Ector County vs. Lipscomb County
Energy Corridors & Cattle Country
Ector County and Lipscomb County capture a Texas built on both momentum and memory. In Ector County: home to Odessa; the Permian Basin drives jobs, rigs, and rapid change. In Lipscomb County, near the Oklahoma line, life revolves around cattle, wheat, and the rhythms of the High Plains. One county thrives on industry and population flow; the other holds onto rural heritage and resilience. Together they reflect the balance Texas must strike between economic engines and frontier communities.
Ector County (Population Approx. 168,000)
Odessa’s identity is tied closely to oil, industry, and blue-collar strength. New development often rises and falls with the price of crude, shaping everything from housing to traffic. Education, especially Odessa College and UTPB, plays a major stabilizing role. Families here pride themselves on toughness, faith, and a culture built on hard work.
Lipscomb County (Population Approx. 3,000)
Centered on Lipscomb, Darrouzett, and Booker, this is one of the least-populated counties in Texas. Ranching, farming, and small-town commerce keep the community going. Challenges include consolidation pressure, long drives to major medical care, and population aging; but residents value a pace of life that honors tradition and neighborliness.
Why It Matters
Texas’ economic leadership depends on both the energy corridors that fuel the grid and the rural counties that maintain the open land and agricultural backbone of the state.
Why Forward
Forward believes Texas’ strength lies in empowering both boomtown energy hubs and quiet ranch communities.
In Ector County, open primaries and Ranked Choice Voting would elevate solutions-focused leaders who care about roads, housing, and workplace safety; not just party scorecards.
In Lipscomb County, the same reforms would ensure ranching and farming families remain heard, even as population shifts make rural representation harder.
Forward’s mission: to build trust, transparency, and teamwork; matters where rigs rise on the horizon and where wheat waves in the wind. Texans deserve systems that respect every county’s needs.
Did You Know…
Odessa’s replica of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is one of the most unique cultural landmarks in West Texas.
Lipscomb County hosts one of Texas’ oldest continuously operated county courthouses.
Why Texans Love Living Here
In Ector County, residents love the strength, grit, and opportunities tied to the Basin. In Lipscomb County, folks love quiet evenings, strong community ties, and the feeling that the land still shapes life.
Key Events That Bring Neighbors Together
Permian Basin Fair & Exposition (Odessa) — A major regional event blending agriculture, arts, and community.
Lipscomb County Old Settlers’ Reunion — Celebrating frontier heritage.
People & Tech Created This
The profiles and shared challenges were gathered from Texas Forward Party supporters and written using ChatGPT and Gemini models to combine verified public data, official county/state sources, and general knowledge from Texas historical and government records:
