Editing Odessa, Missouri

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name            = Odessa, Missouri
| settlement_type          = [[City]]
| nickname                 = 
| motto                    = 
<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline            = Odessa, MO (43155781795).jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = Odessa, Missouri in 2018
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps -->
| image_map                = Lafayette_County_Missouri_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Odessa_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 250px
| map_caption              = Location of Odessa, Missouri
| image_map1               = 
| mapsize1                 = 
| map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Missouri]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Missouri|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Lafayette County, Missouri|Lafayette]]
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = 
| leader_title             = 
| leader_name              = 
| leader_title1            = 
| leader_name1             = 
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = 
<!-- Area -->
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="TigerWebMapServer">{{cite web|title=ArcGIS REST Services Directory|url=https://tigerweb.geo.census.gov/arcgis/rest/services/TIGERweb/Places_CouSub_ConCity_SubMCD/MapServer|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=August 28, 2022}}</ref>
| area_magnitude           = 
| area_total_km2           = 10.69
| area_land_km2            = 10.61
| area_water_km2           = 0.09
| area_total_sq_mi         = 4.13
| area_land_sq_mi          = 4.10
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.03

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 5593
| population_density_km2   = 527.17
| population_density_sq_mi = 1365.48

<!-- General information -->
| timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
| utc_offset               = -6
| timezone_DST             = CDT
| utc_offset_DST           = -5
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 978
| coordinates              = {{coord|38|59|56|N|93|58|00|W|region:US-MO|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code              = 64076
| area_code                = [[Area code 816|816]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 29-54038<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2395299<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2395299}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|www.cityofodessamo.com}}
| footnotes                = 
| pop_est_as_of            = 
| pop_est_footnotes        = 
| population_est           = 
}}
[[File:ODESSA ICE CREAM COMPANY BUILDING, LAFAYETTE COUNTY, MO.JPG|thumb|The Odessa Ice Cream Company Building was added to the registry of historic places.]]

'''Odessa''' is the largest city in [[Lafayette County, Missouri|Lafayette County]], [[Missouri]], and part of the [[Kansas City metropolitan area]] within the [[Midwestern United States|Midwestern]] United States. The population was 5,593<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Odessa city, Missouri; Lafayette County, Missouri|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/odessacitymissouri,lafayettecountymissouri/PST045221|access-date=2022-02-11|website=www.census.gov|language=en}}</ref> at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]. Located along [[Interstate 70]] Odessa's historic downtown is home to a range of boutique shops and restaurants. The city is host to the annual Puddle Jumper Days town fair,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Odessa Puddle Jumper Days|url=https://www.odessapuddlejumperdays.com/|access-date=2022-02-11|website=www.odessapuddlejumperdays.com|language=en-US}}</ref> the Odessa Rodeo,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.odessamochamber.com/rodeo|access-date=2022-02-11|website=www.odessamochamber.com|title=Rodeo }}</ref> a Christmas lighting ceremony<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lighting Ceremony|url=https://www.odessamochamber.com/lighting-ceremony|access-date=2022-02-11|website=Odessa MO Chamber|language=en}}</ref> and various other community events held throughout the year.

==History==
Odessa was [[plat]]ted in 1878, and named after [[Odesa]], [[Ukraine]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ | title=How Missouri Counties, Towns and Streams Were Named | publisher=The State Historical Society of Missouri | author=Eaton, David Wolfe | year=1916 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_RfAuAAAAYAAJ/page/n80 183]}}</ref> A post office called Odessa has been in operation since 1879.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=MO&county=Lafayette | title=Post Offices| publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | access-date=25 October 2016}}</ref>

The [[Odessa Ice Cream Company Building]] was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1996.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|4.13|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|4.10|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.03|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2012-07-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=January 12, 2012 }}</ref>

Odessa is located roughly 45 minutes from downtown [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]] and approximately three hours from [[St. Louis]].

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 100
|1890= 1272
|1900= 1445
|1910= 1531
|1920= 1786
|1930= 1861
|1940= 1881
|1950= 1969
|1960= 2034
|1970= 2839
|1980= 3088
|1990= 3695
|2000= 4818
|2010= 5300
|2020= 5593
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-07-08}}</ref> of 2010, there were 5,300 people, 2,077 households, and 1,427 families living in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1292.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 2,280 housing units at an average density of {{convert|556.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.8% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.4% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.4% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.3% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 2.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 2,077 households, of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.3% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.00.

The median age in the city was 35.2 years. 27% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.6% were from 25 to 44; 22.8% were from 45 to 64; and 14.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 4,818 people, 1,887 households, and 1,290 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,381.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,011 housing units at an average density of {{convert|576.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 97.09% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.18% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.27% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.10% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.33% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.98% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.73% of the population.

There were 1,887 households, out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city the population was spread out, with 28.2% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,007, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $35,476 versus $23,047 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $17,455. About 8.4% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Odessa R-7 School District operates two elementary schools, one middle school and Odessa High School.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.greatschools.org/missouri/odessa/odessa-r_vii-school-district/schools/ | title=Odessa R-Vii School District | publisher=Greatschools | access-date=25 March 2018}}</ref>

Odessa has a [[public library]], a branch of the Trails Regional Library.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://trailslibrary.org/locations | title=Locations | publisher=Trails Regional Library | access-date=25 March 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325232917/http://trailslibrary.org/locations | archive-date=25 March 2018 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Sports==
[[I-70 Motorsports Park]] is a motorsports venue that opened in 1969 with a half-mile paved oval. It was shut down in 2008, then reopened in 2021 with a 3/8 dirt oval and a quarter-mile dragstrip.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

The Odessa R-VII Bulldog Football Team was the 1994 and 2019 [[List of Missouri state high school football champions|Missouri State High School Athletic Association Class 3 State Champions]].{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

== Parks and recreation ==
Dyer Park is one of the oldest parks in Odessa and is the most developed and heavily used parks in the city. Facilities include a community building, swimming pool, pavilion, picnic shelter, outdoor basketball and tennis courts, baseball and softball fields, a rodeo arena, and two playground areas.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Odessa Parks and Recreation Department: Facility Details|url=https://odessamo.myrec.com/info/facilities/details.aspx?FacilityID=14697|access-date=2022-02-11|website=odessamo.myrec.com}}</ref>

Lake Venita, located in Dyer Park, offers outstanding fishing, dock and a half mile paved walking trail.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Odessa (Lake Venita)|url=https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/odessa-lake-venita|access-date=2022-02-11|website=Missouri Department of Conservation|language=en}}</ref>

The 90 acre Odessa City Lake southwest of Odessa offers fishing and waterfowl hunting. It is managed under a cooperative agreement between the Missouri Department of Conservation and the City of Odessa. The site includes a privy, boat ramp and dock, a pavilion and picnic areas.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Odessa City Lake|url=https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places/odessa-city-lake|access-date=2022-02-11|website=Missouri Department of Conservation|language=en}}</ref>

==Government==
The City of Odessa is governed by a mayor and six-member board of aldermen. The current mayor is Bryan Barner.

The city is divided into three wards. Two aldermen are elected in each ward, with terms alternating so that one alderman in each ward is elected each year in April. The mayor is elected in even years and serves a 2-year term.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Official Website of the City of Odessa, Missouri - Mayor and Board of Aldermen|url=https://www.cityofodessamo.com/MayorandBoardofAldermen|access-date=2022-02-11|website=www.cityofodessamo.com}}</ref> Odessa is incorporated as a fourth-class municipality.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Missouri Register 2022 Issues|url=https://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/moreg/moreg/2022|access-date=2022-02-11|website=www.sos.mo.gov}}</ref>

== Media ==
Odessa has been served by a [[List of newspapers in Missouri|newspaper]] since 1880. In 1942 the ''Odessa Democrat''<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Odessa Democrat (Odessa, Mo.) 1881-1942|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/sn90061411/|access-date=2022-02-11|website=Library of Congress}}</ref> merged with ''The Ledger''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Missouri Ledger (Odessa, Mo.) 1891-1942|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/sn90061412/|access-date=2022-02-11|website=Library of Congress}}</ref> creating ''The Odessan''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Odessan (Odessa, Lafayette County, Mo.) 1942-Current|url=https://www.loc.gov/item/sn90061413/|access-date=2022-02-11|website=Library of Congress}}</ref>

As Lafayette County's largest newspaper ''The Odessan''<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Odessan {{!}} Focus on Oak Grove (Original)|url=https://theodessan.net/|access-date=2022-02-11|website=theodessan.net}}</ref> is published weekly providing local coverage of news and sports in the communities of Odessa, [[Bates City, Missouri|Bates City]], [[Mayview, Missouri|Mayview]], [[Wellington, Missouri|Wellington]], [[Napoleon, Missouri|Napoleon]] and [[Lafayette County, Missouri|Lafayette County]].  The newspaper is an independent, fourth-generation, family-owned publication.

==Notable people==
* [[Brenna Dowell]], gymnast who was a world champion in 2015
* [[Tonya Evinger]], [[mixed martial artist]]; born in Odessa on June 4, 1981
* [[Jim Fitterling]], chairman and CEO and of Dow, Inc., graduated Odessa High School 1979
* [[Terin Humphrey]], medal-winning Olympic gymnast; graduate of Odessa High School
* [[James Krause (fighter)|James Krause]], professional mixed martial artist
* [[H. Owen Reed]], composer; born in Odessa on June 17, 1910
* [[Joe C. Specker]], [[United States Army|Army]] sergeant and (posthumous) [[Medal of Honor]] recipient in [[World War II]]
* [[Brad Ziegler]], Major League Baseball pitcher, attended Odessa High School

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [http://cityofodessamo.com/ Official website]
* {{cite journal
| first =Albert  
| last =Parry
|date=Spring 1944 
| title =US towns named Odessa
| journal =Russian Review
| volume =3
| issue =2
| pages =36–40
| doi = 10.2307/125407
| url =http://www.2odessa.com/wiki/index.php?title=US_towns_named_Odessa
| jstor =125407
}} 
* Historic maps of Odessa in the [http://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/mu/islandora/object/mu%3A138916 Sanborn Maps of Missouri Collection] at the [[University of Missouri]]

{{Lafayette County, Missouri}}
{{Kansas City MSA}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Lafayette County, Missouri]]
[[Category:Cities in Missouri]]