Odessa is said to have been named after Odessa, Ukraine, because of the local shortgrass prairie’s resemblance to Ukraine’s steppe landscape. 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 the county was first organized. It was incorporated as a city in 1927, after oil was discovered in Ector County on the Connell Ranch southwest of Odessa.
The City of Odessa, Texas is a growing historic community with affordable housing and plenty of available retail space for new businesses.
Ector County’s highly-valued historic business-friendly community is rolling out the “Welcome to Odessa” welcome mat to seniors, tourists, visitors, new residents, tech entrepreneurs, and all diverse and value-added businesses.
City of Odessa, Texas communities embraces cultural equality, diversity, inclusion, equity and has many positive-minded and inspiring people as well as historic business-friendly communities.
Local Odessa and Ector County entrepreneurs have created business opportunities in the area. With the help of local business leaders, the demand for startup ventures and the need for more goods and services has ignited the spirit of local ownership in the Ector County communities.