Oil History

Oil Was Discovered in Ector County in 1926 and Changed Everything

The first producing oil well in Ector County came in on December 28, 1926, launching a boom that turned a small cow town into a major city.

Ector County History & Culture

Before oil, Odessa was a quiet ranching town. The W.E. Connell ranch, about sixteen miles southwest of town, produced the first oil in the county in late 1926. More fields followed quickly — Penn Field in 1929, Cowden Field in 1930 — and the population jumped from 750 in 1925 to 5,000 by 1929.

Between 1926 and 1990, Ector County produced over 2.7 billion barrels of petroleum, ranking it second in Texas by total output. That oil history shapes everything from local property values to the booms and busts residents still live through today. The Permian Basin oil show is still held in Odessa.

Source to confirm: Handbook of Texas – Odessa, TX

More Ector County notes

Property Tax Basics

Two Offices Handle Your Property Tax in Ector County

The appraisal district sets your property value; the tax assessor-collector handles payments — they are two separate offices.

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Homestead Exemption

Homestead Exemption Cuts Your School Tax Bill

Texas law gives homeowners a $140,000 exemption from the school district portion of their property tax if the home is their primary residence.

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Senior & Disabled Exemption

Extra Tax Break for Homeowners 65 or Older

Homeowners who are 65 or older or who are disabled get an additional $60,000 school district exemption and may qualify for a tax freeze.

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Ag Valuation

Agricultural Land Can Be Taxed on Productivity, Not Market Value

Landowners who use their Ector County property for farming or ranching can apply to have it taxed on what it produces, not what it would sell for.

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