Odessa, Texas
Encyclopedia
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Ector County, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of the city extends into Midland County. Odessa's population was 99,940 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Odessa, Texas Metropolitan Statistical Area
Odessa metropolitan area
The Odessa Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of one county – Ector – in West Texas, anchored by the city of Odessa...
, which includes all of Ector County. The metropolitan area is also a component of the larger Midland
Midland, Texas
Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the state's western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County. As of 2010, the population of Midland was 111,147. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas...
–Odessa, Texas Combined Statistical Area, which had a population of 266,941 as of July 1, 2009. estimate.
History
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 Ector county was first organized. It became an incorporated city in 1927, after oil was discovered in Ector county on the Connell Ranch southwest of Odessa.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. Due to increased demand for oil during the second world war the city's population had expanded to 10,000.
Geography
Odessa is located at 31°51′48"N 102°21′56"W (31.863294, -102.365490).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 36.9 square miles (95.6 km²). 36.8 square miles (95.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.19%) is water.
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 LubbockLubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
, San Angelo
San Angelo, Texas
San Angelo is a city in the state of Texas. Located in West Central Texas it is the county seat of Tom Green County. As of 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau, the city had a total population of 93,200...
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
Globe of the Great Southwest
Located in Odessa, Texas, the Globe of the Great Southwest is a replica of William Shakespeare's original Globe Theatre. In addition, the complex also features a replica of Anne Hathaway's Cottage. Both buildings are located on the campus of Odessa College....
, located on the campus of Odessa College
Odessa College
Odessa College is a public two-year junior college based in Odessa, Texas, USA serving the people of Ector County and the Permian Basin. It opened in 1952 and currently enrolls about 5,000 annually in its university-parallel and occupational/technical courses, and 11,000 students annually in its...
, the community college
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
in Odessa, features an authentic replica of William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's Globe Theatre
Globe Theatre
The Globe Theatre was a theatre in London associated with William Shakespeare. It was built in 1599 by Shakespeare's playing company, the Lord Chamberlain's Men, and was destroyed by fire on 29 June 1613...
. It hosts plays and other community groups throughout the year as well as an annual Shakespeare festival.
Built in 1951, the Ector Theater served as one Odessa's finest theaters until it closed. Today, the renovated 700-seat theater provides the community with classic movies, live theatrical productions and concerts.
The Permian Playhouse has provided music, dance, drama, suspense, tears and comedy for over 40 years.
Sports
Odessa is home to the West Texas Roughnecks, a team in the Indoor Football LeagueIndoor Football League
The Indoor Football League began in 1999 as an offshoot of the troubled Professional Indoor Football League. Keary Ecklund, the owner of the Green Bay Bombers and Madison Mad Dogs, left the PIFL after its first, financially-troubled, season to start his own league. Unlike the PIFL, the IFL was an...
.
The Odessa Jackalopes
Odessa Jackalopes
The Odessa Jackalopes were a minor professional ice hockey team based in Odessa, Texas. The team played in the Central Hockey League , and was an affiliate of the New York Islanders...
are a junior A ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team that play their home games at Ector County Coliseum
Ector County Coliseum
The Ector County Coliseum is a 5,131 seat multi-purpose arena in Odessa, Texas.It is home to the Odessa Roughnecks , the Odessa Jackalopes , the Sand Hills Rodeo, and the biennial Permian Basin International Oil Show.The Coliseum was built in 1954 and was previously the home of the original...
. High school football is also popular. Ratliff Stadium
Ratliff Stadium
Ratliff Stadium is a stadium in Odessa, Texas. It is primarily used for American football, and is the home field for the city's two public high schools, Odessa and Permian High Schools.The stadium opened in 1982 and holds 19,302 people...
which was featured in the movie Friday Night Lights is home to the Odessa Bronchos
Odessa High School
Odessa High School is a public high school located in Odessa, Texas and is part of the Ector County Independent School District. The full name of the school is Odessa Senior High School. This name was originally to differentiate it from Odessa Junior High School...
and the Permian Panthers
Permian High School
Permian High School is a public high school located in Odessa, Texas and is part of the Ector County Independent School District. It was the subject of the book Friday Night Lights which in turn inspired a movie and TV series of the same name.-History:...
. It is one of the largest high school stadiums in the state.
Radio
- KFLBKFLBKFLB-FM and KFLB are radio stations that serves the Midland–Odessa metropolitan area with Christian programming on 90.5 FM and 920 AM. The stations are owned by Family Life Broadcasting.-External links:...
920 AM (ChristianChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
) - KOZA 1230 AM
- KRILKRILKRIL , branded as "Real Country 1410 KRIL", is a radio station that serves the Midland–Odessa metropolitan area with classic country music. The station is under ownership of Cumulus Media....
1410 AM (Classic CountryClassic countryClassic country is a music radio format that specializes in playing mainstream country hits from past decades.This genre generally follows one of two formats: those specializing in hits from the 1920s through the early 1970s, and focus primarily on innovators and artists from country music's Golden...
) - KBMM 89.5 FM (ChristianChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
) - KFLB-FM 90.5 FM (ChristianChristianA Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
) - KHKXKHKXKHKX , branded as "KICKS 99 Country", is a radio station that serves the Midland–Odessa metropolitan area with country music and live high school football for Odessa High School and Permian High School...
99.1 FM (CountryCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
) - KMCMKMCMKMCM , branded as "KMCM 97 Gold Oldies", is a radio station that serves the Midland–Odessa metropolitan area with oldies by broadcasting the Classic Hits satellite feed from ABC Radio Networks...
96.9 FM (OldiesOldiesOldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
) - KMRK-FMKMRK-FMKMRK-FM is a radio station that serves the Midland–Odessa metropolitan area with country music. The station is owned by ICA Communications, who acquired this station and its sister stations for $3 million in 2010 from Gap Broadcasting. Gap had acquired the many stations, including this one, from...
96.1 FM (CountryCountry musicCountry music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
) - KOCVKOCV (FM)KOCV is a listener-supported public radio station in the Odessa, Texas market, and is owned and operated by Odessa College. It is the National Public Radio member station for West Texas. KOCV-FM operates at an assigned frequency of 91.3MHz with an effective radiated power of 5,000 watts from its...
91.3 FM - KODMKODMKODM is a radio station that serves the Midland–Odessa metropolitan area with Soft rock music. The station is under ownership of Cumulus Media.-Personalities:...
97.9 FM - KQLMKQLMKQLM is a radio station that serves the Midland–Odessa metropolitan area with Spanish language music. The station is under ownership of Stellar Media Inc.-External links:*...
107.9 FM - KBATKBATKBAT, or K-BAT 99.9 is a radio station that serves the Midland–Odessa metropolitan area with active rock music. The station is under ownership of Cumulus Media. KBAT call letters were originally located on 93.3 FM and were moved over to 99.9 FM on September 13, 2005 to re-launch the rock station...
(FM) 99.9
Television
- KMIDKMIDKMID is the ABC affiliated television station in Midland-Odessa, Texas, owned and operated by Nexstar Broadcasting Group, which is headquartered in Irving, Texas. KMID ABC2 was acquired by Nexstar in 2000...
(ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
) - KOSA-TVKOSA-TVKOSA Channel 7 in the Odessa/Midland television market is the CBS affiliate for the Permian Basin area of West Texas. KOSA and its transmitter are both located in Odessa with the station being housed inside the Music City Mall. A secondary studio and bureau are located in downtown Midland. ICA...
(CBS) - KWES-TVKWES-TVKWES-TV, channel 9, commonly referred to as NewsWest 9, is the NBC affiliated television station in the Midland/Odessa area. The station is owned by the Drewry Communications Group. It also operates a satellite station, KWAB-TV , in Big Spring, Texas.-History:KWES began broadcasting in 1958 as...
(NBC) - KUPBKUPBKUPB is a Spanish-language television station in the Midland/Odessa, Texas area owned by Entravision and affiliated with Univisión. The station commenced broadcasting on analog channel 18 on July 31, 1998. KUPB would move to digital broadcasting on June 12, 2009 at 9:00 AM, "flash-cutting"...
(UNIUnivisionUnivision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
) - KPEJ-TV (Fox)
- KWWTKWWTKWWT, Channel 30, is The CW affiliate for the Midland / Odessa area and goes by the nickname Permian Basin CW 5/14.-History:KWWT signed on the air in 2001 as KPXK, a Pax TV affiliate....
(CW) - KPBT-TVKPBT-TVKPBT-TV is a public television station located in Odessa, Texas, broadcasting locally on digital channel 38 as a PBS member station. The station is owned by Permian Basin Public Television, Inc.The station signed on March 24, 1986 as KOCV-TV...
(PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
) - KMLMKMLMKMLM-DT is a religious television station in Odessa, Texas, broadcasting locally on channel 42 as an owned-and-operated station of God's Learning Channel. Channel 42 is also the GLC flagship station...
(IndIndependent stationAn independent station is in the category of television terminology used to describe a television station broadcasting in the United States or Canada that is not affiliated with any television network....
)
Tourism
Presidential Museum and Leadership Library
The Presidential Museum and Leadership Library is a museum and library complex located in Odessa, Texas, on the campus of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Unlike the many presidential libraries, the museum is dedicated to the office of the President of the United States, rather than...
, on the campus of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is located in Odessa, Texas. It was authorized by the Texas Legislature in 1969 and founded in 1973...
, is the only facility of its kind in the United States—dedicated to the office of the Presidency, not any particular holder of the Oval Office. There are also displays about the Presidents of the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
. The museum was pushed to fruition by the late State Representative
Texas House of Representatives
The Texas House of Representatives is the lower house of the Texas Legislature. The House is composed of 150 members elected from single-member districts across the state. The average district has about 150,000 people. Representatives are elected to two-year terms with no term limits...
George "Buddy" West
Buddy West
George E. "Buddy" West was a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives from Odessa, who was known for his staunch support of his hometown University of Texas of the Permian Basin...
of Odessa.
After fighting financial hardships, the Presidential Museum closed its doors to the public as of 21 August 2009. In February 2009, additional funding allowed the doors to reopen to the Presidential Museum, with negotiations pending for the University of Texas of the Permian Basin to take control of the museum.
The White-Pool House
White-Pool House
The White-Pool House is a historic structure in Odessa, Texas, included on the National Register of Historic Places. It was opened to the public in 1984, and retains many of its original furnishings and some rotating exhibits....
east of downtown is the oldest surviving structure in Odessa. It was built in 1887 and opened as an historic house museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
in 1984.
Texon Santa Fe Depot has recently been relocated to West Odessa and serves as a museum in honor of the old west and the railroads.
The Parker House Museum is Odessa's newest addition to the historical records of Odessa. In 1935, the Parker family moved into this modest house located on 1290 acres (5.2 km²). It represents the lifestyle of a prominent ranching family, who served the communities of Andrews and Ector counties since 1907
Odessa Meteor Crater
Odessa Meteor Crater
The Odessa Meteor Crater is a meteorite crater in the southwestern part of Ector County, southwest of the city of Odessa, Texas, United States. It is located approximately 3 miles south of I-20 at FM 1936 south...
, an impact crater with 550 feet (167.6 m) in diameter, is located southwest of the city.
Odessa has a Stonehenge replica
Stonehenge replica (Odessa, Texas)
The Stonehenge replica is located on the campus of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin in Odessa in Ector County, Texas. About twenty stone blocks, similar in size, shape, and appearance to the ancient Stonehenge in southwestern England, were unveiled in the summer of 2004...
on the campus of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is located in Odessa, Texas. It was authorized by the Texas Legislature in 1969 and founded in 1973...
. Completed in 2004, the replica is horizontally equal to the Stonehenge
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about west of Amesbury and north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of a circular setting of large standing stones set within earthworks...
in England
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
but only 70 percent of the vertical height of the original.
Demographics
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 44 square miles (114 km²). 43.9 square miles (113.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.05%) is water.
As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2010, there were 99,940 people, 35,216 households, and 27,412 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,276.5 people per square mile (954.2/km²). There were 43,687 housing units at an average density of 995.1 per square mile (384.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.42% Hispanic or Latino of any race, 44.43% White, 6.88% African American, 0.88% Asian, 0.77% Native American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 16.07% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.93% of the population were from two or more races.
There were 53,216 households out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. Of these 18% were alternative lifestyle households, including a small transgender community. Odessa had the highest per capita rate of non-traditional households in Texas for all municipalities with more than 50,000 residents. 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.
In the city the population was spread out with 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.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,000 and the median income for a family was $27,869. Males had a median income of $50,000 versus $19,000 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
Local government
According to the city’s most recent Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city’s various funds had $136.8 million in Revenues, $126.4 million in expenditures, $319 million in total assets, $155 million in total liabilities, and $123.6 million in cash and investments.The structure of the management and coordination of city services is:
| City Department | Director |
|---|---|
| City Manager | Richard Morton |
| Billing and Collection Director | Donna Carrasco |
| Building Inspection Director | Ralph M. McCain |
| Building Services Director | Don Clark |
| City Secretary | Norma Aguilar |
| Assistant City Manager-Community Services | Michael Marrero |
| City Engineer Director | Ajay Shakyaver, P.E. |
| Equipment Services Director | Doug Hildebrand |
| Director of Finance | Felicia Nzere |
| Interim Fire Chief | Roger Boyd |
| Human Resources Director | Don Byrne |
| Information Services Director | Don Carlton |
| City Attorney | Larry Long |
| Municipal Court Director | Kathryn Wells-Vogel |
| Parks & Recreation Director | Steve Patton |
| Planning & Zoning Director | Marwan Khoury |
| Police Chief | Timothy Burton |
| Public Safety Communications Director | Vicky Davis |
| Public Works Director | Matthew S. Squyres, P.E. |
| Purchasing Director | Mark A. Simpson |
| Risk Management Director | Darrell E. Wells |
| Solid Waste Director | Oscar Maldonado |
| Street Director | Pat Sullivan |
| Traffic Engineering Director | Hal Feldman |
| Utilities Director | Debbie McReynolds |
State representation
The Texas Department of Criminal JusticeTexas Department of Criminal Justice
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The TDCJ is responsible for statewide criminal justice for adult offenders, including managing offenders in state prisons, state jails and private correctional facilities, funding and certain...
operates the Odessa District Parole Office in Odessa.
Federal representation
The United States Postal ServiceUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates three post offices, Odessa, Northeast Odessa, and West Odessa in Odessa.
Libraries
- Ector County Library
- Murry H. Fly Learning Resource Center
- The J. Conrad Dunagan Library
Schools
The Ector County Independent School DistrictEctor County Independent School District
Ector County Independent School District is a public school district based in Odessa, Texas .In addition to Odessa, the district also serves the communities of West Odessa, Gardendale, and Goldsmith as well as rural areas in Ector County....
was established in 1921, in a consolidation of seven area schools. The district now contains thirty-five campuses. It administers two high schools:Permian High School
Permian High School
Permian High School is a public high school located in Odessa, Texas and is part of the Ector County Independent School District. It was the subject of the book Friday Night Lights which in turn inspired a movie and TV series of the same name.-History:...
and Odessa High School
Odessa High School
Odessa High School is a public high school located in Odessa, Texas and is part of the Ector County Independent School District. The full name of the school is Odessa Senior High School. This name was originally to differentiate it from Odessa Junior High School...
.
The Ector County Career Center is an alternative to the two high schools in the city and is affiliated with ECISD. It pulls an equal number of students from the two high school campuses and does so through an application basis for those interested in attending. Students attending The Career Center are classified as students at either Odessa High or Permian High and graduate with them.
Richard Milburn Academy, a private high school, was founded in 2003 and is free to the public although not affiliated with ECISD.
Colleges and universities
The University of Texas of the Permian BasinUniversity of Texas of the Permian Basin
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is located in Odessa, Texas. It was authorized by the Texas Legislature in 1969 and founded in 1973...
, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Permian Basin Campus
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Permian Basin Campus is a branch of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Odessa, Texas. It opened as a School of Medicine in 1979, beginning in the basement of Medical Center Hospital....
, and Odessa College
Odessa College
Odessa College is a public two-year junior college based in Odessa, Texas, USA serving the people of Ector County and the Permian Basin. It opened in 1952 and currently enrolls about 5,000 annually in its university-parallel and occupational/technical courses, and 11,000 students annually in its...
are all located in Odessa.
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin 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. 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 also 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 construction of a new High-Temperature Teaching and Test Reactor which, if successful, would finish licensing and construction around 2012. It would also 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 (AACSB). AACSB is generally regarded as the premier accreditation agency for the world's business schools. According to the University, only 30 percent of business schools in the United States, and 15 percent of world business schools, have received AACSB accreditation.
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.
Odessa College is a public two-year college based in Odessa, Texas, USA serving the people of Ector County and the Permian Basin. It opened in 1952 and currently enrolls about 5,000 annually in its university-parallel and occupational/technical courses, and 11,000 students annually in its Basic Education, Continuing Education, and Community Recreation courses.
Economy
According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | Number ofemployees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ector County Independent School District | 3,526 |
| 2 | Medical Center Hospital | 1,700 |
| 3 | Odessa Regional Medical Center | 840 |
| 4 | City of Odessa | 839 |
| 5 | Wal-Mart | 832 |
| 6 | Saulsbury Companies | 810 |
| 7 | Haliburton Services | 750 |
| 8 | Halliburton | 685 |
| 9 | Ector County | 658 |
| 10 | Nurses Unlimited, Inc. | 597 |
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
La Entrada al Pacífico
The La Entrada al Pacífico trade corridor was designated as "Trade Corridor 56" by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. The corridor is an international project between Mexico and the United States as a route from the Pacific Ocean port of Topolobampo in the Mexican state of...
trade corridor. In 2003 Family Dollar
Family Dollar
Family Dollar is a regional chain of variety stores in the United States. It opened in 1959 and operates approximately 6,617 stores in 44 states and the District of Columbia. It is headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina....
Corporation opened its 8th distribution center
Distribution center
A distribution center for a set of products is a warehouse or other specialized building, often with refrigeration or air conditioning, which is stocked with products to be redistributed to retailers, to wholesalers, or directly to consumers. A distribution center is a principal part, the order...
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.
Odessa has also taken steps to diversify the energy it provides. A new wind farm
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
has been constructed in Northern Ector County. A new clean coal
Clean coal
Historically used to refer to technologies for reducing emissions of ash, sulfur, and heavy metals from coal combustion; the term is now commonly used to refer to carbon capture and storage technology...
plant has also been announced for a site previously entered in the Futuregen
FutureGen
FutureGen is a US government project announced by President George W. Bush in 2003; its initial plan involved the construction of a near zero-emissions coal-fueled power plant to produce hydrogen and electricity while using carbon capture and storage....
bidding. The new plant will be run by Summit Power
Summit Power
Summit Power Group is a Seattle-based power company, responsible for developing electric power plants , which are primarily natural gas-fired and wind-powered, with solar power recently added. Summit does not develop conventional coal-fired power plants without carbon capture...
and will be located near Penwell
Penwell, Texas
Penwell is an unincorporated community in Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located near Interstate 20, approximately sixteen miles southwest of Odessa. The community is part of the Odessa Metropolitan Statistical Area.-External links:...
. This new plant could lead to the creation of 8,000 jobs to the area. There are also plans for a nuclear power
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
plant to be run in conjunction with the nuclear engineering department at UTPB
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin is located in Odessa, Texas. It was authorized by the Texas Legislature in 1969 and founded in 1973...
, called HT3R
HT3R
The University of Texas of the Permian Basin and the Los Alamos National Laboratory , are proposing a multifaceted energy research facility called the High-Temperature Teaching & Test Reactor to be located in Andrews County, Texas...
, or the "High-Temperature Teaching and Test Reactor". This reactor is planned to be near Andrews
Andrews, Texas
Andrews is a city in and the county seat of Andrews County in the U.S. state of Texas within the West Texas region. The population was 10,448 in 2009. Along with Midland and Odessa, these cities form the Midland-Odessa Combined Statistical Area with a population of 241,316 in four counties...
. There have also been recent visits from prospective developers of a solar collector
Solar collector
-See also:*Solar thermal collector*Solar water heating*Solar air heating*Photovoltaic module*Renewable heat*Concentrating solar power...
in the area.
The Ector County Coliseum
Ector County Coliseum
The Ector County Coliseum is a 5,131 seat multi-purpose arena in Odessa, Texas.It is home to the Odessa Roughnecks , the Odessa Jackalopes , the Sand Hills Rodeo, and the biennial Permian Basin International Oil Show.The Coliseum was built in 1954 and was previously the home of the original...
is host to the Permian Basin International Oil Show
Permian Basin International Oil Show
The Permian Basin International Oil Show is a trade show exposition which is hosted in the city of Odessa, Texas at the Ector County Coliseum on every even numbered year. It showcases the latest technology in the petroleum industry and also honors the industry’s past. It is one of the largest...
on every even numbered year.
Odessa has one regional enclosed mall (Music City Mall
Music City Mall
Music City Mall is a large, regional shopping mall located in Odessa, Texas. The mall itself houses over 100 businesses and has the only ice skating facility within . The mall has a gross leasable area of 750,000 square feet ....
), which includes Dillards, JC Penney, Sears, Burlington Coat Factory, indoor ice skating rink, and television station. Additionally, more than 100 specialty retailers are located in the mall.
Rabbit as symbol
The jack rabbit has become the symbol of Odessa. Beginning in 1932, Odessa held a rodeoRodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
for roping rabbits. In one competition, cowgirl Grace Hendricks roped a rabbit from horseback in five seconds and beat her male competitors. The unusual rodeo ended in 1977 because of objections from the Humane Society
Humane Society
A humane society may be a group that aims to stop human or animal suffering due to cruelty or other reasons, although in many countries, it is now used mostly for societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals...
. Many businesses and residences about Odessa display models of rabbits.
Air
- Odessa is served by Midland International AirportMidland International Airport-Top Destinations:-See also:* Texas World War II Army Airfields-References:* Shaw, Frederick J. , Locating Air Force Base Sites History’s Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004....
, which is located halfway between Odessa and MidlandMidland, TexasMidland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the state's western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County. As of 2010, the population of Midland was 111,147. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas...
. - Schlemeyer Field is a general aviationGeneral aviationGeneral aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
airport located on Odessa's Northeast side.
Midland International Airport is served by:
- American AirlinesAmerican AirlinesAmerican Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
operated by American EagleAmerican Eagle AirlinesAmerican Eagle Airlines is a brand name used by American Eagle Airlines, Inc. , based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Executive Airlines based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the operation of passenger air service as regional affiliates of American Airlines. All three airlines are wholly owned subsidiaries... - Southwest AirlinesSouthwest AirlinesSouthwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
- Continental AirlinesContinental AirlinesContinental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
operated by ExpressJet AirlinesExpressJet AirlinesExpressJet Airlines, Inc. is an American regional airline based in the A-Tech Center in College Park, Georgia. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlantic Southeast Airlines which is in turn a subsidiary of the airline holding company SkyWest, Inc., parent company of the air carrier SkyWest...
as Continental ExpressContinental ExpressContinental Express is the operating brand name used by a number of independently owned regional airlines providing regional jet feeder service under agreement with Continental Airlines... - United AirlinesUnited AirlinesUnited Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
operated by SkyWest AirlinesSkywest AirlinesSkywest Airlines Pty Ltd is a regional airline company based in Perth, Western Australia, Australia; servicing key towns in the state of Western Australia, Darwin, Northern Territory and Melbourne, Victoria; as well as charter flights to Bali, Indonesia....
.
Notable people
- Raymond BensonRaymond BensonRaymond Benson is an American author best known for being the official author of the adult James Bond novels from 1997 to 2003. Benson was born in Midland, Texas and graduated from Permian High School in Odessa in 1973...
, author - Jim J. Bullock, actor
- Hayden FryHayden FryJohn Hayden Fry is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Southern Methodist University , North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas , and the University of Iowa , compiling a career college football record of 232–178–10...
, college football coach - Larry GatlinLarry GatlinLarry Wayne Gatlin is an American country music singer/songwriter. He is perhaps best known for teaming up with his brothers Steve and Rudy in the late 1970s, becoming one of country music's most successful acts of the 1970s and 1980s. Gatlin has had a total of 33 Top 40 singles...
, country music singer - Britt Harley HagerBritt HagerBritt Harley Hager is a former American football linebacker who played nine seasons in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos and St. Louis Rams...
, professional football player - Daniel Ray Herrera, professional baseball pitcher
- Daryl HuntDaryl HuntDaryl Lynn Hunt was a professional American football player, a linebacker for six seasons for the Houston Oilers appearing in 78 career regular season games after being selected by Houston during the 6th round of the 1979 NFL Draft.-University:Hunt is considered one of the best University of...
, professional football player - Virgil JohnsonVirgil Johnson (singer)Virgil Lewis Johnson is a retired African American deejay, formerly at radio station KDAV in Lubbock. He was the lead singer of The Velvets, a 1950s and 1960s vocal quintet from Odessa, also in West Texas. They are best remembered for their 1961 hit "Tonight ", which peaked at No. 26 on the...
, founder of The VelvetsThe VelvetsThe Velvets were an American doo wop group from Odessa in Ector County in west Texas. The African American quintet was formed in 1959 by Virgil Johnson, a high school English teacher, with four of his students. Roy Orbison heard the group and signed them to Monument Records in 1960. Their first...
, singing group - Gene MayfieldGene Mayfield-Further reading:...
, college and high school football coach - Bill NoëlBill NoëlWilliam Douglas Noël, known as Bill Noël , was an independent oilman, industrialist, banker, rancher, philanthropist, and civic leader in Odessa, Texas.-Background:...
, oil industrialist and philanthropist - Ellen Witwer Noël, philanthropist; Ellen Noël Art Museum is named in her honor.
- J. L. "Dusty" Rhoades, one of the founders of the American Quarter Horse AssociationAmerican Quarter Horse AssociationThe American Quarter Horse Association , based in Amarillo, Texas, is an international organization dedicated to the preservation, improvement and record-keeping of the American Quarter Horse. The association sanctions many competitive events and maintains the official registry...
- Bill MyrickBill MyrickBillie E. Myrick, known as Bill Myrick , is an American Country musician, originally from Simpson County in south central Mississippi but a long-time resident of Odessa in West Texas.-Family:...
, country music singer - Kelly SchmedesKelly SchmedesKelly Schmedes is an American soccer forward who last played for Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer, and was a member of the United States women's national soccer team....
, professional soccer player - John Ben ShepperdJohn Ben ShepperdJohn Ben Shepperd was the segregationist Texas attorney general from 1953–1957 who led resistance to the desegregation of public schools mandated by the 1954 Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka...
, Texas attorney generalAttorney GeneralIn most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
(1953–1957) - Kim Smith, model and actress
- Stephnie WeirStephnie WeirStephnie Carmel Weir is an American actress and comedian, best known for her membership in the recurring cast on MADtv.-Early life:...
, actress and comedian - Roy WilliamsRoy Williams (wide receiver)Roy Eugene Williams, Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is currently a member of the Chicago Bears. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions seventh overall in the 2004 NFL Draft...
, professional football player - Alfred Mac Wilson, United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient - Marvin Rex Young, U.S. Army Medal of Honor recipient
- Marcus CannonMarcus CannonMarcus Darell Cannon is an American football offensive guard with the New England Patriots of the National Football League. Prior to the 2011 NFL Draft, Cannon was considered one of the top offensive guard prospects; the Patriots selected Cannon in the fifth round with the 138th pick...
, NFL player - Robert Rummel-Hudson, author
In popular culture
The book Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a DreamFriday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream
Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream is a 1990 non-fiction book written by H. G. Bissinger. The book follows the story of the 1988 Permian High School Panthers football team from Odessa, Texas as they made a run towards the Texas state championship...
by author H. G. Bissinger
H. G. Bissinger
Harry Gerard Bissinger III, also known as H. G. Bissinger and Buzz Bissinger , is an American journalist and author, best known for his non-fiction book Friday Night Lights.-Early life and education:...
and subsequent movie (Friday Night Lights) are based on the 1988 football season of the Permian Panthers
Permian High School
Permian High School is a public high school located in Odessa, Texas and is part of the Ector County Independent School District. It was the subject of the book Friday Night Lights which in turn inspired a movie and TV series of the same name.-History:...
, 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
Friday Night Lights (TV series)
Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
, aired from 2006 to 2011. 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
TV Guide Channel
TV Guide Network is an American cable network owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation....
followed the reporters of the local CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliate, KOSA
Kosa
, also known as Hongan-ji Kennyo , was the 11th head of the Hongan-ji in Kyoto, and Chief Abbot of Ishiyama Hongan-ji, cathedral fortress of the Ikkō-ikki , during its siege at the end of the Sengoku Period...
-TV. The show was titled Making News: Texas Style
Making News: Texas Style
Making News: Texas Style was a TV Guide Network documentary series based in the Odessa/Midland, Texas Metro area, following the work lives of the anchors and reporters at KOSA-TV, the market's local CBS affiliate...
.
A portion of the Tommy Lee Jones
Tommy Lee Jones
Tommy Lee Jones is an American actor and film director. He has received three Academy Award nominations, winning one as Best Supporting Actor for the 1993 thriller film The Fugitive....
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada is a 2005 American drama film directed by Tommy Lee Jones and written by Guillermo Arriaga. It stars Tommy Lee Jones, Barry Pepper, Julio Cedillo, and Dwight Yoakam....
was filmed in Odessa.
The truTV reality show Black Gold
Black Gold (TV series)
Black Gold is a documentary-style reality television series that chronicles three oil drilling rigs in Andrews County, Texas, 30 miles northwest of Odessa. It is produced by Thom Beers, creator of Deadliest Catch and Ice Road Truckers. The Black Gold theme song is sung by country music star Trace...
is based on three oil wells outside of Odessa, as well as some locations in Odessa, such as the local Hooters
Hooters
Hooters is the trade name of two privately held American restaurant chains: Hooters of America, Incorporated, based in Atlanta, Georgia, and Hooters, Incorporated, based in Clearwater, Florida...
restaurant.
Odessa is mentioned in James A. Michener
James A. Michener
James Albert Michener was an American author of more than 40 titles, the majority of which were sweeping sagas, covering the lives of many generations in particular geographic locales and incorporating historical facts into the stories...
's Texas
Texas (novel)
Texas is a novel by James A. Michener based on the history of the Lone Star State. Characters include real and fictional characters, explorers , Spanish and German Texan settlers, ranchers, oil men, aristocrats, Chicanos, and others, all based on extensive historical research.Although Michener...
as a city where “[y]ou are more likely to be murdered ... than in any other city in the nation”.
Odessa is used as the hometown setting for Claire Bennett and her family in Season 1 of the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
show Heroes
Heroes (TV series)
Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
.
In the 1999 Elmore Leonard
Elmore Leonard
Elmore John Leonard Jr. , better known as Elmore Leonard, is an American novelist and screenwriter. His earliest published novels in the 1950s were westerns, but Leonard went on to specialize in crime fiction and suspense thrillers, many of which have been adapted into motion pictures.Among his...
novel Be Cool, singer Linda Moon is in a band called Odessa. This band is based on The Stone Coyotes
The Stone Coyotes
The Stone Coyotes are an American band that debuted with their first album in 1998. They hail from Massachusetts but tour primarily in Texas as that is where they receive their most radio airplay.- Background :...
who even wrote a song Odessa, specifically for the book.
Climate
External links
- 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
- Odessa Development Corparation
- Odessa Downtown Renovation website
- Odessa Iindustrial Development Corparation