Everything About Odessa, Texas

History

Odessa was founded in 1881 as a water stop and cattle shipping point on the Texas and Pacific Railway. The city was named after Odessa, Ukraine because of a local cattle baron’s Russian roots. Odessa grew rapidly in the 1920s after oil was discovered in the Permian Basin.

Over the years, oil booms and busts have shaped Odessa’s economy and culture. Notable events include the Odessa Meteor Crater being designated a landmark in 1967, Friday Night football becoming a Texas tradition, and Odessa’s survival after the Great Recession. Through it all, Odessa has retained its independent, wildcat spirit.

Geography

Odessa is located in West Texas on the southwestern edge of the Llano Estacado plateau. It sits at 2,900 feet above sea level next to the Permian Basin, which has made Odessa an important petroleum industry center.

The city has a total area of 44.8 square miles, none of which is covered by water outside of small man-made ponds and storage tanks. Odessa has a semiarid climate featuring hot summers and mild winters. The area landscape includes mesquite, yucca plants, jackrabbits, and vast oil derricks.

Geology

The Permian Basin under and around Odessa contains significant reserves of oil and gas – over 30 billion barrels have been extracted and it’s estimated over 10 billion remain. This prolific basin was formed during the Permian geological period over 250 million years ago. At that time, the area was covered by an ancient inland sea.

As water levels rose and fell over millions of years, layers of organic marine deposits were buried and eventually transformed into hydrocarbon fuel under the heat and pressure below the earth’s surface. This rich geological history led to the oil boom that put Odessa on the map in the 1920s.

Neighborhoods

Popular Odessa neighborhoods include Downtown Odessa near the restored historic Hotel Ector, the Green Tree Historic District with its 1920s bungalows, West Odessa on the outskirts of town, the suburban developments in northeast Odessa, and the Mixon neighborhood southwest of downtown known for ornate Antebellum homes.

Many neighborhoods bear the names of early oilmen who shaped the city, like Weeks, Zavala, and Dobbs. Odessa’s neighborhoods each have their own flavor and give residents a choice between small town living or more modern amenities.

Climate

Odessa’s climate is classified as semiarid. It sees hot summers and relatively mild but dry winters. In summertime, daytime temperatures routinely exceed 100°F, while averaging 93°F in June, July, and August. The highest recorded temp was 112°F in 1994. At night, temps typically cool off into the 70s.

Winters see highs averaging 60°F in December and January. Overnight lows during winter drop to around 30°F. Snow is rare in Odessa – the city only gets 2 inches of snow annually. Overall Odessa only receives about 14 inches of rain per year – lending to its arid conditions. Dust storms can occasionally rise up given the dry climate.

Demographics

Odessa has a population just under 120,000 people. Given its economy is tied to oil, Odessa’s population has fluctuated over time as oil prices rise or fall. Recent estimates have the population at 30% White Non-Hispanic and around 60% Hispanic or Latino origin. About 5% of Odessa residents identify as African American.

Around 30% were foreign born, with many employed in the local oil industry. The median age is 32, lower than the US average, with over 30% of the populace under 18. Household sizes also tend to be larger than typical. Income inequality is quite high for the area relative to national standards.

Economy

Odessa’s economy continues to be heavily dependent on oil and gas extraction in the Permian Basin. Pumping, services, pipeline transport, refining, and other support industries are also drivers. Outside of energy, construction makes up a major job sector. Unemployment fluctuates notably depending on oil prices.

Recent expansion in the Permian Basin with improved fracking methods has created many jobs and pulled unemployment under 3%. Like in past oil booms, housing demand exceeds supply in the city at times. The city hopes emerging sectors like manufacturing or renewable energy may diversify the economy.

Culture

Odessa’s culture has long been shaped by its wildcatter attitude and boomtown history around oil exploration. Risk-taking, perseverance against long odds, and legends of overnight success and fortune embody the Odessa mindset. At the same time, busts in the cyclic petroleum industry prevent complacency.

Hard physical labor and getting one’s hands dirty are honored professions here. Religion, patriotism, football, and country music are central to Odessa’s culture as well. The city even has its own symbol – the jackrabbit. Locals take pride in the pioneer, unsinkable spirit of survival that permeates Odessa’s culture.

Colleges and universities

Odessa is home to a few institutes of higher learning, including Odessa College and the satellite University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Odessa College is the one of the largest community colleges in Texas. It offers associate degrees in arts and sciences plus technical training programs focused on in-demand skills like oilfield operations, wind energy, and commercial driving.

Over 5,000 students attend. UT Permian Basin first opened its Odessa campus in 1991 to offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees with many aimed at the petroleum sector. Both play key roles supplying trained workers for local energy companies.

Media

As the largest city on the south plains between Midland to the east and El Paso far to the west, Odessa is home to several media outlets. Local papers include the daily Odessa American plus the Odessa Monthly glossy lifestyle mag. Local TV stations are anchored by KOSA-CBS 7, an affiliate since 1956 along with newer arrivals.

Area radio ranges from country (KKYN-FM) to Latino programming like the crunchy Grupera-format Radio Odessa. The 2006 Friday Night Lights film thrust Odessa high school football mania under the spotlight. NewsWest9 was one of the nation’s first HDTV stations. Odessans also created viral meme sensations like Little Sage and the dancing Odessa meteorologist.

Roadways

Odessa’s prime location has made it a transportation hub since its founding as a railroad water stop in 1881. It sits at crossroads of multiple highways, including Interstate 20 connecting Fort Worth to El Paso and Highway 385 reaching down into Big Bend country’s national parks.

The combined urban area of Midland-Odessa sees over 2 million annual airline passengers flying through Midland International Airport and Odessa’s Midland International Air & Space Port business airport. Union Pacific still runs trains through Odessa daily carrying freight and Amtrak passengers. Recent highway upgrades like the Loop 338 beltway and SH 191 facilitate getting oilfield equipment where it needs to go across the Permian Basin.

Major Landmarks

Downtown Odessa centers around the Ector Theater and restored Hotel Ector. Other landmarks include the Odessa Meteor Crater Museum commemorating a prehistoric meteorite impact west of town. Bronze oil worker statues honor Odessa’s workaday energy heritage. Parks range from the kid-friendly Sherwood Park to high-tech Nelson Splash Pad.

The Presidential Museum and Leadership Library at UTPB hosts exhibits on American presidents from Kennedy onwards. Sporting venues include the fierce Ratliff Stadium where the Permian Panthers play Friday night football under the lights. Culinary landmarks run from chicken-fried steaks at the Western Company to stacked enchiladas doused in Tex-Mex red gravy.