[5] The parish of Hollen (later spelled Holla) was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt law).

On 1 January 1964, the district of Valebø (population: 259) on the eastern side of the lake Norsjø was merged into Skien Municipality.

[6] The municipality (originally the parish) is named after the old Hollen farm (Old Norse: Hǫllin) since the first Holla Church was built there.

On 3 November 1917, a royal resolution changed the spelling of the name of the municipality to Holla.

The church was donated to the community by Severin Diderik Cappelen (1820-1881) who was the owner of Ulefos Jernværk and served as mayor in Holla.

[11] The municipal council (Herredsstyre) of Holla was made up of 25 representatives that were elected to four year terms.