Page Contents for Odessa, Delaware

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Government

Chamber of Commerce.

Libraries.

Schools.

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Statistics & Facts

The Delaware state capital is Dover.
The population of Odessa is approximately 303 (1990), 364 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 132 (1990), 139 (2010).
The amount of land area in Odessa is 1.132 sq. kilometers.
The amount of surface water is 0.035 sq kilometers.
The distance from Odessa to Washington DC is 85 miles.
The distance to the Delaware state capital is 22 miles. (as the crow flies)
Odessa is positioned 39.45 degrees north of the equator and 75.66 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Odessa elevation is 50 feet above sea level.

Location

on Hwy 13 just east of Middletown in the general Wilmington area.
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History & History Related Items

The area was first known as Appoquinimink which was the name for the local creek. This was in the 1600's. In 1731, Richard Cantwell built a tollbridge over the creek and the accompanying settlement became known as Cantwell's Bridge. They changed the name the same year, 1855, they told the Delaware railroad to lay their tracks somewhere else. They felt they didn't need the railroad for their prosperous grain-shipping industry. The name of Odessa came from the Russian grain port on the Black Sea. They hoped the name would buoy up the sagging grain industry of Odessa.

Before the Civil War, Odessa was an important station on the underground railroad. You can see many examples of 18th and 19th century period homes in town. Tours are available.

Here is a history page for Odessa.

Odessa has one of the finest collections of late 18th- and early 19th-century architecture in the middle Atlantic region. The center of town is on the National Register of Historic Places and the entire town has been zoned as historic.
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The settling of Odessa

1721

Attractions

Historic Houses Of Odessa
109 Main St
Odessa, DE 19730
Phone: 302-378-4069

Odessa Memorial Park and other Odessa parks
On Route 299 west of town,this park has a playground, walking-biking path, sports facilities and more

Christmas in Odessa
Presented each year by the Womens Club of Odessa.

Old Drawyers Church
This church was started in 1773 but the interior wasn't completed for 60 years! The original Presbyterian congregation was established in 1708. The church is open for annual service, the first Sunday in June or by appointment
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Odessa City Government

Town Of Odessa
315 E Main
Odessa, DE 19730
Phone: 302-378-2510

The mayor and three council members plus the treasurer are elcted for two year terms in odd-numbered years. The remaining two council members are voted on the even years.

Odessa Fire Company
P.O. Box 81
Odessa, Delaware 19709
Phone: 302-378-8929

Odessa Chamber

Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 1
Middletown, DE 19709
Phone: (302) 378-7545
Email
The chamber serves Middleton, Odessa, Townsend, Delaware City, St. Georges and the area.

Odessa Organizations

Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 1
Middletown, DE 19709
Phone: (302) 378-7545
Email
The chamber serves Middleton, Odessa, Townsend, Delaware City, St. Georges and the area.

Odessa Libraries

Corbit-Calloway Memorial Library
115 High Street
Odessa, DE 19730
Phone: 302.378.8838
FAX: 302.378.7803

Odessa Schools

Appoquinimink School District
118 S 6th St
Odessa, DE 19730
Phone: 302-378-5010