1921, in a consolidation of seven area schools. The district now contains 38 campuses. It administers these high schools:Permian High School,Odessa High School, George H. W. Bush New Tech Odessa, OC Techs at Odessa College and Odessa Collegiate Academy, also at Odessa College.
Odessa's private schools include Montessori Mastery School of Odessa, Latter Rain Christian School, Odessa Christian School, Permian Basin Christian School, Faith Community Christian Academy, St. John's Episcopal School, St. Mary's Central Catholic School (of theRoman Catholic Diocese of San Angelo), Rainey School of Montessori, Sherwood Christian Academy, and Zion Christian Academy. Odessa is also home to five charter schools: Compass Academy Charter School, UTPB STEM Academy, Harmony Science Academy-Odessa, Embassy Academy, and Richard Milburn Academy-Odessa.
The city's main dailybroadsheet newspaper is theOdessa American. A total of 124 listed radio stations broadcast inWest Texas,[48] which includes Midland/Odessa, Abilene, San Angelo and Alpine. Most notable broadcasts in Odessa areKFZX Classic Rock (102.1FM),KMRK My Country (96.1 FM) andKXWT Marfa Public Radio (91.3 FM).
Midland International Air and Space Port is being served bySouthwest Airlines (25,131 passengers as of March 12, 2024),United Airlines (14,780),American Airlines (13,886); inclusive of their subsidiaries, such asAmerican Eagle.[49] Midland Spaceport is currently not being served by any commercial space companies, although the Texas Chapter of theSpace Force Association is believed to start operations in the future.[52]
ThetruTV reality showBlack Gold is based on three oil wells outside of Odessa, as well as some locations in Odessa, such as the localHooters restaurant.[60]
The novel (and motion picture) "No Country for Old Men" mentions Odessa. Protagonist, Moss, tells his wife, Carla Jean, that she has to go to her mother's house in Odessa and stay there until his call.[61]
^Everett-Heath, John (October 22, 2020). "Odessa".Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Place Names. Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-190563-6....the settlement for Ukrainian workers building a railway was named by them in 1881 because the local terrain reminded them of their homeland around Odessa; the city was not actually founded until 1886.
^"Ector County, Texas History".Historic Texas. Archived fromthe original on September 24, 2015. RetrievedMay 26, 2015.Pointing to the county's supposed resemblance to the steppes of Ukraine, a railroad official named the first settlement in the county Odessa
