Arcola, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana
Submitted to the USGenWeb Archives by Sandra McLellan, Aug., 2000

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From Tangipahoa Centenial Book, 1869-1969: 
Donated to the archives by the Tangipahoa Parish Tourist Commission

Arcola

Arcola, situated between Roseland and Fluker on U.S. Highway 51, appears to 
have received its name from one of the two towns in Italy, either Arco or 
Arcole, the latter also spelled Arcola.  Arco in Italy "is a health resort, 
with a generally mild climate."  The yellow fever epidemics in New Orleans 
during 1853 caused many residents fo flee the city.  Some came to the present 
Arcola, La., region.  The healthy air of this piney woods area could have 
inspired some learned person of the group to utter "Arcola," the journey 
being parallel in effect to making a pilgrimage to famous Arco, a place 
signifying balm to victims of one disease or another.  The "La" (abbreviation 
for Louisiana) could have been appended to "Arco." On the other hand, Arcola 
could have been named for Arcole (or Arcola) also in Italy.  In the swamps 
near Arcole, Napoleon defeated the Austrians.  Is it too much to say that 
above the swamps between New Orleans and upper Tangipahoa Parish a victory 
was won against a dreaded disease?

Arcola was orgininally named Prospect Hill, the first hill north of New Orleans
through which the railroad was to pass.  Perhaps the New Orleans, Jackson
& Great Northern Railroad was responsible for the new name. Because Arcola
is more romantically suggestive than Prospect Hill, it might have been 
used by the railroad as a "sales pitch" for passengers.  The railroad name 
could have remained in common use as in the case of Manchac, which is 
remembered in preferece to the name of Akers.

In 1960 Arcola had a population of about 150.