History of Olla
Olla offers a quiet, safe, family-friendly lifestyle. Opportunities
abound for outdoor activities and recreational pursuits. Our citizens
enjoy a high quality of life, a pleasant climate, and great schools. The
low crime rate, quiet neighborhoods, friendly people, and recreational
opportunities offer a family atmosphere that is next to none. Olla lies
in the Northwest corner of LaSalle Parish and is at the halfway point
between Monroe and Alexandria, the economic and cultural centers of
central and north Louisiana.
History
Olla was named after Miss Olla Mills. The site served as a steam
boat port on the nearby Castor River and between 1871 and 1911 was
a nationally known health spa. A military high school, the Olla
Institute, was also named after Miss Mills, who was a prominent early
resident. The school flourished and attracted students from a wide
area until it burned down in 1899. In 1893 the Houston, Central,
Arkansas, and Northern Railroad came through the area and helped
add permanence to the town in its current location. It was
incorporated as the town of Olla in August 1899. Olla is also known as
the site of the only railroad holdup in the state of Louisiana. The
robbers' goal was a large money shipment which was transferred
before it reached the robbery site.
Recreational and Cultural Opportunities
There are unlimited opportunities for leisure and recreation in Olla.
In June of 2009 construction of phase one of the town’s recreation
complex will be complete. Citizens will enjoy a leisurely walk on the
trail; watch children of all ages play baseball or softball or dip their
fishing line in the pond. The nearby public swimming pool is a
welcome relief in the summer months and the Recreation Center
offers many opportunities for fun including four bowling lanes. The
Centennial Cultural Center encourages and nurtures culture and fine
arts in the area. The center offers a variety of programs for all ages
including painting lessons, guitar lessons, stained glass, and drama
classes. Annually the center hosts the Central LA Bluegrass Festival
downtown on the last weekend of April. Downtown Homecoming is
an event held each fall with all day entertainment and lots of food,
family and friendship. The Downtown Dixie Center and adjoining
Courtyard provide a beautiful location for area events and offer the
mature adults in the community daily activities. 2008 marked the 100
year celebration for the Olla Fair which is the oldest district fair in the
state; held the second week in October of each year. Nearby golf
courses and tennis courts as well as nearby lakes and streams, un-
harvested forests, quality water that support an abundance of native
plants and wildlife offer excellent opportunities for hunting, fishing,
and water sports.
Economy
Forestry and oil dominate the local economic base. The hard-
working labor force, excellent transportation network, abundant raw
materials and availability of land for commercial and industrial
development make Olla an ideal prospect for business investment.
The town is working to develop its Historic District in downtown,
which will provide opportunities to property owners and businesses in
the downtown area. In addition the Town is marketing its vacant
75,000 square-foot commercial building. In addition, the Town has
partnered with Wood Forest Development Foundation for the land in
the Olla Industrial Park; a federally recognized non-profit organization
whose main mission is the development of new and expanded uses of
wood products in the tri-parish area of LaSalle, Grant and Winn. One
project of the foundation is to build a 25 megawatt “green” power
plant that will use approximately 800 tons of wood waste per day and
will potentially create 25+ permanent jobs, not to mention the
additional work t will provide for the logging industry.
Infrastructure
Entergy is the area’s electric carrier.
Atmos provides gas service to the area.
Centurylink is the telephone service provider.
The Town of Olla supplies the water, sewer, fire and garbage services.
Transportation
Olla is strategically situated in central Louisiana, in the region
known as the crossroads of the state. Its location is convenient to all
the major cities of Louisiana, providing residential and commercial
business a wide range of opportunities for market access,
transportation, and recreation. US-165 travels the northwest corner of
the parish, passing through Olla and connecting with I-49 to the south
in Alexandria and I-20 to the north in Monroe. The two main
transportation arteries in LaSalle Parish are US-84 and US-165. US-
84 runs southeast northwest, through the parish connecting Jena and
Tullos with I-49 to the west and I-55 to the east. Olla is also
intersected by Louisiana highways 124, 125, 127 and the Union
Pacific Railroad. Monroe Regional Airport and Alexandria
International Airport provide commercial service; Olla has a small
local airport. The Ouachita River in Columbia offers the nearest travel
by boat.
Emergency Services:
Medical: Olla is located within minutes of Hardtner Medical
Center and its adjoining doctor’s clinics, as well as having access to
Citizens Medical Center and LaSalle General Hospital, both of which
are within a twenty-mile radius.
Fire Services: The Town of Olla has a fire rating of class 3, the
lowest in the area. The well-equipped Fire Department has two fire
trucks, two tankers, and a rescue vehicle, which is equipped with a
Jaws of Life unit. The department has sufficiently trained personnel to
adequately meet any emergency, which may arise. The Department
also has Fire Service Agreements with every Fire Department within a
40-mile radius, of which they can call for assistance/backup.
Law Enforcement Services: The Town of Olla has a full-time
Police Department offering 24-hour coverage for its citizens with over
80 years of combined experience. The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s
Department is available to assist the Town of Olla as needed and has a
sub-station located within the city limits of the Town of Olla.
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| The Town of Olla LaSalle Parish, Louisiana |