Olla, Louisiana facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Olla, Louisiana
Town
Town of Olla
Location of Olla in LaSalle Parish, Louisiana.
Location of Louisiana in the United States
Country	United States
State	Louisiana
Parish	La Salle
Area
• Total	3.93 sq mi (10.19 km2)
• Land	3.93 sq mi (10.19 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	157 ft (48 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,295
• Density	329.27/sq mi (127.11/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	71465
Area code(s)	318
FIPS code	22-57905

Olla is a town in northwest La Salle Parish, Louisiana, United States. It is located in the heart of the Louisiana Central Hill Country. In 2020, about 1,295 people lived there.

Olla has a special downtown area called a Historic District. This area is recognized by the government for its important history. The town also has a Louisiana historic marker.

The Olla Historic District hosts fun events each year. In April, there is the Central Louisiana Bluegrass Festival. In the autumn, the Olla Homecoming Parade and Festival take place. This happens at the same time as the LaSalle High School Homecoming.

The town also celebrates Christmas with a nighttime parade. There is a Miss Merry Christmas Pageant and a Community Christmas event. These happen when local schools start their Christmas break. The parade ends at Santa's Gazebo in the Olla Town Square.

The Olla Town Square is part of the Historic District. It has a Farmers Market/Community Pavilion, a Wishing Tree, and a Community Center. There is also a Gazebo, a historic marker, and a stage. The Olla Wishing Tree is special. Local stories say it can "grant wishes" if you close your eyes and touch its bark. You can rent the Town Square facilities for events.

Each July 4, Olla hosts the "Tri-City Popper" fireworks show. This event is funded by donations from Olla, Tullos, and Urania. The Olla Volunteer Fire Department puts on the show at the Historic Olla Fairgrounds.

• The town's motto is "Small Town, Big Heart." This shows how friendly and generous its people are.
• Olla has two large parks with a paved walking trail. There are also baseball fields, a public swimming pool, and a bowling alley. The YMCA helps run the Recreation Center.

Discovering Olla's Past

Olla is the oldest town in LaSalle Parish. It was settled before the American Civil War. Back then, it was known as Castor Sulfur Springs. It was a steamboat port on nearby Bayou Castor. The area had a post office, a general store, a hotel, and a spa. There was also a place to store dry goods and cotton.

Castor Sulfur Springs was famous across the country as a "health spa." This was because of its natural sulfur muds and spring water.

Schools and Education in Olla

In 1890, the Olla Military Institute was started. It was a private military school. Some of the first teachers included Ms. Olla Mills. The school did well for several years. But in 1899, a fire destroyed the campus.

After the fire, a public school called Olla High School was built. It served Olla and a town called Standard. In 1950, Olla, Urania, and Tullos High Schools combined. They became LaSalle High School. Today, Olla Elementary School is on the same spot where the Olla Military Institute and Olla High School once stood.

How Olla Got Its Name

In 1891, the Houston, Central Arkansas, and Northern Railroad came to the area. They bought land to build a railroad more than a mile from Castor Sulfur Springs. Town leaders worried their town would be cut off. They decided a train station was needed to keep the town alive.

Dr. Frank Mills and Mr. J.D. Adams set aside 40 acres for a station and a new town site. This happened on February 9, 1891. They wanted to name the new community "New Castor Sulfur Springs." But the state said no. The government was not allowing new towns named after springs or rivers. This was to avoid confusion.

They thought about names like New Lebanon. Many Greek and Biblical names were also popular then. After much discussion, they chose to name the town after Olla Mills. She was the daughter of Dr. Frank Mills. Ms. Mills was a talented and popular young lady. She was involved in community activities. She also led the English department at the Olla Military Institute. Miss Olla Mills, who later became Mrs. CC Young, passed away in 1901. She is buried in the Olla Cemetery.

Olla's Official Beginning and Early Businesses

The Town of Olla officially became a town on August 1, 1899. Dr. William V. Taylor III was its first mayor. In 1906, the Zeagler Family built the Olla State Bank. It became a very important building downtown. The bank's style was Romanesque Revival. It is said to be influenced by Louisiana architect Henry Hobson Richardson.

The Olla State Bank helped Olla and the nearby area during the Great Depression. It later joined with Southern Heritage Bank in the 1980s. The bank was robbed a few times in the 1930s.

Olla was also the site of the only train holdup in Louisiana history. In August 1900, some unknown people stopped a train north of Olla. They built a fire on the tracks to make it stop. The group then got on the train. They told the conductor to unhook the mail and express cars. They opened the express safe. But the large money shipment they expected was not there. The robbers got away with less than $50.

Fairgrounds and Community Events

Near where the Olla Military Institute used to be, B.E. Zeagler and L.C. Nunn built fair barns and a racetrack stadium in 1912. This place is now called the Olla Fairgrounds. It has served the parishes of La Salle, Winn, Grant, and Caldwell.

The Olla Fairgrounds still hosts an annual event every fall. It is one of the oldest fairs that has run continuously in the United States. The fairgrounds also has a modern rodeo arena. It hosts the Olla Rodeo, which is sponsored by the local Kiwanis International club.

Growth and Changes in Olla

In 1910, the state of Louisiana divided Catahoula Parish. The western part, where Olla is, became La Salle Parish. It was named after French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. There was a debate between Olla and Jena about where the parish courthouse should be. Jena was chosen as the parish seat because it was more central.

Even without being the parish seat, Olla changed a lot in the early 1900s. Olla's economy grew because of two large sawmills nearby. These were the Urania Lumber Company to the south and Louisiana Central Lumber Company to the north. Mr. G.W. McCartney brought electric lights to Olla. Homes also got natural gas. The town took another step forward when Mr. Sam Shamblin opened a silent movie house. Later, a more modern theater was built.

Olla was known for its excellent groundwater. This led to the Olla Bottling Works. In the 1920s and 1930s, this company made and sold many flavored drinks. One popular drink was NuGrape Soda. The Olla Bottling Works was later bought by a company in Monroe. It eventually joined with the Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

Camps and Oil Discovery

The Southern Baptist encampment and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp also had an impact on Olla. Each year, Baptist campers came for two weeks of religious teaching and fun. The CCC Camp used the same facilities for the rest of the year. Many public and private roads in the area were built by the CCC. Olla is also home to Camp Olla. This is an annual Pentecostal summer camp and a place for people to stay during hurricanes.

In 1938, oil was found just outside Olla. This was a huge help for the local economy. The large sawmills had started to slow down. The Olla Oil Field brought many new people to the area. It still produces a lot of light sweet crude oil and natural gas.

Today, Olla is a regional center for banking, shopping, and manufacturing. It is very involved with the forestry and oil production industries. Downtown Olla is a recognized Historic District. Many buildings there are being restored for businesses.

On November 23, 2004, a strong tornado hit parts of the town. It destroyed or damaged many buildings, including LaSalle High School. Students had classes in an old sportswear factory until a new high school was built. In 2005, Olla welcomed many people who had to leave their homes because of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Olla's Location and Surroundings

Olla is in the Louisiana Central Hill Country. This is an area of hills between the Red and Ouachita River valleys. Its exact location is 31°53′58″N 92°14′5″W / 31.89944°N 92.23472°W / 31.89944; -92.23472.

The United States Census Bureau says the town covers about 3.93 square miles (10.19 km²). All of this area is land. Olla is located exactly halfway between Monroe to the north and Alexandria to the south. Each city is about 47 miles (76 km) away.

To the south, the towns of Urania and Tullos are four and seven miles away. The town of Jena is 16 miles (26 km) to the southeast. Olla is surrounded by pine and other types of forests. The beautiful nature here attracts hunters, nature lovers, and tourists.

The town of Olla is served by the Union Pacific Railroad. U.S. Route 165 runs north and south through the town. Nearby U.S. Route 84 and several state roads provide east and west travel.

People and Population

In 2010, there were 1,385 people living in Olla. There were 587 households and 407 families. The population density was about 354 people per square mile (136.7 per km²). There were 681 homes.

Most of the people in Olla were White (95.06%). About 2.46% were African American. Around 1.35% were Native American. A small number were Asian (0.42%) or from other races. About 1.20% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

In the households, 32.2% had children under 18 living with them. About 55.5% were married couples. The average household had 2.41 people. The average family had 2.95 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 26.1% were under 18. About 15.2% were 65 or older. The average age was 36 years.

The towns of Olla, Urania, Tullos, and Georgetown are part of the Olla Market Area. This area also includes parts of LaSalle, Caldwell, Grant, and Winn Parishes.

Schools Serving Olla

The La Salle Parish School Board runs the schools that serve Olla:

• Olla-Standard Elementary School (in Olla)
• La Salle Junior High School (in Urania, Louisiana)
• La Salle High School (in Olla)

Famous People from Olla

• Thomas "Bud" Brady: He was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1976 to 1988. He lived in Olla.
• John Cooksey: An eye doctor and former congressman from Monroe. He graduated from LaSalle High School.
• Kristy Curry: She is the head coach for the Alabama Crimson Tide women's basketball team.
• Ronald Jackson Hays: An admiral in the United States Navy. He attended the United States Naval Academy.
• Herman Johnson: An offensive guard for the New York Giants football team.
• Gene Jones: An actor who has been in movies and on TV.
• Billy Masters: A tight end for the Denver Broncos football team.
• J. Reed Walters: The district attorney for LaSalle Parish.
• Alfred (Al) Busby: Born in 1928, he is a long-time town resident and former businessman. He was known as a great transmission mechanic.

See also

In Spanish: Olla (Luisiana) para niños