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Odessa, Texas

Located in Ector County, Texas, Odessa was established in 1881. Friday Night Lights was based on Odessa's Permian High School football team. Odessa and Midland are twin cities at the heart of the Permian Basin.
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Founded 1881 | Population 120,000 | Peak 120,000 (2024) | County Ector County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Odessa, Texas

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1881Railroad Town: T&P Railway settlement in Permian Basin.
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1926Oil Boom: Permian Basin oil transforms Odessa.
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1988Friday Night Lights: Permian Panthers football documented in famous book.
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2008Shale Boom: Fracking brings new oil surge.
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2019Mass Shooting: Gunman kills 7 in Odessa-Midland shooting spree.
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Complete Historical Timeline

1881 Transport
Railroad Town
1926 Industry
Oil Boom
1988 Culture
Friday Night Lights
2008 Industry
Shale Boom
2019 Crime
Mass Shooting

Did You Know?

1
Friday Night Lights was based on Odessa's Permian High School football team.
2
Odessa and Midland are twin cities at the heart of the Permian Basin.
3
The world's largest jackrabbit statue is in Odessa.
4
Odessa is located in Ector County, Texas.
5
Odessa was founded in 1881.

Famous People from Odessa, Texas

CK
Chris Kyle
Businessperson, United States Navy Seals · Born Apr 8, 1974 · Died Feb 2, 2013 (age 38)
CS
Connor Storrie
Actor · Born Feb 22, 2000 · Age 26
KA
Karan Ashley
Screenwriter, Actor · Born Sep 28, 1975 · Age 50
VA
Victor Aaron
Actor, Voice Actor · Born Sep 11, 1956 · Died Sep 4, 1996 (age 39)
TS
Toby Stevenson
Coach, Athletics Competitor · Born Nov 19, 1976 · Age 49
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