The origin of the name
Ozolnieki most likely comes from
Ozolmuiža (in
German:
Eckhofen or
Paulsgnade), the manor house which was located within the territory of the modern Ozolnieki Municipality. In the age of the
Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (1562–1791), Ozolmuiža belonged to its dukes. Amongst its owners was the most renowned of the duchy's Dukes -
Jacob Kettler, who kept an aviary of hunting
gyrfalcons on the manor farm (Jacob's son,
Frederick Casimir Kettler, later expanded the aviary). After those deportations, the USSR began to liquidate individual farms, forcing the formation of collective farms or
kolkhozes. The kolhozes were given Soviet-inspired names such as “Sirpis un āmurs” (
Sickle and Hammer), “Staļina ērglis″ (''
Stalin's eagle
) and “Mičurina kolhozs” (
Michurin's kolkhoz'')whose name includes a play on the diminutive of a Latvian word regarding bodily functions. Several administrative reforms took place in Ozolnieki municipality after World War II: in 1945, the Soviets divided the municipality into three villagesOzolnieki, Cena and
Dalbe; in 1954 Ozolnieki village was liquidated and incorporated into
Valgunde village, while Cena village was expanded, incorporating
Tetele and
Āne. Ozolnieki village was later incorporated in Cena village, but in 1979 was re-established as an
urban village with autonomous administration (Latvian:
pilsētciemats). After
Latvia restored independence (1991), Ozolnieki and Cena retained their territories and were formed into parishes:
Ozolnieki parish (Latvian:
Ozolnieku pagasts) and
Cena parish (Latvian:
Cenu pagasts). In 2003 both parishes merged again into
Ozolnieki municipality (Latvian:
Ozolnieku novads) with its governmental centre in Ozolnieki. In 2009, in conjunction with the completion of the
Administrative territorial reforms of Latvia, Ozolnieki municipality absorbed Sidrabene parish (since 2011 - Salgale parish). == Inhabitants ==