On November 23, 2004, a tornado struck the town of Olla, Louisiana, in north LaSalle parish. Of the 587 homes in the town, 163 were destroyed, either totally, or beyond economical repair. One person was killed. The high school building sustained major damage, and classes for the rest of the year are being held in a nearby factory building until the school can be rebuilt. It is not known whether the existing building can be repaired, or if a new structure will be built.
Here is what the Free Dictionary says about Olla:
La Salle Parish is a parish located in the U.S. State of Louisiana. As of 2000, the population is 14,282.
Geography
The parish has a total area of 1,716 km2 (662 mi2). 1,616 km2 (624 mi2) of it is land and 100 km2 (39 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 5.82% water.
Demographics
As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,417.
Geography
Location of Olla, Louisiana
Olla is located at 31°53'58" North, 92°14'5" West (31.899443, -92.234774), the town has a total area of 8.9 km². 8.9 km² (3.4 mi²) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 1,417 people, 587 households, and 407 families residing in the town. The population density is 160.0/km² (413.9/mi²). There are 681 housing units at an average density of 76.9/km² (198.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 95.06% White, 3.46% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. 1.20% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 587 households out of which 32.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% are married couples living together, 11.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% are non-families. 27.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.41 and the average family size is 2.95.
In the town the population is spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years. For every 100 females there are 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $24,762, and the median income for a family is $31,648. Males have a median income of $30,188 versus $15,833 for females. The per capita income for the town is $11,669. 23.5% of the population and 19.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 26.9% are under the age of 18 and 14.5% are 65 or older.
The high school I attended (many years ago) played football against LaSalle High School in the parish rivalry. We were a 3A school, they were a 1-A school, but the rivalry was intense enough that either one could prevail in any year.
Olla was the first town in the parish to open a recreation center with a 3-lane bowling alley and pool tables in a youth center setting, rather than a pool hall, where the tough kids went to smoke and hang out. I learned to play rotation and eight ball on the pool tables in the Olla Rec Center. My own town built a rec center of its own a few years later, in part I believe because they were somewhat shamed by Olla's being the first to do so, and because a lot of parents were fretting about so many kids making the 18 mile one way drive to the rec center.
Most of the industry and support businesses in Olla have closed up in the last 20 years, and employment for the residents of Olla is primarily elsewhere, with commutes averaging 20 miles. There is a real danger that, without outside assistance to rebuild damaged and destroyed homes, financial considerations will force many of the town's residents to relocate closer to their jobs. This will further weaken the tax base of the town, and could easily spiral to the point where Olla will no longer exist as a viable town.
Olla was the center of oil exploration and production in Central Louisiana starting in 1938 and for many years afterwards. Olla was incorporated as a town in 1899, but settlement in the area goes back at least to the 1870's when riverboats visited the nearby sulphur springs.
I personally find the possibility of Olla's demise as a town to be a horrifying prospect. I have many memories of the time I lived in LaSalle Parish, and a lot of them involve Olla. The idea that it might not survive because of a storm that lasted less than a minute is a tragedy beyond words.
Here's hoping for the best for this town.
Posted on December 2, 2004 09:22 AM