THE BEGINNING…

In 1927 and 1928, excellent conditions in agricultural and livestock markets contributed to a rapid increase in Odessa’s population.

Odessa had a land area of slightly more than three square miles and a population of 2,000 when it was incorporated as a city in 1927.

The city had only been incorporated one or two years when Odessa received its first “boom!” By 1930, the U.S. Census reported that Ector County had a population of 3,958. Of that figure, 2,407 persons lived inside the city limits.

In 1950, 23 years after Odessa was incorporated as a city, the City Council adopted the first Zoning Ordinance to encourage the most appropriate use of land throughout the city. Today’s Zoning Ordinance still follows this thought and in conjunction with the Comprehensive Plan, promotes the orderly development of Odessa.

The Planning Department was created in the mid 1960s.

AND NOW…

Today, the vast majority of development occurring in Odessa takes place in the northern and eastern parts of town. This development is represented by such master planned areas as the Parks Ranch Estates in east Odessa and the future development planned northeast of 42nd Street and John Ben Shepperd Parkway Boulevard. The development proposed in these areas will incorporate not only residential and park development, but retail and commercial development as well.

Currently, Odessa’s land area is over 36 square miles and the population has grown to more than 90,000 people.

The Planning Department’s four-person staff assists in development of the City of Odessa today through its functions of zoning and platting, site plan approval and historic landmark designation.