Odessa is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pasco County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, Odessa had a population of 8,080. Northwest of Tampa, Odessa had been an area of open spaces, ranching, and horse properties. More recently it has seen many suburban property developments as Tampa's population expands.
History
The Odessa area was first settled in the middle 1800s by the W.M. Mobley Family who migrated from Savannah, Georgia. Odessa was named in the 1880s by Peter Demens, a Russian immigrant who developed the community through the Orange Belt Railway. Later, the railroad came through, running parallel with S.R. 54. Demens also founded St. Petersburg, Florida and named both communities after places he used to go to in Russia.
There was once a large sawmill in the area providing employment. This sawmill replaced some smaller ones and was burned in a fire in 1922.
Odessa was home to Tampa Bay Executive Airport until 2004.
Geography
thumb|400px|Location within county from https://www.census.gov
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Census Designated Place lies entirely in Pasco County, Florida, and has a total area of of which is land and (6.04%) is water.
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Odessa had a population of 8,080. The median age was 40.1 years. 23.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 13.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.3 males age 18 and over.
100.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 3,012 households in Odessa, of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 56.8% were married-couple households, 14.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 20.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 19.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
- Nate Pearson
- Vinny Testaverde