Odessa, Missouri Population, Hospitals, Airports, and Schools

Odessa, Missouri is a small town located in western Lafayette County. It has a population of around 2,500 people and covers an area of around 1.4 square miles. The town was founded in 1871 by the railroad and named after the city of Odessa, Ukraine.

The town is home to several historic sites, including the Odessa Historical Museum and the old Odessa Town Hall, which was built in 1884 and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum offers a variety of exhibits about local history and culture, including artifacts from the original settlement of Odessa.

Odessa is also home to several parks and recreational areas. There are two main parks in town: Parkview Park and Memorial Park. Parkview Park offers tennis courts, basketball courts, playgrounds, picnic shelters and restrooms while Memorial Park has a baseball field as well as playgrounds for kids to enjoy. There are also several walking trails throughout town that offer visitors a chance to explore nature without leaving their hometown.

The community also hosts many annual events such as the Fourth of July celebration with fireworks at Memorial Park; an Easter egg hunt at Parkview; the Labor Day Parade in September; Trick or Treating on Halloween; Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Memorial Park; and more!

Odessa is served by two school districts: Odessa R-VII School District which includes two elementary schools (K-5) one middle school (6-8) one high school (9-12); and Wellington R-XIV School District which includes one elementary school (K-4). Both districts offer excellent educational opportunities for students from preschool through high school graduation.

Overall, Odessa is a wonderful place to live with its small-town charm and friendly people who take pride in their community! There’s something for everyone here—from outdoor recreation to historic sites—making it an ideal place to call home.

Population: 4,818. Estimated population in July 2024: 4,841 (+0.5% change)
Males: 2,332 (48.4%), Females: 2,486 (51.6%)

Lafayette County

Zip code: 64076

Demographics

Median resident age: 33.8 years
Median household income: $34,007
Median house value: $85,200

Population by Race

Races in Odessa:

  • White Non-Hispanic (96.6%)
  • Black (1.2%)
  • Two or more races (1.0%)
  • American Indian (1.0%)
  • Hispanic (0.7%)

Ancestries: German (19.8%), United States (15.3%), Irish (12.1%), English (8.4%), French (4.3%), Dutch (3.7%).

Elevation: 935 feet

Land area: 3.5 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Odessa

  • High school or higher: 78.9%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.9%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 3.8%
  • Unemployed: 4.4%
  • Mean travel time to work: 28.7 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Odessa city

  • Never married: 20.7%
  • Now married: 60.2%
  • Separated: 2.3%
  • Widowed: 5.6%
  • Divorced: 11.3%

0.4% Foreign born

Population change in the 1990s: +1,115 (+30.1%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Odessa:

  • LAFAYETTE REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER (about 14 miles; LEXINGTON, MO)
  • RAY COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 22 miles; RICHMOND, MO)
  • WESTERN MISSOURI MEDICAL CENTER (about 22 miles; WARRENSBURG, MO)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Odessa:

  • CHARLES B. WHEELER DOWNTOWN (about 45 miles; KANSAS CITY, MO; Abbreviation: MKC)
  • KANSAS CITY INTL (about 56 miles; KANSAS CITY, MO; Abbreviation: MCI)
  • ROSECRANS MEMORIAL (about 85 miles; ST JOSEPH, MO; Abbreviation: STJ)

Other public-use airports nearest to Odessa:

  • HARRY S TRUMAN REGIONAL (about 9 miles; BATES CITY, MO; Abbreviation: 2M1)
  • LEXINGTON MUNI (about 15 miles; LEXINGTON, MO; Abbreviation: 4K3)
  • EAST KANSAS CITY (about 17 miles; GRAIN VALLEY, MO; Abbreviation: 3GV)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Odessa:

  • CENTRAL MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY (about 22 miles; Warrensburg, MO; Full-time enrollment: 8,957)
  • METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 32 miles; LEES SUMMIT, MO; Full-time enrollment: 4,576)
  • UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY (about 43 miles; KANSAS CITY, MO; Full-time enrollment: 8,830)
  • DEVRY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (about 44 miles; KANSAS CITY, MO; Full-time enrollment: 2,189)
  • METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 44 miles; KANSAS CITY, MO; Full-time enrollment: 2,998)
  • METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY COLLEGES (about 45 miles; KANSAS CITY, MO; Full-time enrollment: 2,259)
  • JOHNSON COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 53 miles; OVERLAND PARK, KS; Full-time enrollment: 8,857)

Schools

Public high school in Odessa:

  • ODESSA HIGH (Students: 756; Location: 713 S THIRD ST; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Odessa:

  • ODESSA MIDDLE (Students: 755; Location: 607 S FIFTH ST; Grades: 05 – 08)
  • MCQUERRY ELEM. (Students: 482; Location: 607 S THIRD ST; Grades: KG – 02)
  • ODESSA UPPER ELEM. (Students: 329; Location: 310 S FIRST ST; Grades: 03 – 04)