Odessa is a city located primarily in Ector County, of which it is the county seat, in the U.S. state of Texas. Some of its city limits extend into adjacent Midland County. Odessa's population was 90,943 at the 2000 United States Census, with a 2005 census population estimated projection of 93,546. The Midland–Odessa metropolitan area had a population 251,842 as of the July 1, 2006 estimate. The city was named after the Ukrainian city Odessa (now in the independent nation of Ukraine), formerly part of the USSR.

As of the census of 2000, there were 90,943 people, 33,661 households, and 23,697 families residing in the city. in 2006, the population increased to near 97,000 The population density was 954.2/km² (2,471.4/mi²). There were 37,966 housing units at an average density of 398.3/km² (1,031.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 44.43% White, 6.88% African American, 0.77% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 16.07% from other races, and 2.93% from two or more races. 58.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 33,661 households out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.21.