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

Jan 1, 1970
Oregon Democrats Block ICE Notification for Felony Convicts
Oregon Democratic senators have unanimously blocked a bill that would have mandated state authorities to notify U.S. Immigration a…
Jan 1, 1970
Trump Cruz Mathematically Out Race
Washington, D.C. – In the thick of the 2016 Republican primary season, Donald Trump solidified his grip on the nomination on May…
Jan 1, 1970
Wife Sentenced 1590 Years Prison Husband Gets 750 Years
In a Texas courtroom, justice came down hard on May 18, 2016, when a wife received a staggering 1,590-year prison sentence for her…
Jan 1, 1970
Court Rules Against Obamas Executive Action Protect Undocumented
Washington, May 5, 2016 – A federal appeals court struck down President Barack Obama’s key executive actions on immigratio…
Jan 1, 1970
More Syrian Refugees Come America New Graph Shows Where Refugees Are
Washington, D.C. | April 13, 2016 The U.S. saw a noticeable uptick in Syrian refugees arriving on its shores in recent months, sti…
Jan 1, 1970
Autistic Boys Mom Surprised how Tgi Fridays Treated Them Photos
HOUSTON, April 4, 2016 — A Texas mom got more than she expected during a routine family outing last week, turning what could hav…

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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