Kratom in Odem

Odem, Texas is at the intersection of two rail lines twenty miles from Corpus Christi in southwestern San Patricio County. The St. Louis, Brownsville, and Mexico Railway laid tracks through the county in 1907, and the town was platted in 1909 by John James Welder and David Odem. It was named for Odem, who was the county sheriff. The post office opened in 1909 with Jarrad B. Clark as postmaster. The town developers sold farmland from the Brazado Pasture, which was once part of the Coleman-Fulton Pasture Company lands. The development of this ranchland into farms, plus the absorption of the nearby small communities of Meansville, Angelita, Kaleta, and Sharpsburg, helped Odem grow as a trading center. The Odem State Bank opened in 1914, and by 1915 the town had a population of 500 and three churches, several general merchandise stores, and a growing school system. The Odem News, with J. C. Price as editor, began publication on April 1, 1915. An Odem chamber of commerce was organized in 1928, and the town was incorporated in 1929, with J. F. Janicke as mayor.

The City of Odem, incorporated in 1933, is a Type A General Law municipality with an area containing 600 or more inhabitants. Type A municipalities are the larger general law municipalities. The governing body of a municipality operating as a Type A general law is known as the “city council” and varies in size depending on whether the municipality has been divided into wards. Since the City of Odem isn’t divided into wards, the governing body consists of a mayor and five council members.

The local economy initially depended on growing vegetables for commercial markets. In the early 1930s, A. R. Lee operated the Pioneer Cannery, which produced Del Mar brand vegetables. In the fall of 1930, an entire trainload of radishes moved from the Las Palmas Farms, owned by E. C. Caldwell, to northern markets. During the season, up to twelve cars of radishes a day left Odem. Onions, cabbage, carrots, beets, and spinach were shipped out of the Odem sheds. By the 1980s cotton, corn, and grain sorghum had supplanted vegetables. At that time Odem supported a large grain elevator, and three gins were located within a few miles of the city. Oil, first discovered in the area during the 1930s, diversified the local economy. During the 1980s many Odem residents worked in nearby Corpus Christi. Growth in the outlying rural areas, as well as urban development, pushed the town’s estimated population to nearly 3,000 by 1988 when it had thirty-six rated businesses. In 1990 the population of Odem was reported as 2,366. By 2010 the population was 2,389. (source)

Family-owned and operated since 2004, The Original Railroad Seafood Station is a favorite of locals and tourists alike. Recently remodeled in August 2021, the restaurant still provides the same family-friendly atmosphere and options for every eater. Their menu obviously features an array of seafood, with their fried shrimp being the talk of the town, as well as a myriad of salads, soups, steaks, pasta, desserts, and daily food and drink specials. As their saying goes, it’s ‘shrimply delicious!’

The over 11,000-acre  Nueces Delta Preserve protects valuable wetland habitat and offers engaging field experiences for area students. Located at the north end of Nueces Bay near Odem, Texas, the property protects a variety of habitats and is known for the quality of its conservation and land management practices. The Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program (CBBEP) bases its Delta Discovery education program here, offering a variety of free field experiences and workshops to teachers and students through scheduled site visits. At the CBBEP, certified interpreters/educators lead groups to discover the wonders of the estuary.  Student field experiences are aligned to state standards and are available for all grade levels. 

CBBEP workshops encourage teachers to take their knowledge to the classroom. Each workshop participant leaves with knowledge and equipment to continue environmental science education in their schools. In addition to these educational activities, the Nueces Delta Preserve is the site of several research stations and conservation projects. We’ve re-established a prairie wetland, built nest boxes for owls, planted trees, and removed invasive plants. Our land management efforts conserve the property, enhance the habitats, encourage wildlife, and provide significant space for learning in nature. The Nueces Delta Preserve is not open to the public at this time but does host events that are open to the general public. Please see our Outreach page for more information.