Odessa, Texas is a great community, and the citizens are who make this community what it is. You will find people everywhere, but you will find the genuinely friendliest people in Odessa.
Odessa is a great place to work and live. From its wonderful open spaces and great city parks, the incredible sunrises and sunsets on our beautiful skies, to our vibrant and colorful history in the Texas West and wonderful neighborhoods, there is just something special about moving to Odessa.
History:
Odessa , Texas was established in 1881 as a stop on the Texas and Pacific Railroads. It has been said that Odessa's name originated from an area that resembled our region around the Russian city in Ukraine named Odessa. The unsurpassed beauty of the West Texas sunsets and a climate that is warm and inviting make this uncommon city a true paradise. Located in a region where the Comanche Indians once roamed, Odessa's history as a settlement can be traced to the 1881 extension of the Texas and Pacific Railway across the south plains and the need to provide water for the steam engines. The availability of cheap land encouraged settlers to the area from 1879 to 1885. The first ranchers arrived in 1885, but it was the railroad that made Odessa vital to the cattle industry. By the mid 1890's Odessa was an established cattle shipping center. When oil was discovered in 1926, the destiny of the community took a different course. This discovery brought people of varied interests and occupations to the area, and the local economy began to change from a ranching base into an industrial one. Today, Odessa is alive and thriving, although oil and gas still remain our largest industry the city has begun to diversify. Odessa is quickly being recognized as a major health industry hub with three hospitals, a cancer center and several medical specialists in the area. Family Dollar Distribution Center scheduled to open in June 2003 will serve as one of Odessa's largest retail employers.
Economy:
According to the city's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city include Ector County Independent School District, Medical Center Hospital, Odessa Regional Medical Center, city of Odessa, Wal-Mart, Ector County and Nurses Unlimited, Inc.
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 eighth 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 three new shopping centers currently planned and one in the construction phase. Many hotels have also been planned with some in the completion phase. In 2007, the city approved a contract with a company that develops armaments for U.S. Army helicopters to begin operations in Odessa.
Tourism:
The Ellen Noel Art Museum of the Permian Basin is an independent art museum located on the campus of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. The museum features rotating exhibitions of historical and contemporary art, a permanent sculpture/sensory garden, and programs of art education for all ages. Next, built in 1887, the White-Pool House Museum is the oldest structure of importance in Odessa. Built by Charles and Lucy White, it resembled the house they left behind in Indiana. Exhibits give the public an opportunity to view and learn about different periods in Odessa's history. Then, the Permian Playhouse has been enriching the lives of West Texas residents with music, dance, drama, suspense, tears and laughter for over 40 years. The Playhouse offers an opportunity for young people to explore the fascinating aspects of theater through the Kaleidoscope Company. Finally, visit the Globe Theatre. A bit of Elizabethan England comes to life during the Odessa Shakespeare Festival at The Globe Theatre of the Great Southwest, Shakespearean Library and Anne Hathaway Cottage, modeled after Shakespeare's original Globe. The Globe also produces everything from Broadway musicals to country and Gospel revues.