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| City of Odessa | |||
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| Nickname(s): City of Contrasts | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | United States | ||
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| State | Texas | ||
| Counties | Ector, Midland | ||
| Government | |||
| - Mayor | Larry Melton | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 36.9 sq mi (95.5 km²) | ||
| - Land | 36.8 sq mi (95.3 km²) | ||
| - Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km²) | ||
| Elevation | 2,900 ft (884 m) | ||
| Population (2000) | |||
| - Total | 98,000 (city proper) | ||
| - Density | 2,471.4/sq mi (954.2/km²) | ||
| Time zone | CST (UTC-6) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) | ||
| Area code(s) | 432 | ||
| FIPS code | 48-533881 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 13430672 | ||
| Website: http://www.odessa-tx.gov/ | |||
Odessa is a city in Ector and Midland Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. It is located primarily in Ector County, of which it is the county seat.3 Odessa's population was 90,943 at the 2000 Census, with a 2005 census population estimated projection of 93,546. It is the principal city of the Odessa, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Ector County. The metropolitan area is also a component of the larger Midland–Odessa, Texas Combined Statistical Area, which had a population 255,978 as of the July 1, 2007 estimate.4 The city was named after the city of Odessa in Ukraine. In 2008 Odessa's population rose to about 98,000 (city proper) and a total of about 130,000 with combined West Odessa.
Contents |
Geography
Odessa is located at (31.863294, -102.365490)5.
Culture
Performing Arts
The Midland-Odessa Symphony & Chorale (MOSC) has performed in the Permian Basin for over 45 years, and is the region's largest orchestral organization, presenting both Pops and Masterworks concerts throughout the year. Composed of professional musicians from the area as well as Lubbock, San Angelo and other surrounding cities, the MOSC also is home to three resident chamber ensembles, the Lone Star Brass, Permian Basin String Quartet and West Texas Winds. These ensembles are made up of principal musicians in the orchestra, who come to the area from across the United States.
The Globe of the Great Southwest, located on the campus of Odessa College, the community college in Odessa, features an authentic replica of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. It hosts plays throughout the year as well as an annual Shakespeare festival.
Tourism
Odessa's Presidential Museum and Leadership Library on the campus of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin is the only facility of its kind in the United States -- dedicated to the office of the Presidency, not just a single president. There are also displays about the Presidents of the Republic of Texas. The museum was pushed to fruition by the late State Representative George "Buddy" West of Odessa.
Odessa Meteor Crater, an impact crater with 550 feet in diameter, is located southwest of the city.
Sports
The Ector County Coliseum in Odessa features events as diverse as Indoor football as played by the Intense Football League's Odessa Roughnecks, ice hockey with the Central Hockey League's Odessa Jackalopes, and rodeo every year in the form of the Sandhills Stock Show and Rodeo. High school football is also a hit in this city; Ratliff Stadium which was featured in the movie Friday Night Lights is home to the Odessa Bronchos and the Permian Panthers. It is one of the largest and finest high school stadiums in the state
Media
Odessa has ten local television stations: KMID-2, an ABC affiliate; KOSA-7, a CBS affiliate and a MyNetwork TV affiliate on its digital cable station; KWES-TV-9, an NBC affiliate; KUPB-18, a Univision affiliate; KPEJ-24, a FOX affiliate; KWWT-30, a CW affiliate; KPBT-36, a PBS affiliate; KTLE-LP, a Telemundo affiliate; and K69IT, a Multimedios Television affiliate. It also has one local religious television station: KMLM, a God's Learning Channel affiliate that is a worldwide institution offering pro-Israel programming.
Local radio stations include KOCV-FM, broadcasting National Public Radio news and talk mixed with locally-produced music content at a frequency of 91.3 MHz. Country, classic rock, oldies, and pop stations are also available.
The Odessa American is the local newspaper. It is a Freedom Communications publication.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 95.5 km² (36.9 sq mi). 36.8 square miles (95.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.19%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census1 of 2000, there were 90,943 people, 33,661 households, and 23,697 families residing in the city. in 2006, the population increased to near 97,000 The population density was 2,471.4 people per square mile (954.2/km²). There were 37,966 housing units at an average density of 1,031.7/sq mi (398.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 44.43% White, 6.88% African American, 0.77% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 16.07% from other races, and 2.93% from two or more races. 48.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 33,661 households out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 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 age distribution is 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 52 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.
Odessa is also home to a thriving Hmong Population. The Hmong are tribe that can be found in Northern Thailand, and Southern China. Currently over 700 Hmong live in Odessa, composing almost 1% of the total population. Per capita Odessa is home to the most Hmong for any town which has more than 50,000 residents.
The median income for a household in the city was $24000 and the median income for a family was $27869. Males had a median income of $50,000 versus $19,000 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 0.9% of those under age 18 and 000.1% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The Ector County Independent School District was established in 1921, a consolidation of then seven schools. A new Odessa High School opened in 1929 at 10th and Sam Houston and operated at that site until 1947, when it was converted to the Odessa Junior High School campus, which continued there until 1982. The district now contains thirty-five campuses.
Odessa is home to Permian High School (mascot: Panther, nickname: MOJO), the school whose 1988 football team was featured in the book and film Friday Night Lights, and Odessa High School (mascot: Broncho). The two are the only high schools in the Ector County Independent School District. The Ector County Career Center is also an alternative to the two High schools in the city and is affiliated with ECISD. The private high schoool, the Richard Milburn Academy (mascot: Bulldogs), was founded in 2003 and is free to the public though not affiliated with ECISD. The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and Odessa College are all located in Odessa.
Economy
Though the economy is primarily driven by the area's oil industry, new economic steps are currently being taken to ensure the city's existence after oil is no longer abundant in the area. Odessa is also a stop on—and a supporter of—the La Entrada al Pacifico trade corridor. In 2003 Family Dollar Corporation opened its 8th distribution center in Odessa's new industrial business park. Telvista, an inbound customer service call center, opened its doors in 2004 in its own new building in the industrial park. Coca Cola built a new distribution center in Odessa in early 2007. Growth in construction of new retail in the city's Northeast side has increased in recent years, with 3 new shopping centers currently planned and 1 in the construction phase. Many hotels have also been planned with some in the completion phase. In November 2007, the city approved a contract with a company that develops armaments for U.S. Army helicopters to begin operations in Odessa.
The Ector County Coliseum is host to the Permian Basin International Oil Show on every even numbered year. The Permian Basin International Oil Show, one of the largest expositions of its kind, showcases the latest technology in the petroleum industry and also honors the industry’s past. Attendees to the Oil Show hail from various parts of the United States and various foreign countries. The Oil Show is for executives and workers in various phases of the petroleum industry and is not open to the public. For the 2008 oil show an attendance exceeding 50,000 guests walked thru the door despite the sluggish economy. A new venue has also been discussed which would make it the new home for the Odessa Jackalopes
Rabbit as Symbol
Beginning in 1932, Odessa held a rodeo with a contest for roping jack rabbits, the symbol of the city. In one competition, cowgirl Grace Hendricks roped a rabbit from horseback in five seconds and beat her male competitors. The rodeo ended in the late 1970s because of objections from the Humane Society.
Transportation
By Air
- Odessa is served by Midland International Airport, which is in Midland, Texas, United States.
- Odessa's Regional airport Schlemeyer Field, also used for more general aviation, is located on Odessa's Northeast side. Plans are currently under way to extend the runway for bigger aircraft.
Midland/Odessa International Airport is served by:
- American Airlines operated by American Eagle
- Southwest Airlines
- Continental Airlines operated by Continental Express
- New Mexico Airlines
By Car
People from Odessa
- Odessa was the one-year home of U.S. Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.
- Odessa was once home to Stephnie Weir of MADtv fame, as well as her character Gail Cinder from the "The Lillian Verner Game Show".
- Odessa was once the home of author Raymond Benson, most notable for his continuation of the James Bond thrillers.
- Odessa is the hometown of former Texas Longhorn and current Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams and former Oklahoma Sooners and Houston Oilers Daryl Hunt.
- Odessa is the hometown of former SMU and University of Iowa football coach Hayden Fry.
- Country singer Larry Gatlin grew up in Odessa.
- Odessa was the home and burial site two Medal of Honors recipients from the Vietnam War: SSG Marvin Rex Young, U.S. Army, and Cpl. Alfred Mac Wilson, United States Marine Corps.
- J. L. "Dusty" Rhoades (1899-1978) was an Odessa civic leader, land developer, and rancher who was twice president of the American Quarter Horse Association and a posthumous inductee into the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame.
- The African American singing group The Velvets was formed by Virgil Johnson in Odessa in 1959. At the time Johnson was an eighth grade English teacher who recruited four of his students into his singing group, a forerunner to the doo wop form of music.
- George E. "Buddy" West, a Republican businessman, represented Odessa in the Texas House of Representatives from 1993 until his death in 2008.
- Chancy Croft, Alaska politician.
- John Ben Shepperd, (1915-1990), a former Texas Attorney General.
In popular culture
- Odessa is the hometown of NBC drama Heroes characters Claire Bennet, her adoptive father Noah Bennet, and his employer Primatech Paper. The series is, however, filmed entirely in California (according to the Internet Movie Database). The shots in the pilot episode show Odessa to be in a mountainous region but the closest mountain range is the Davis Mountain range in far West Texas.
- The book Friday Night Lights and subsequent movie are based on the true struggles of the Permian Panthers, one of the two high school football teams in Odessa. Many of the characters mentioned in the book still reside in Odessa (as of January 2007). A TV show, also by the name Friday Night Lights, is currently running on NBC. It is loosely based on the book and movie but takes place in the fictional town of Dillon, Texas.
- A reality series on the TV Guide Channel followed the reporters of the local CBS affiliate, KOSA-TV. The show was titled Making News: Texas Style. The program states that the affiliate is based in nearby Midland, Texas though the main bureau is in Odessa. The second season of Making News is being filmed in Savannah, Georgia.
- Odessa is featured in the 2005 novel No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy, which was made into an Oscar award-winning movie of the same name by the Coen Brothers in 2007. In both the book and the movie, the town is the home of Llewellyn Moss' in-laws, to which his wife flees.
- A portion of the Tommy Lee Jones film The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada was filmed in Odessa.
- The truTV reality show Black Gold is based on three oil wells outside of Odessa, as well as some locations in Odessa, such as the local Hooters restaurant.
- The character of Linda Moon in Elmore Leonard's novel Be Cool was from Odessa, "Odessa" also being the name of the band (this was changed for the film).
Climate
 Weather averages for Odessa  |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °F (°C) | 57 (14) |
62 (17) |
70 (21) |
79 (26) |
86 (30) |
93 (34) |
94 (34) |
93 (34) |
86 (30) |
78 (26) |
66 (19) |
59 (15) |
77 (25) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 30 (-1) |
34 (1) |
40 (4) |
49 (9) |
59 (15) |
67 (19) |
69 (21) |
68 (20) |
62 (17) |
51 (11) |
39 (4) |
32 (0) |
50 (10) |
| Precipitation inches (mm) | 0.6 (15.2) |
0.6 (15.2) |
0.5 (12.7) |
0.8 (20.3) |
2.1 (53.3) |
1.6 (40.6) |
1.9 (48.3) |
1.7 (43.2) |
2.1 (53.3) |
1.6 (40.6) |
0.6 (15.2) |
0.5 (12.7) |
14.6 (370.8) |
| Source: 6 {{{accessdate}}} | |||||||||||||
References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Table 2. Annual Estimates of the Population of Combined Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007 (CBSA-EST2007-02)" (CSV). 2007 Population Estimates. United States Census Bureau, Population Division (2008-03-27). Retrieved on 2008-07-21.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ weatherbase.com
External links
- Odessa, Texas is at coordinates Coordinates:
- Parry, Albert (Spring 1944). "US towns named Odessa". Russian Review 3 (2): 36–40, http://www.2odessa.com/wiki/index.php?title=US_towns_named_Odessa.
- "Odessa Texas History". odessahistory.com. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.
- Odessa-Midland Area Radio Stations
- Odessa-Midland News
- City of Odessa website
- Permian Basin Oil Show website
- Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale website
- UTPB Small Business Development Center
- "Jobs Site". odessajobs.net. Odessa Development Corporation. Retrieved on 2008-06-14.
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