Olla, Louisiana

How Olla is governed

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0 of 14 positions listed. Gray dashed boxes are placeholders waiting for a name.

• Mayor

  Executive

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  The city's chief elected official. Presides over the executive branch, proposes the budget and represents the city.

  • City Manager / Administrator

    Executive

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    The professional administrator who runs day-to-day operations (in some cities appointed by the council instead of the mayor).

    • Police Chief

      Administration & departments

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      Leads the police department.

    • Fire Chief

      Administration & departments

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      Leads the fire and emergency services department.

    • Public Works Director

      Administration & departments

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      Streets, water, sewer, and city buildings.

    • Finance Director

      Administration & departments

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      The budget, taxes, and city accounts.

    • Planning & Zoning Director

      Administration & departments

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      Land use, zoning, building permits.

    • Parks & Recreation Director

      Administration & departments

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      Parks, programs, and public facilities.

• City Council

  Legislative

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  The elected body that passes ordinances, sets the tax rate and approves the budget.

  • City Clerk

    Administration & departments

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    Keeps the official records, runs meeting agendas and, often, local elections.

  • City Attorney

    Administration & departments

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    The city's lawyer; advises officials and prosecutes ordinance violations.

  • Boards & Commissions

    Legislative

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    Citizen advisory bodies, such as planning, zoning appeals and library boards.

• Municipal Court

  Judicial

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  Hears traffic, ordinance and other minor cases.

  • Municipal Judge

    Judicial

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    Presides over the municipal court.

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Population over time

From 1,617 in 2010 to 1,295 in 2020 (−19.9%).

History

The Town of Olla, incorporated in 1899 is the oldest incorporated town in LaSalle Parish and the Olla State Bank Building is the oldest permanent brick structure in LaSalle Parish. Settled prior to the American Civil War by the descendants of Scotch-Irish or Ulster Scot immigrants, the area around the modern Town of Olla was formerly known as Castor Sulfur Springs with a steamboat port located on nearby Bayou Castor. Castor Sulphur Springs was abandoned and moved to the present site of the town of Olla in 1891 when the Houston, Central Arkansas, and Northern Railroad was constructed.

In 1890, the Olla Military Institute, a private military school was established. The school flourished for several years until 1899, when a fire destroyed the campus. At this time, a public school, Olla High School, was constructed to serve the towns of Olla and Standard. In 1950, Olla, Urania, and Tullos High Schools closed and consolidated as LaSalle High School. The Olla Elementary School is located on the former site of the Olla Military Institute and Olla High School campus.

The Town of Olla was officially incorporated on August 1, 1899, with Dr. William V. Taylor III as its first mayor. In 1906, the Zeagler Family established and erected the Olla State Bank as the cornerstone of the downtown. Built in Romanesque Revival style, the bank's structure is said to be influenced by Louisiana native and architect Henry Hobson Richardson. The Olla State Bank served Olla and the surrounding region throughout the Great Depression until its merger with Southern Heritage Bank in 1980s. The Ernest Gray Gang as well as The Jimmy Yarrell Gang held up the bank in the 1930s.

Olla is also the only documented armed train holdup in Louisiana history. In August 1900, unknown bandits built a fire on the tracks north of Olla and forced the train to stop. The group then boarded and ordered the conductor to disconnect the mail and express cars from the train. The robbers got away with less than $50. The expected money was not on board the train.

in 1912, near the site of the former Olla Military Institute, B.E. Zeagler of Olla and L.C. Nunn of Columbia, Louisiana organized and constructed the North Central Louisiana Fair, agriculture fair barns, and an equine racetrack stadium. Since inception, the Olla Fair Grounds have served the parishes of La Salle, Winn, Grant, and Caldwell. The Historic Olla Fair Grounds hosts an annual event every fall and it is one of the oldest continuously running fairs or carnivals in the United States.

In 1910, the state of Louisiana split Catahoula Parish in half. The western half where the Town of Olla is situated became La Salle Parish, named for French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. An immediate struggle developed between the towns of Olla and Jena over the location of the parish courthouse and seat. Jena was subsequently chosen as the La Salle parish seat because of its central location. Even without the prestige of being the parish seat, the early 20th century brought many positive changes and growth to the Town of Olla. Olla's rapidly economy grew with the success of large sawmills in the area – Urania Lumber Company Tremont Lumber Company, and Louisiana Central Lumber Company. During this time electricity and natural gas were introduced to the citizens of Olla along with a silent Theater opened by Mr. Sam Shamblin.

Known for its excellent ground water, Olla was the site of the Olla Bottling Works. During the 1920s and 1930s, the Olla Bottling Works made and distributed numerous flavored carbonated beverages including NuGrape Soda. The Olla Bottling Works was purchased by a firm in Monroe and eventually closed and merged with the Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

The Southern Baptist encampment and the Civilian Conservation Corps Camp activities also left their mark on Olla and region. Each year Southern Baptist campers gathered for two weeks of religious instruction, preaching, and recreation. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Camp occupied the same facilities the remainder of the year. The region is still crossed with public and private roads built by the CCC. The Town of Olla is also the site of Camp Olla, an annual Pentecostal summer camp, retreat, and hurricane evacuation shelter.

In 1938, the Olla Field was discovered and brought the oil and gas industry to Central Louisiana with the help of H. L. Hunt. This exploration led to the discovery of a significant natural gas and oil producing reservoir. The Olla Oil field was the first discovery of oil sands below the Wilcox Group Eocene strata. Previous oil discoveries made in Urania and Tullos were in sands above this formation. The Olla Oil Field along with the East Texas Oil Field production helped provide critical fuel to the United States military during World War II.

On November 23, 2004, a tornado that reached F3 strength tore through parts of the town, destroying or damaging a large portion of the town, including LaSalle High School. Classes were held in an abandoned sportswear factory, known as Holloway Sportswear, until a new high school was constructed.

LaSalle High School Louisiana High School State Championships

2025 Louisiana DIV Softball State Championship, LaSalle 11-2 Logansport

2021 Louisiana 1A Softball State Championship, LaSalle 12-4 Oak Grove

2017 Louisiana 1A Softball State Championship, LaSalle 6-2 Oak Grove

2002 Louisiana 1A Softball State Championship, LaSalle 4-2 Mangham

2017 Louisiana 1A Baseball State Championship, LaSalle 8-3 Grand Lake

1951 Louisiana B/C Baseball State Championship, LaSalle 6-5 Delhi

In 2005, the town provided shelter and refuge to many evacuees from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

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