Hubbry Logo
search
logo
2289660

Odessa, Delaware

logo
Community Hub0 Subscribers
2289660

Odessa, Delaware

logo
Community Hub0 Subscribers
Write something...
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
See all
Odessa, Delaware

Odessa is a town in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. As of the 2020 census, Odessa had a population of 366. Founded as Cantwell's Bridge in the 18th century, the name was changed in the 19th century, after the Ukrainian port city of the same name. Today a significant part of the town is a historic district list on the National Register of Historic Places.

Odessa was originally known as Cantwell's Bridge. In 1721, a son of Captain Edmund Cantwell opened a toll bridge over the Appoquinimink Creek at this location. Cantwell's Bridge became an important port that shipped wheat, corn, tobacco, and produce down the creek to the Delaware Bay, where it traveled to distant ports. The town was also home to tanneries that produced leather goods. Cantwell's Bridge would continue to prosper as an agricultural port into the 19th century. In 1855, the grain trade collapsed after the Delaware Railroad was built to the west through Middletown. The railroad was originally proposed to be built through Cantwell's Bridge but the merchants and vessel owners in the town opposed. Following this, the town was renamed to Odessa after the port city of Odessa in the Russian Empire (present-day Ukraine) in an effort to keep the town alive as a major port. The town saw a slight boom during the American Civil War.

Odessa is located at 39°27′26″N 75°39′41″W / 39.45722°N 75.66139°W / 39.45722; -75.66139 (39.4573340°N, 75.6613184°W), along the Appoquinimink River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2), of which 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) is land and 2.22% is water.

The Delaware Route 1 toll road is the most significant highway passing through Odessa. Its route follows the western edge of town, with an interchange with DE 299 that serves Odessa and neighboring Middletown. U.S. Route 13 passes through the heart of Odessa along Dupont Parkway, which follows 5th Street northbound and 6th Street southbound. Delaware Route 299 is the main east–west route in Odessa, passing through the town along Main Street. DART First State provides bus service to Odessa at a park and ride lot west of the town near the interchange between DE 1 and DE 299. The park and ride lot serves the Route 43 and Route 63 buses to Middletown, the Route 301 bus to Wilmington and Dover, and the seasonal Route 305 "Beach Connection" bus to Lewes.

Delmarva Power, a subsidiary of Exelon, provides electricity to Odessa. Chesapeake Utilities provides natural gas to the town. Trash and recycling collection is provided by the town.

Odessa is within the Appoquinimink School District. Odessa High School is nearby.MOT Charter School is an area charter school.

Middletown School District 60 and Odessa School District 61 merged into the Appoquinimink district effective July 1, 1969.

See all
User Avatar
No comments yet.