Editing Odessa, Texas

{{short description|City in Texas}}
{{about|the city in the U.S. state of Texas|the city in Ukraine that it was named after|Odesa|other uses|Odessa (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Odessa, Texas
| settlement_type    = [[City]]
| image_skyline      = Odessa,_Texas.jpg
| imagesize          = 275px
| image_caption      = Odessa skyline, looking east from TX-302
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = City of Odessa, Texas logo.png
| nickname           = The Jackrabbit-Roping Capital of Texas<ref>{{cite web|url=https://klaq.com/texas-city-nicknames-el-chuco/|title=Texas Cities Nickname|publisher=[[KLAQ]]|access-date=February 16, 2025}}</ref>
| image_map          = Ector County Odessa.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location in [[Texas]]
| pushpin_map        = USA Texas#USA
| pushpin_label      = Odessa
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Texas##Location in the United States
| pushpin_relief     = yes
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Texas|Counties]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_name1  = [[Texas]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Ector County, Texas|Ector]], [[Midland County, Texas|Midland]]
| government_type    = [[Council-manager government|Council-Manager]]
| leader_title       = [[City Council]]
| leader_name        = [[Mayor]] Cal Hendrick <br />Eddie Mitchell  <br />Steven P. Thompson<br />Chris Hanie<br> Gilbert Vasquez <br>Greg Connell<br />
| leader_title2      = [[At-Large]]
| leader_name2       = Craig Stoker
| leader_title1      = [[City Manager]]
| leader_name1       = 
| established_date   = 
| area_total_km2     = 133.02
| area_land_km2      = 132.29
| area_water_km2     = 0.72
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_total_sq_mi   = 51.36
| area_land_sq_mi    = 51.08
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.28
| elevation_m        = 884
| elevation_ft       = 2900
| named_for          = [[Odesa]] ([[Odesa#History|historically also spelled "Odessa"]]), [[Ukraine]]
| coordinates        = {{coord|31|51|48|N|102|21|56|W|region:US-TX_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 114,428
| population_density_km2 = 932.29
| timezone           = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset         = &minus;6
| timezone_DST       = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset_DST     = &minus;5
| website            = {{URL|http://www.odessa-tx.gov/}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code        = 79760–79769
| area_code          = [[Area code 432|432]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 48-53388<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        = 1343067<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| footnotes          = 
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_48.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| population_density_sq_mi = 2414.62
}}

'''Odessa''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|oʊ|'|d|ɛ|s|ə|}}) is a city in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Texas]] and the [[county seat]] of [[Ector County, Texas|Ector County]] with portions extending into [[Midland County, Texas|Midland County]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref>

Odessa's population was 114,428 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]], making it the [[List of municipalities in Texas|34th-largest]] city in [[Texas]]; it is the principal city of the [[Odessa metropolitan area, Texas|Odessa metropolitan statistical area]], which includes all of Ector County. The metropolitan area is also a component of the larger [[Midland–Odessa|Midland–Odessa combined statistical area]], which had a 2020 census population of 359,001.<ref name=PopEstCBSA>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-metro-and-micro-statistical-areas.html#v2022 |title=2020 Population and Housing State Data |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], Population Division |date=January 3, 2024 |access-date=January 4, 2024 |archive-date=June 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629175327/https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-metro-and-micro-statistical-areas.html#v2022 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The city is famous for being featured in the book ''[[Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream]]'', and the movie adaption, ''[[Friday Night Lights (film)|Friday Night Lights]].''

In 1948, Odessa was also the home of [[First Lady of the United States|First Lady]] [[Barbara Bush]], and the onetime home of former [[President of the United States|Presidents]] [[George H. W. Bush]] and [[George W. Bush]]. Former President George H. W. Bush has been quoted as saying "At Odessa we became Texans and proud of it."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oaoa.com/news/local/article_bb1dae68-42a2-11e8-8d8f-97960cd5cb6c.html|title=Odessa home to former presidents, first lady|access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref>

==History==
{{more citations needed|section|date=April 2024}}
Odessa was founded in 1881 as a water stop and cattle-shipping point on the [[Texas 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.<ref name="Handbook">{{Cite web|first1=Bobbie Jean|last1=Klepper|title=ODESSA, TX|website=[[Handbook of Texas Online]]|url=https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hdo01|access-date=26 May 2015|date=15 June 2010|publisher=[[Texas State Historical Association]]}}</ref>

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 of [[oil boom]]s (roughly in the 1930s–1950s, 1970s, and 2010s), often with accompanying contractions during the succeeding busts (particularly in the 1960s and 1980s).<ref name="Handbook" />

=== Etymology ===
Odessa is said to have been named after [[Odesa]], a coastal city in [[Southern Ukraine|Southern]] [[Ukraine]], (historically spelled ''Odessa'')<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stewart |first1=Ashleigh |title=Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8645877/ukraine-correct-pronunciation/ |access-date=9 June 2023 |website=Global News |publisher=Corus Entertainment Inc.}}</ref> because of the local [[shortgrass prairie|shortgrass prairie's]] resemblance to Ukraine's [[steppe]] landscape.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ector County, Texas History |url=http://www.historictexas.net/ector/history/history.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924030404/http://www.historictexas.net/ector/history/history.htm |archive-date=24 September 2015 |access-date=26 May 2015 |website=Historic Texas}}</ref>

==Geography==
Odessa is located along the southwestern edge of the [[Llano Estacado]] in [[West Texas]]. It is situated above the [[Permian Basin (North America)|Permian Basin]], a large sedimentary deposit that contains significant reserves of oil and natural gas.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|44.0|sqmi|km2}}; {{convert|43.9|sqmi|km2}} are land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}}  (0.05%) is covered by water.

===Climate===
Odessa has a [[hot 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Midland Texas Climate Narrative|website=[[National Weather Service]]|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/maf/?n=cli_maf_narrative|access-date=26 May 2015}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Odessa, Texas, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1950–present
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 83
|Feb record high F = 89
|Mar record high F = 99
|Apr record high F = 101
|May record high F = 113
|Jun record high F = 112
|Jul record high F = 110
|Aug record high F = 109
|Sep record high F = 110
|Oct record high F = 102
|Nov record high F = 88
|Dec record high F = 85

|Jan avg record high F = 76.0
|Feb avg record high F = 80.4
|Mar avg record high F = 87.1
|Apr avg record high F = 93.6
|May avg record high F = 100.1
|Jun avg record high F = 104.0
|Jul avg record high F = 101.6
|Aug avg record high F = 101.5
|Sep avg record high F = 97.3
|Oct avg record high F = 91.4
|Nov avg record high F = 81.6
|Dec avg record high F = 74.8
|year avg record high F = 105.6

|Jan high F = 56.9
|Feb high F = 62.0
|Mar high F = 70.8
|Apr high F = 79.3
|May high F = 86.6
|Jun high F = 94.0
|Jul high F = 94.0
|Aug high F = 92.9
|Sep high F = 85.3
|Oct high F = 77.0
|Nov high F = 66.0
|Dec high F = 57.9
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 44.6
|Feb mean F = 49.1
|Mar mean F = 57.4
|Apr mean F = 65.1
|May mean F = 73.8
|Jun mean F = 81.0
|Jul mean F = 82.4
|Aug mean F = 81.4
|Sep mean F = 73.8
|Oct mean F = 65.1
|Nov mean F = 53.7
|Dec mean F = 45.6
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 32.2
|Feb low F = 36.2
|Mar low F = 44.0
|Apr low F = 50.9
|May low F = 61.0
|Jun low F = 68.1
|Jul low F = 70.8
|Aug low F = 69.9
|Sep low F = 62.4
|Oct low F = 53.1
|Nov low F = 41.4
|Dec low F = 33.3
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 19.1
|Feb avg record low F = 22.0
|Mar avg record low F = 29.4
|Apr avg record low F = 37.1
|May avg record low F = 46.1
|Jun avg record low F = 61.4
|Jul avg record low F = 63.8
|Aug avg record low F = 63.6
|Sep avg record low F = 52.9
|Oct avg record low F = 37.6
|Nov avg record low F = 25.8
|Dec avg record low F = 20.7
|year avg record low F = 14.0

|Jan record low F = 2
|Feb record low F = -5
|Mar record low F = 16
|Apr record low F = 22
|May record low F = 31
|Jun record low F = 50
|Jul record low F = 55
|Aug record low F = 53
|Sep record low F = 43
|Oct record low F = 15
|Nov record low F = 11
|Dec record low F = 5

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 0.68
|Feb precipitation inch = 0.54
|Mar precipitation inch = 0.67
|Apr precipitation inch = 0.70
|May precipitation inch = 1.62
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.00
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.47
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.61
|Sep precipitation inch = 1.53
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.27
|Nov precipitation inch = 0.61
|Dec precipitation inch = 0.58
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 3.4
|Feb precipitation days = 3.4
|Mar precipitation days = 3.1
|Apr precipitation days = 2.6
|May precipitation days = 3.7
|Jun precipitation days = 3.9
|Jul precipitation days = 4.3
|Aug precipitation days = 4.1
|Sep precipitation days = 5.4
|Oct precipitation days = 3.8
|Nov precipitation days = 2.9
|Dec precipitation days = 2.8

|Jan snow inch = 0.2
|Feb snow inch = 0.2
|Mar snow inch = 0.0
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.2
|Dec snow inch = 0.3
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.0
|Feb snow days = 0.0
|Mar snow days = 0.0
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.0
|Dec snow days = 0.2

|Jan snow depth inch = 
|Feb snow depth inch = 
|Mar snow depth inch = 
|Apr snow depth inch = 
|May snow depth inch = 
|Jun snow depth inch = 
|Jul snow depth inch = 
|Aug snow depth inch = 
|Sep snow depth inch = 
|Oct snow depth inch = 
|Nov snow depth inch = 
|Dec snow depth inch = 
|year snow depth inch =

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00416502&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Odessa, TX
|access-date = August 29, 2024
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=maf
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Midland
|access-date = August 29, 2024
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1930= 2407
|1940= 9573
|1950= 29495
|1960= 80338
|1970= 78380
|1980= 90027
|1990= 89699
|2000= 90943
|2010= 99940
|2020= 114428
|footnote=U.S. Census Bureau<ref name="QF">{{Cite web|url = http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/4853388.html|title = Odessa city, Texas - QuickFacts|website = [[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date = June 27, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130607095307/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/48/4853388.html|archive-date = June 7, 2013|url-status = dead}}</ref> Texas Almanac<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://texasalmanac.com/texas-towns/odessa|access-date=26 May 2015|website=[[Texas Almanac]]|title= Odessa|date=22 November 2010|publisher=[[Texas State Historical Association]]}}</ref>
}}

[[File:Race and ethnicity 2020 Odessa, TX.png|thumb|Map of racial distribution in Odessa, 2020 U.S. census. Each dot is one person: {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(115, 178, 255)|White}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(159, 212, 0)|Black}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(255, 0, 0)|Asian}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(255, 170, 0)|Hispanic}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(140, 81, 181)|Multiracial}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=rgb(153, 102, 51)|Native American/Other}}]]

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Odessa city, Texas – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''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.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Odessa city, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US4853388&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Odessa city, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US4853388&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Odessa city, Texas |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US4853388&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|46,179
|41,492
|style='background: #ffffe6; |37,390
|50.78%
|41.52%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |32.68%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|5,165
|5,330
|style='background: #ffffe6; |7,007
|5.68%
|5.33%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.12%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|372
|445
|style='background: #ffffe6; |424
|0.41%
|0.45%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.37%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|775
|1,056
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,452
|0.85%
|1.06%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.14%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|22
|92
|style='background: #ffffe6; |258
|0.02%
|0.09%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.23%
|-
|Some Other Race alone (NH)
|24
|52
|style='background: #ffffe6; |357
|0.03%
|0.05%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.31%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|735
|872
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,296
|0.81%
|0.87%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.01%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|37,671
|50,601
|style='background: #ffffe6; |64,244
|41.42%
|50.63%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |56.14%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''90,843'''
|'''99,940'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''114,428'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 114,428 people, 41,942 households, and 28,218 families residing in the city. As of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]],<ref name="GR2" /> 99,940 people, 35,216 households, and 27,412 families resided in the city. The population density was {{convert|2,276.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 43,687 housing units at an average density of {{convert|995.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.

In 2010, the [[Race (United States Census)|racial 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%.<ref name="QF"/> 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.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US4853388&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Tavernise |first1=Sabrina |last2=Gebeloff |first2=Robert |date=2021-08-12 |title=Census Shows Sharply Growing Numbers of Hispanic, Asian and Multiracial Americans |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/12/us/us-census-population-growth-diversity.html |access-date=2022-06-04 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last4=Essig |first1=Alexa |last1=Ura |first2=Jason |last2=Kao |first3=Carla |last3=Astudillo |first4=Chris |date=2021-08-12 |title=People of color make up 95% of Texas' population growth, and cities and suburbs are booming, 2020 census shows |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/08/12/texas-2020-census/ |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

Of the 35,216 households in 2010, <!--Data past this point is from the 2000 Census and potentially vandalized. See 11 Feb 2021 revision of this article for context.--> 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were not families. <!--Of these, 18% were alternative lifestyle households, including a small transgender community.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}} Odessa had the highest per capita rate of non-traditional households in Texas for all municipalities with more than 50,000 residents.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}--> 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. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,096. About 16.0% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 23.9% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over. The 2020 [[American Community Survey|American community Survey]] estimated the median household income increased to $63,829 with a mean income of $82,699.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=Odessa%20city,%20Texas%20median%20income |access-date=2022-06-04 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Prosperity Bank, Odessa, TX DSCN1277.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Prosperity Bank Building is the tallest building in Odessa.]]
[[File:Pumpjacks in Texas.JPG|thumb|Oil Pumpjacks seen in an oil field in [[Penwell, Texas|Penwell]], west of Odessa in 2006. The oil industry has been a huge part of Odessa's economy since the 1920s.]]
[[File:MCM Grand Hotel, Odessa, TX DSCN1213.JPG|200px|right|thumb|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 crude [[price of oil|oil 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.<ref name="Handbook"/>

Odessa has also taken steps to diversify the energy it produces. In 2009, a [[wind farm]] has been constructed in northern Ector County.<ref>{{Cite news| last1= Folsom | first1= Jeff |url= http://www.oaoa.com/news/look-38257-agents-bodytext.html|date= 20 October 2009|title=Extension agents look forward|newspaper = [[Odessa American]]|access-date=26 May 2015}}</ref> Around the same time, a [[coal pollution mitigation]] plant had been announced for a site previously entered in the [[Futuregen]] bidding. The plant will be run by Summit Power and will be located near [[Penwell, Texas|Penwell]].<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://texascleanenergyproject.com/news/Clean+coal+project+could+be+game-changer+for+Texas|title= Clean coal project could be game-changer for Texas|work= Texas Clean Energy Project|access-date= July 13, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100126221939/http://texascleanenergyproject.com/news/Clean+coal+project+could+be+game-changer+for+Texas|archive-date= January 26, 2010|url-status= dead}}</ref> This plant was supposed to lead to the creation of 8,000 jobs in the area.<ref>{{Cite news|last1= Folsom| first1 = Jeff|url= http://www.oaoa.com/news/impact-40849-summit-.html|title=Summit impact |date = 24 December 2009|newspaper=[[Odessa American]]|access-date=26 May 2015}}</ref> Plans were also in place for a small [[nuclear reactor]] called the [[HT3R|High-Temperature Teaching and Test Reactor]] to be run as a test and teaching facility in conjunction with the nuclear engineering department at [[University of Texas of the Permian Basin]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thoriumpower.com/files/Energy%20Daily%20on%20Texas%20Reactor.PDF |title=Advanced reactor plan gets off the ground in Texas |publisher=The Energy Daily |date=23 February 2006 |author=Lobsenz, George |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717051942/http://www.thoriumpower.com/files/Energy%20Daily%20on%20Texas%20Reactor.PDF |archive-date=July 17, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.utpb.edu/research-grants/ht3r/|title=HT3R :: The University of Texas of the Permian Basin|date=January 6, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106013155/http://www.utpb.edu/research-grants/ht3r/ |archive-date=2009-01-06 }}</ref>

Odessa's main enclosed shopping mall, [[Music City Mall (Odessa, Texas)|Music City Mall]], used to include an indoor ice skating rink.

===Largest employers===
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,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.odessa-tx.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1013|title=City of Odessa 2021 CAFR|access-date=February 18, 2023}}</ref> the top employers in the city were:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! Number of<br />employees
|-
| 1
|[[Ector County Independent School District]]
|4,163
|-
|2
|Medical Center Hospital
|1,977
|-
| 3
|[[Halliburton]] 
|1,400
|-
| 4
|NexTier (formerly Keane Group)
|1,142
|-
| 5
|City of Odessa 
|900
|-
| 6
|Saulsbury Companies
|874
|-
| 7
|[[Iasis Healthcare|Odessa Regional Medical Center]]
|800
|-
| 8
|[[Ector County, Texas|Ector County]]
|735
|-
| 9
|[[H-E-B]] 
|721
|-
| 10
|[[University of Texas Permian Basin]]
|619
|-
|}

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Odessa, TX, welcome sign Picture 1824.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Odessa welcome sign along [[Interstate 20]]]]
[[File:Ector night.jpg|thumb|Ector 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.]]
[[File:Abandoned Historic Rio Theater in Odessa, TX DSCN1292.JPG|thumb|200px|right|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.]]

===Performing arts===
The Midland–Odessa Symphony and Chorale (MOSC) was founded in 1962,<ref>{{cite web|title=MOSC History|website=Midland–Odessa Symphony Orchestra|url=http://www.mosc.org/index.php/about-us/history|access-date=26 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526214925/http://www.mosc.org/index.php/about-us/history|archive-date=26 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.

The [[Globe of the Great Southwest]], located on the campus of [[Odessa College]], features a replica of [[William Shakespeare]]'s [[Globe Theatre]]. It hosts plays, and features an annual Shakespeare festival. Other theaters include the Ector Theater, built in 1951, and the Permian Playhouse.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

===Tourism===
[[File:White-Pool House in Odessa, TX Picture 1849.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The [[White-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 the [[National Register of Historic Places]].]]
[[File:Stonehenge at University of Texas at the Permian Basin Picture 1851.jpg|200px|right|thumb|[[Stonehenge replica (Odessa, Texas)|Stonehenge replica]] on campus of the [[University of Texas of the Permian Basin]] in Odessa]]
[[File:Parker Ranch House Museum, Odessa, TX DSCN1231.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Parker 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's [[Presidential Museum and Leadership Library]], on the campus of the [[University of Texas of the Permian Basin]], is dedicated to the office of the Presidency. It also has displays about the presidents of the [[Republic of Texas]].

Texon Santa Fe Depot honors the old west and its railroads.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

The Parker House Museum features the lifestyle of a prominent ranching family in from the early 1900s.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

[[Odessa Meteor Crater]], an impact crater {{convert|550|ft|m}} in diameter, is located southwest of the city.

Odessa has 31 jackrabbits statues, as part of an art project launched in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/odessas-jackrabbit-jamboree/|title=Odessa's Jackrabbit Jamboree|date=February 7, 2016}}</ref>

===Libraries===
[[File:Ector County Library in Odessa, TX Picture 1830.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Ector County, Texas|Ector County]] Library in downtown Odessa]]
*Ector County Library
*Murry H. Fly Learning Resource Center
*The J. Conrad Dunagan Library

==Sports==
The [[Odessa Jackalopes]], a Tier ll junior [[ice hockey]] team plays its home games at [[Ector County Coliseum]], which was also home to the [[Indoor Football League]]’s  [[West Texas Roughnecks|Odessa/West Texas Roughnecks]], and the [[West Texas Wildcatters]] of the [[Lone Star Football League]] and currently home  to the [[West Texas Desert Hawks]] indoor football team and member of the National Arena League. High-school football is held at [[Ratliff Stadium]], which was featured in the movie ''[[Friday Night Lights (film)|Friday Night Lights]].'' It is home to the [[Odessa High School (Texas)|Odessa Bronchos]] and the [[Permian High School|Permian Panthers]]. It is one of the largest high-school stadiums in the state, listed as seventh in capacity within Texas.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Stadiums with Capacity Greater Than 16,500|website=Texas Football Stadium Database|url=http://www.texasbob.com/stadium/cap_index.php#.UZfJR8qAZ48|access-date=26 May 2015}}</ref>

==Government==
===Local government===
Odessa has a [[council–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 the [[city manager]], and sets the city's budget, taxes, and other policies.<ref>{{Cite web|title=CITY COUNCIL|website=City of Odessa|url=http://www.odessa-tx.gov/index.aspx?page=44|access-date=26 May 2015}}</ref>

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 as [[public utilities]]), [[sales tax]]es, and [[property tax]]es, and its major expenses were for public safety and for water and sewer service.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Popular Annual Financial Report For Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2014|website=City of Odessa|url=https://www.odessa-tx.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=2422|access-date=26 May 2015}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Incorporated Cities |url=https://sanctuarycitiesfortheunborn.org/incorporated-cities |website=Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn |access-date=December 18, 2022}}</ref> The new city ordinance makes a person civilly liable if any person aids, abets, or assists anybody in an abortion operation.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Kin |title=Council votes to raise first responder pay |url=https://www.oaoa.com/local-news/council-votes-to-raise-first-responder-pay/ |access-date=December 18, 2022 |work=Odessa American}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-24 |title=West Texas city bans transgender people from using restrooms that don’t match sex assigned at birth |url=https://apnews.com/us-news/texas-government-programs-lgbtq-general-news-fc1fb0ef003010fa961e64663a57b11d |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ramos |first=Carlos Nogueras |date=2024-10-23 |title=Odessa bans transgender people from using restrooms that don’t match sex assigned at birth |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/23/odessa-texas-transgender-bathroom-ban/ |access-date=2024-10-26 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |title=City that placed $10,000 bounty on trans people who use public restrooms makes law even worse |url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/11/city-that-placed-10000-bounty-on-trans-people-who-use-public-restrooms-makes-law-even-worse/ |work=LGBTQ Nation}}</ref>

===State and federal facilities===
The [[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]] operates the Odessa District Parole Office in Odessa.<ref>"[http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/parole/parole-directory/paroledir-rgnldisparoff5.htm DIRECTORY - REGIONAL AND DISTRICT PAROLE OFFICES REGION V] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926122729/http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/parole/parole-directory/paroledir-rgnldisparoff5.htm |date=September 26, 2011 }}." [[Texas Department of Criminal Justice]]. Retrieved on July 28, 2010.</ref>

The [[United States Postal Service]] operates three post offices in Odessa: Odessa,<ref>"[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/odessa-200-n-texas-ave-odessa-tx-1375905 Post Office Location - ODESSA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621055854/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/odessa-200-n-texas-ave-odessa-tx-1375905 |date=2010-06-21 }}." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on July 28, 2010.</ref> Northeast Odessa,<ref>"[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/northeast-odessa-4551-e-52nd-st-odessa-tx-1375507 Post Office Location - NORTHEAST ODESSA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619065144/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/northeast-odessa-4551-e-52nd-st-odessa-tx-1375507 |date=2010-06-19 }}." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on July 28, 2010.</ref> and West Odessa.<ref>"[http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/west-odessa-5200-w-university-blvd-odessa-tx-1387124 Post Office Location - WEST ODESSA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117181048/http://usps.whitepages.com/service/post_office/west-odessa-5200-w-university-blvd-odessa-tx-1387124 |date=2010-11-17 }}." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on July 28, 2010.</ref>

==Education==
===Universities and colleges===
====University of Texas Permian Basin====
The [[University 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. <!-- what institute? The institute provides seminars, training, and research on public leadership all over Texas, and offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Leadership Studies. The Institute is well regarded for its Shepperd Distinguished Lecture Series, which has brought a variety of internationally recognized individuals, such as Mikhail Gorbachev, Robert McNamara, Ralph Nader, William F. Buckley, Jr., and most recently Malcolm Gladwell, to discuss salient political and social topics.--> 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.

====Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center====
The [[Texas 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.

====Community colleges====
[[File:Odessa College sign IMG 0325.JPG|200px|right|thumb|<span style="font-size:100%;">Entrance sign at [[Odessa College]]</span>]]
[[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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.odessa.edu/community|title=Odessa College - Community Home|first1=Odessa|last1=College|website=www.odessa.edu}}</ref>

Odessa College serves most of Midland, as in the parts in Ector County. Parts in Midland County are assigned to [[Midland College]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.130.htm|title=EDUCATION CODE CHAPTER 130. JUNIOR COLLEGE DISTRICTS|website=statutes.capitol.texas.gov}}</ref>

===Primary and secondary schools===
The [[Ector County Independent School District]] serves portions of Odessa in Ector County (the vast majority of the city).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48135_ector/DC20SD_C48135.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Ector County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2022-04-25}}</ref> 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 (Texas)|Odessa High School]], George H. W. Bush New Tech Odessa, OC Techs at Odessa College and Odessa Collegiate Academy, also at Odessa College.

The portion of Odessa in Midland County is zoned to the [[Midland Independent School District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st48_tx/schooldistrict_maps/c48329_midland/DC20SD_C48329.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Midland County, TX|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2022-04-25}}</ref>

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 the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of San Angelo]])<!--From https://sanangelodiocese.org/st-marys-central-catholic-school-of-odessa-->, 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.

==Media==
{{see also|List of newspapers in Texas|List of radio stations in Texas|List of television stations in Texas}}
The city's main daily [[broadsheet]] newspaper is the ''[[Odessa American]]''. A total of 124 listed radio stations broadcast in [[West Texas]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Texas Music Industry Directory - Radio Stations in West Texas {{!}} Texas Music Office {{!}} Office of the Texas Governor {{!}} Greg Abbott |url=https://gov.texas.gov/Apps/Music/Directory/radio-station/All/region/west/p5 |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=gov.texas.gov}}</ref> which includes Midland/Odessa, Abilene, San Angelo and Alpine. Most notable broadcasts in Odessa are '''[[KFZX]]''' Classic Rock (102.1 [[FM broadcasting|FM]]), [[KMRK-FM|'''KMRK''']] My Country (96.1 FM) and [[KXWT]] Marfa Public Radio (91.3 FM).

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
====Air and space====
Odessa is primarily served by [[Midland International Air and Space Port]] ([[IATA airport code|IATA]]: '''MAF''', [[ICAO airport code|ICAO]]: '''KMAF''') which served 47,088 passengers in February 2023.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=City: Passenger count at airport tops 53,000 in February |url=https://www.midlandtexas.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1406 |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=Midland, TX |language=en}}</ref> It is located in [[Midland County, Texas|Midland County]], within the city limits of the City of Midland but halfway between Downtown Midland and Downtown Odessa.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zoning Map |url=http://www.midlandtexas.gov/DocumentCenter/View/294/Zoning-Map |access-date=2019-05-12 |publisher=City of Midland}}</ref> An alternative airport is [[Odessa-Schlemeyer Field]] ([[IATA airport code|IATA]]: '''ODO''', [[ICAO airport code|ICAO]]: '''KODO'''), which is located within the city limits of Odessa, being only 5 miles northeast and 10 miles west from MAF. The [[Federal Aviation Administration]] categories the field as a [[general aviation]] airport.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airport Data and Information Portal |url=https://adip.faa.gov/agis/public/#/airportData/ODO |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=adip.faa.gov}}</ref>

Midland International Air and Space Port is being served by [[Southwest Airlines]] (25,131 passengers as of March 12, 2024), [[United Airlines]] (14,780), [[American Airlines]] (13,886); inclusive of their subsidiaries, such as [[American Eagle (airline brand)|American Eagle]].<ref name=":0" /> Midland Spaceport is currently not being served by any commercial space companies, although the Texas Chapter of the [[Space Force Association]] is believed to start operations in the future.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-04 |title=Midland spaceport development continues to rise with addition of space force partner |url=https://www.newswest9.com/article/tech/science/aerospace/midland-spaceport-development-continues-to-rise-with-addition-of-space-force-partner/513-ba984f58-67c8-4d7c-a4fb-6cd5448d7b84 |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=newswest9.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

====Roads====
* {{jct|state=TX|I|20|name1=Interstate 20}}
* {{jct|state=TX|BL|20|name1=2nd Street}}
* {{jct|state=TX|US|385|name1=Andrews Highway / Grant Avenue}}
* {{jct|state=TX|TX|191|name1=42nd Street}}
* {{jct|state=TX|Spur|450|name1=Kermit Highway}}
* {{jct|state=TX|Spur|588|name1=Faudree Road}}
* {{jct|state=TX|Loop|338|name1=}}
* {{jct|state=TX|FM|1882|name1=County Road West}}
* {{jct|state=TX|FM|2020|name1=University Boulevard}}

==Notable people==
{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* [[Tommy Allsup]], musician
* [[Karan Ashley]], actress
* [[Raymond Benson]], author
* [[Bonner Bolton]], bull rider, model 
* [[Jim J. Bullock]], actor
* [[Lucius Desha Bunton III]], United States federal judge<ref>{{cite news | last1 = Patoski | first1 = Joe Nick | date = September 1997 | title = Law, Lucius D. Bunton III | url = https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/law-%e2%80%a2-lucius-d-bunton-iii/ | work = Texas Monthly}}</ref>
* [[Marcus Cannon]], professional football player
* [[Chuck Dicus]], player in [[College Football Hall of Fame]]
* [[Hayden Fry]], college football coach
* [[Dave Gibson (American songwriter)|Dave Gibson]], country music singer-songwriter, frontman of award-winning group [[Gibson/Miller Band]].
* [[Ronald D. Godard]], ambassador 
* [[Britt Hager|Britt Harley Hager]], professional football player
* [[Daniel Ray Herrera]], professional baseball pitcher
* [[Mike Holloway (Survivor contestant)|Mike Holloway]], winner of ''[[Survivor: Worlds Apart]]''
* [[Daryl Hunt]], professional football player
* [[Virgil Johnson (singer)|Virgil Johnson]], founder of [[The Velvets]] singing group
* [[Chris Kyle]], former [[United States Navy SEALs|U.S. Navy SEAL]]
* [[Brooks Landgraf]], attorney and member of the Texas House of Representatives from District 81
* [[Blair Late]], singer and actor
* [[Trey Lunsford]], former catcher for the [[San Francisco Giants]]
* [[Bradley Marquez]], former NFL wide receiver
* [[Nolan McCarty]], Chair Department of Politics, Princeton University
* [[Bryan Mealer]], journalist and author
* [[Chris McGaha]], NHRA Pro Stock racer
* [[Gene Mayfield]], college and high-school football coach
* [[Bill Myrick]], country music singer
* [[Bill Noël]], oil industrialist and philanthropist
* [[Roy Orbison]], singer-songwriter <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.houstonpress.com/music/lonesome-onry-and-mean-roy-orbison-and-odessa-6522782|title =Lonesome Onry and Mean: Roy Orbison and Odessa |date =23 October 2008 | publisher= Houston Press.com|access-date= October 23, 2008}}</ref>
* [[Robert Rummel-Hudson]], author
* [[Kelly Schmedes]], professional soccer player
* [[Wally Scott]], famed glider pilot 
* [[Kim Smith (model)|Kim Smith]], model and actress
* [[Toby Stevenson (athlete)|Toby Stevenson]], Olympic pole vaulter
* [[Stephnie Weir]], actress and comedian
* [[Elizabeth Wetmore (novelist)|Elizabeth Wetmore]], novelist
* [[Roy Williams (wide receiver)|Roy Williams]], professional football player <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WillRo04.htm/|title =Roy E. Williams| publisher= Pro-Football-Reference.Com|access-date= December 10, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Alfred Mac Wilson]], [[United States Marine Corps]] [[Medal of Honor]] recipient
* [[Marvin Rex Young]], [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] Medal of Honor recipient <ref>{{cite web|url=http://virtualwall.org/dy/YoungMR02a.htm/|title=Marvin R. Young|publisher=thevirtualwall.org|access-date=June 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309080944/http://www.virtualwall.org/dy/YoungMR02a.htm|archive-date=March 9, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==In popular culture==
* The book ''[[Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream]]'', by author [[H. G. Bissinger]], and the subsequent movie (''[[Friday Night Lights (film)|Friday Night Lights]]''), are based on the 1988 football season of Permian High School, one of the two high school football teams in Odessa.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Merron |first1=Jeff |title=The Reel Life |work=Page 3 |publisher=ESPN.com |url=http://proxy.espn.go.com/espn/page3/story?page=reel/fnl/041006 |access-date=2 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071223194512/http://proxy.espn.go.com/espn/page3/story?page=reel/fnl/041006 |archive-date=23 December 2007 }}</ref>
* ''[[Making News: Texas Style]]'', a reality series on the [[Pop (American TV channel)|TV Guide Channel]], followed the reporters of the local [[CBS]] affiliate, [[KOSA-TV]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0990401/ |title="Making News: Texas Style" (2007) |date=11 June 2007 |publisher=IMDb |access-date=2010-07-02 }}</ref>
* A portion of the [[Tommy Lee Jones]] [[film]] ''[[The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada]]'' was filmed in Odessa.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0419294/locations |title=The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005) - Filming locations |publisher=IMDb |access-date=2010-07-02 }}</ref>
* The [[truTV]] reality show ''[[Black Gold (TV series)|Black Gold]]'' is based on three oil wells outside of Odessa, as well as some locations in Odessa, such as the local [[Hooters]] restaurant.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trutv.com/shows/black_gold/oil/facts.html |title=Black Gold: Going Deeper: Facts and Stats |publisher=trutv.com |access-date=2010-07-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414151235/http://www.trutv.com/shows/black_gold/oil/facts.html |archive-date=April 14, 2011 }}</ref>
*The [[Part 18 (Twin Peaks)|final episode]] of the [[Twin Peaks (season 3)|third season of ''Twin Peaks'']] included scenes which take place in Odessa.
*Author [[Raymond Benson]] set portions of his novels ''[[The Black Stiletto]]'' and ''[[The Black Stiletto: Endings & Beginnings]]'' in Odessa. Several of his other novels and short stories use Odessa as a location but it is fictionalized as a town called "Limite, Texas."
*Episodes of the [[Legends of Tomorrow (season 6)|sixth]] and [[Legends of Tomorrow (season 7)|seventh seasons]] of ''[[Legends of Tomorrow]]'' took place in Odessa.
* 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/no-country-for-old-men/section2/ |title=No Country for Old Men  |publisher=Sparknotes.com}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Odessa Flight Strip]] 
*[[Midland–Odessa shootings]]
{{Portal bar|Texas}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{notelist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Odessa, Texas}}
{{wikivoyage|Odessa (Texas)|Odessa, Texas}}
* {{Official website|http://www.odessa-tx.gov/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20131011024043/http://www.odessacvb.com/index.cfm Odessa Convention and Visitors Bureau]

{{Odessa, Texas}}
{{Ector County, Texas}}
{{Midland County, Texas}}
{{Texas}}
{{Texas county seats}}

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[[Category:Odessa, Texas| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Ector County, Texas]]
[[Category:Cities in Midland County, Texas]]
[[Category:County seats in Texas]]
[[Category:1881 establishments in Texas]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1881]]
[[Category:Cities in Midland–Odessa]]