Oakalla, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oakalla, Texas
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 Oakalla, Texas
Location in Texas
Oakalla, Texas
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Burnet |
| Elevation | 807 ft (246 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 512 & 737 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1364301 |
Oakalla is a small, quiet community in Burnet County, Texas, in the United States. It's called an "unincorporated community" because it doesn't have its own local government like a city. In the year 2000, about 45 people lived there.
Contents
A Look at Oakalla's Past
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People first started settling in the area known as Oakalla in the 1850s. It was a time when many pioneers were moving to Texas.
Early Days and Growth
A post office opened in Oakalla on May 19, 1879. This was a big step for the community. It meant people could send and receive mail easily. The post office stayed open until after 1930.
Just two years later, Oakalla had several important businesses. There was a cotton gin to process cotton, a drugstore for medicines, and a blacksmith shop. A general store sold everyday goods, and a doctor helped people who were sick.
By 1890, Oakalla was growing even more. It had eight new businesses. There were also Baptist and Methodist churches, showing the community's strong faith. A gristmill helped grind grain, and the population reached 100 people.
Boom and Decline
The community kept growing. In 1896, Oakalla had 14 businesses, and its population increased to 175. The Oakalla Baptist Church was built in 1908. Land for a Methodist church was given in 1923, and the church was built two years later. Both churches were still active in 1990.
The population of Oakalla reached 180 in 1925 and then 250 in 1931. At that time, there were 10 businesses in the community. However, the population later dropped to 100 between 1940 and 1970. It then fell further to 45 people in the late 1980s and stayed at that level through 2000. In 1990, Oakalla still had its general store.
Where is Oakalla?
Oakalla is located in the far northeastern part of Burnet County. You can find it near where two roads, RM 963 and FM 2657, meet. It's also close to the Lampasas River and Rocky Creek.
The community is about 9 miles (14 km) north of Briggs. It's also about 27 miles (43 km) northeast of the city of Burnet.
Learning in Oakalla
For a long time, Oakalla had private schools. Later, a special building was made with classrooms on its second floor. This building was on 2 acres (0.81 ha) of land given in 1890. It was also used for church services, especially for the Methodist group.
School Buildings and Changes
The first wooden school building was taken down in 1920. A new building was constructed using stone from an old rock school nearby. This new school had two classrooms. In 1929, two more classrooms were added.
Big changes happened in the school system. In 1946, high school students from Oakalla started going to school in Briggs. Ten years later, in 1956, elementary students also began attending school in Briggs.
Joining a Larger School District
In 1958, the Oakalla school joined the Lampasas Independent School District. The old school building then became a community center. It also served as a branch of the county library. Today, students from Oakalla are still part of the Lampasas ISD. Young elementary students attend Hanna Springs Elementary in Lampasas.
