The City of Odem is a historic city located in southwestern San Patricio County, Texas, approximately 20 miles northwest of Corpus Christi. Established in 1909 and named after county sheriff David Odem, the city grew as a key agricultural and rail hub following the arrival of the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway in 1907. Over the decades, Odem evolved from a vegetable shipping center into a community supported by grain farming and oil production. Today, it remains a close-knit town, offering a quiet, rural lifestyle with convenient access to the Corpus Christi metro area.
Despite its inland location, Odem is vulnerable to flooding, particularly during heavy rain events and tropical systems. According to the city’s floodplain management regulations, certain areas are subject to periodic inundation, leading to potential loss of life and property, health and safety hazards, and disruption of commerce and governmental services. As of recent assessments, approximately 22.5% of properties in Odem are at risk of flooding over the next 30 years. The city continues to prioritize infrastructure improvements and community preparedness to mitigate these risks and seeks to continue working with American Flood Coalition to address its goals.
