Living around this mill was really rough, a condition Hardtner set about to remedy by moving the living quarters a mile to the north. The peace and quiet combined with the beauty of the towering pine trees of the new site was a welcome relief. Because of the atmosphere, the name Urania, which means heavenly, was selected by Hardtner for his new home site.

Founded in 1898, Urania evolved from a small sawmill of a few hundred feet daily production to one of the nation's largest sawmill operations, sending its products to all parts of the world.

Henry E. Hardtner conceived and practiced a program of reforestation. His experiments with forestry, along with improved logging methods and cutting practices began early in the 1900's and their real value in forest conservation's was recognized 35 to 40 years later. Urania has been the laboratory for hundreds of forestry experiments that has been of great value to the timber and lumber industry of the nation.

Present-day Urania

Population in Urania is approximately 700 made up of 313 families.  The small town of Urania, Louisiana is rich in the history of forestry in Louisiana.  The farsighted and innovative initiatives of Henry and Quinton Hardtner are a part of this heritage.  Urania came to be known as the home of reforestation in the South.

Today the area timber industry has down sized to a plant that employs approximately 160 personnel.  The population of the town and surrounding area is made up of families with low to moderate incomes.  Approximately 15% of the population is made up of Senior Citizen's.

 We Have:
 

• A School "LaSalle Junior High"
• A Hospital "Hardtner Medical Center"
• A Post Office "Urania Post Office"
• A Drug Store "Urania Drug Store"
• A Store "Ivy's General Store"
• The "Urania Town Hall"
• The "Urania Town Square"

Our Mayor & Town Council consist of 6 members:
 

• Mayor-Terri Corley
• Mayor Pro-tem-Pat McDougald
• Councilman- Jay Ivy
• Councilwoman- Dawn Book
• Councilman-Bill Brown
• Councilwoman-Stacie Strain

BELOW YOU CAN REACH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE PARK AND THE REC HALL PAGE:
Urania Volunteer Fire Department
Fun Stuff to do in our Town
URANIA REC HALL

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Thank you for stopping by and please check out the other pages on this site.  Come back often because as things change here in Urania I will be updating the site.
 
 

If you have any questions about this web site design please contact Stacie Strain
through this link: 

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