Population173,801 (July 1, 2025 estimate)
West Texas Skies Above a Cultural Crossroads
Ector County, TexasEctor County centers on Odessa, a major community within the wider Midland–Odessa region. Odessa is the county seat and largest city, offering a useful base for exploring the county’s public services and cultural destinations. The surrounding landscape is predominantly flat, with a semiarid climate and broad open views. Begin with a specific destination in Odessa, such as the Ellen Noël Art Museum, and build a county visit around the experiences that interest you.
Ector County at a Glance
Population173,801 (July 1, 2025 estimate)
County SeatOdessa
Largest CityOdessa
Established1887 (organized 1891)
ZIP Codes13
Total Area902 sq mi (2,340 km 2 )
Major RoutesI-20 I-20 BL US 385 SH 158 SH 181 SH 191 SH 302 Spur 450 Spur 588 Loop 338 FM 554 FM 1053 FM 1601 FM 1787 FM 1788 FM 1882 FM 1936 FM 2019 FM 2020 FM 3472 FM 3503
Area Code432
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
Discover the County
Ector County
Ector County was created in 1887 and organized in 1891. Its name honors Matthew Ector, who served as a Confederate general during the Civil War. Odessa became the county seat and remains its largest city. The county now forms the Odessa metropolitan area within the broader Midland–Odessa region. Those administrative and geographic relationships are useful when reading local histories: the county, the city and the combined region describe related places, but their boundaries are not interchangeable.
Odessa’s Ellen Noël Art Museum offers a cultural stop alongside the county’s broader West Texas setting. Use the museum’s own visitor information to check its current location, opening arrangements and programs before traveling. The county’s warm, semiarid climate also matters when planning outdoor time and travel between stops. Organize a day around a few named destinations, and consult the appropriate city or county office when a question concerns public services rather than visitor activities.
What Shapes Us
Odessa at the Center
Odessa is both the county seat and largest city. It provides a practical starting point for public information and for exploring destinations within the county.
Art in the Region
The Ellen Noël Art Museum is in Odessa. Its official website provides current visitor information and connects the museum with its educational and cultural programs.
County and Region
Ector County forms the Odessa metropolitan area, which belongs to the wider Midland–Odessa region. Keep those different geographic scales in mind when planning a visit.
Open skies and local culture share a West Texas home.
My Local Guide
Ector County
Our County. Our Stories.
The Texas Tribune — Statewide
TribCast: Are Texas’ voter systems ready for a contentious election?
Votebeat's Natalia Contreras joins TribCast to explain the state of Texas’ voter rolls one month before election day.
Read the Story Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
News & resources for Ector County
Local reporting when available, plus statewide Texas news and official resources.
TribCast: Are Texas’ voter systems ready for a contentious election?
Votebeat's Natalia Contreras joins TribCast to explain the state of Texas’ voter rolls one month before election day.
The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
Democrat Jon Rosenthal outraises Bo French in Railroad Commission race in latest report
A big chunk of Rosenthal’s haul came after French’s racist social media comments following a UT-Austin football game…
The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
Greg Abbott outraised Gina Hinojosa but burned through much of his campaign cash in Texas governor’s race
Abbott outspent Hinojosa 6-to-1 from July to late September, but the governor’s narrow polling lead was largely unchanged…
The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
Law enforcement Democrat, GOP Air Force vet upend partisan script in race for new San Antonio U.S. House district
The 35th Congressional District was redrawn to elect a Republican, but Latino voters’ brewing leftward shift has put…
The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
These are the most competitive November races up and down Texas’ midterm ballot
Texas has an unusually large slate of competitive races for the state Legislature and U.S. House this year.…
The Texas Tribune — Statewide • Oct 6, 2026 • 2 min read
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
County Resources
Useful connections for everyday life
Find public information and services through the county and relevant service providers.
Government
County & local resources
Commissioner’s Court
Commissioners court information, meetings and county business.
Commissioner’s Court Live Stream
Commissioners court information, meetings and county business.
Food, housing & family support
West Texas Food Bank — food assistance
Regional food-bank network serving Ector County. Find a nearby pantry or distribution and confirm its schedule before visiting.
West Texas Food Bank — food assistance — details and contacts
2-1-1 Texas — local assistance
Search community assistance by location and type of need, including food, housing and family support.
Texas HHS — local family support
Search family-support programs and local services for parents and caregivers.
Schools
County & local resources
Ector County ISD
School and district information, contacts and educational resources.
Child care & learning
Texas Child Care Connection — scholarships
Review child-care scholarship information and the application process for families who need care while working or attending education or training.
Texas Child Care Connection — scholarships — details and contacts
Ector County — AgriLife Extension
Find county Extension contacts, local educational programs and 4-H information.
Hospitals
County & local resources
Medical Center Hospital — Acute Care Hospitals
Health services and information about finding local assistance.
Odessa Regional Medical Center — Acute Care Hospitals
Health services and information about finding local assistance.
Health, aging & caregiver support
Texas WIC — office locator
Find a nearby WIC office and contact it about appointments, nutrition support and eligibility.
Aging and Disability Resource Centers
Find the regional center that helps older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers explore services and support.
Aging and Disability Resource Centers — details and contacts
Local mental and behavioral health authorities
Use the Texas HHS directory to find the authority serving your county and its contact information.
Local mental and behavioral health authorities — details and contacts
Public Safety
County & local resources
Sheriff’s Office
Sheriff’s office information, public safety resources and non-emergency contacts.
Emergency Services
For an immediate emergency, call 911. These links provide emergency planning, coordination and recovery information.
County & local resources
Texas Division of Emergency Management — Region 7 serving Ector County
Emergency preparedness, local alerts and response information.
Prepare before an emergency
Texas Ready — emergency planning materials
Download emergency plans, supply checklists and preparedness materials in English and Spanish.
Texas Ready — emergency planning materials — details and contacts
State Parks
No qualifying TPWD state park open for ordinary public visits was verified for Ector County in the reviewed sources as of October 3, 2026. This is a limitation of this guide’s verified list, not a statement that none exists. Other sourced outdoor options appear in the local directory below.
Trails
Selected local walking, hiking, cycling or paddling options. Check the linked operator or local tourism information for access, fees and current conditions.
County & local resources
Odessa Mountain Bike Park
Outdoor recreation, routes and visitor planning information.
Utilities
Water utilities listed for the county. Confirm the provider for your specific address; service territories vary within county lines.
County & local resources
GREATER GARDENDALE WSC
Utility services, consumer information and provider contacts.
ECTOR COUNTY UTILITY DISTRICT
Utility services, consumer information and provider contacts.
Help with household costs
Help for Texans — housing and utility assistance
Find local providers for utility bills, housing, weatherization and accessibility repairs. Providers handle applications; availability and eligibility vary.
Help for Texans — housing and utility assistance — details and contacts
Libraries
County & local resources
Accessible reading & library services
Texas Talking Book Program
Learn about accessible library services for qualifying Texans with visual, physical or reading disabilities.
Courts
Use the named county court links or search the official Texas courts directory by county and court name. Confirm the hearing or filing location directly; a regional court may serve more than one county.
County & local resources
Ector County — County Court (County Constitutional Court)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Ector County — 161st District Court (District)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Ector County — 244th District Court (District)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Ector County — 358th District Court (District)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Ector County — 446th District Court (District)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Ector County — 70th District Court (District)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Ector County — County Court at Law (County Court at Law)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Ector County — County Court at Law No. 2 (County Court at Law)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Ector County — Precinct 1 Place 1 (Justice of the Peace)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Ector County — Precinct 2 Place 1 (Justice of the Peace)
Court information, office contacts and public records resources.
Find legal assistance
TexasLawHelp — legal help directory
Search legal-aid organizations by counties covered and area of legal help. Each organization determines service availability and eligibility.
DMV
For local vehicle titles and registration, start with the county tax office. Texas DPS handles driver licenses.
County & local resources
Ector County Tax Office
Tax office information, payments and available services.
Texas resources
Buying or selling a vehicle
Vehicle registration, licensing and office information.
Apply for a Texas driver license
Vehicle registration, licensing and office information.
Driver license appointments
Vehicle registration, licensing and office information.
Transportation
These agencies or county departments serve local transportation needs. Check routes, service boundaries, eligibility and advance booking with the provider.
County & local resources
Midland -Midland Odessa Urban Transit District (EZ Rider)
Transportation services, routes and travel information.
West Texas Opportunities, Inc. – WTO, I TRAX
Transportation services, routes and travel information.
Postal Services
Local postal facilities listed in USPS property records. Confirm retail hours, available services and temporary closures with USPS before visiting.
County & local resources
Odessa Post Office — Northeast Station
Postal locations, mailing services and address information.
National resources
USPS — confirm local hours and services
Postal locations, mailing services and address information.
Veterans
County & local resources
Ector County veterans service contact — (432) 498-4015
Veterans services, benefits information and support resources.
Employment
County & local resources
Employment Opportunities
Employment opportunities, job-search assistance and workforce services.
Job search & employment support
Workforce Solutions — find an office
Find nearby workforce offices for job-search, training and employer services.
Vocational rehabilitation — office lookup
Find a vocational rehabilitation office to discuss employment services for people with disabilities.
Vocational rehabilitation — office lookup — details and contacts
A little local knowledge goes a long way
Find practical information before you visit or make a move.
Helpful Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Start with the essentials, then follow the source links for more detail.
Odessa is the county seat of Ector County, Texas.
The county overview lists Odessa as its largest community.
The total area is 902 sq mi (2,340 km 2 ), including land and water.
Use the Ector County government website for county offices and public information.
Its official contact page lists 4909 East University Boulevard in Odessa. Confirm current visitor arrangements through the museum’s contact and hours page.
The museum publishes opening information and holiday closures on its own site. Consult the Ellen Noël Art Museum visitor details.
For office information, start with Ector County — Tax Assessor/Collector. Check that page for current office details before a visit.
For departmental information, use Ector County — Sheriff's Office. Check that page for current office details before a visit.
La Bodega Mexican Restaurant & Bar is one option. A downtown Mexican dining option.
Ye Old Bookworm is one option. Browse books on North Grant Avenue.
Dolce Vita Company is one option. Explore a local clothing boutique.
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
My Local Guide
Find Something Fun
Make time for a local discoveryPlan your day around places and experiences in the county.
Kids’ Fun
- Urban Air Trampoline & Adventure Park — Check activity options, age rules and admission.
- Rimrock Raceway — Plan a go-kart outing; check age and height rules.
- Cinergy — Choose from cinema, bowling and arcade activities.
Restaurants
- La Bodega Mexican Restaurant & Bar — A downtown Mexican dining option.
- Barrel & Derrick — Plan a meal in downtown Odessa.
- Casa Ortiz — A casual local dining stop.
Shopping & Retail
- Ye Old Bookworm — Browse books on North Grant Avenue.
- Vintage Deluxe — Explore vintage finds and collectibles.
- Retro Hall Video Games & Collectibles — Browse games and collectibles.
Clothing & Boutiques
- Dolce Vita Company — Explore a local clothing boutique.
- El Centenario — Shop boots, hats and western wear.
- Kirby’s Kloset — Browse clothing, accessories and gifts.
Outdoor Fun
- Odessa Mountain Bike Park — Ride designated trails; membership or a day pass is required.
- Memorial Garden Park — Enjoy a walk or picnic.
- UTPB Trails — Walk the campus trail network.
Free Things To Do
- Ellen Noël Art Museum — View art with free admission; check current hours.
- White-Pool House — Arrange a free historic-house tour in advance.
- Jackrabbit Jamboree public sculptures — Seek out outdoor jackrabbit sculptures around Odessa.
Every place has a story.Find Your Next Favorite.