Odessa in Ector County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Odessa Land & Townsite Company

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 10, 2015

1. Odessa Land & Townsite Company Marker

Inscription. The Texas & Pacific Railroad transferred 640 acres of its land grants here in 1886 to John Hoge of Zanesville, Ohio. He formed the Odessa Land & Townsite Company to promote sale of town lots. Prime house lots sold for $150 and business lots for $200. Literature was distributed in eastern states citing rich soil, pure water, healthful climate, and no saloons in Odessa. The company and railroad sponsored excursion trains with free sleeping cars for prospective buyers form 1886 to 1889. A small frame building on this site, razed in 1911, served as the land office, and later as a school and church.

Erected 1986 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 3667.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.

Location. 31° 50.768′ N, 102° 22.109′ W. Marker is in Odessa, Texas, in Ector County. It is on North Grant Avenue, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 205 North Grant Avenue, Odessa TX 79761, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Texas.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Site of Livery Stable and Wagon Yard (here, next to this marker); The Odessa Telephone Exchange (here, next to this marker); Site of The Odessa Sanitarium

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Site of The Dawson Saloon (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ector County Courthouse (about 300 feet away); General Matthew D. Ector (about 300 feet away); Ector County Land Rush (about 300 feet away); The Waddell Pecan Tree (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Odessa.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 10, 2015

2. Odessa Land & Townsite Company Marker

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 10, 2015

3. Odessa Land & Townsite Company Marker

Odessa Land & Townsite Company Marker (in center) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, July 10, 2015

4. Odessa Land & Townsite Company Marker (in center)

The Odessa Telephone Exchange Marker (on left) and Site of Livery Stable and Wagon Yard Marker (on right)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 668 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 17, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.