Rolla, Missouri facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rolla, Missouri
City
City of Rolla
Old Phelps County Courthouse
Flag
Motto(s):  "The Middle of Everywhere."
Location of Rolla within County and State
Country	United States
State	Missouri
County	Phelps
Founded	1858
Area
• Total	12.15 sq mi (31.47 km2)
• Land	12.13 sq mi (31.41 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation	1,099 ft (335 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	19,943
• Estimate  (2025)	20,754
• Density	1,644.24/sq mi (634.86/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	65401, 65402, 65409
Area code(s)	573
FIPS code	29-62912
GNIS feature ID	2396418
Website	rollacity.org

Norwood Hall at Missouri University of Science and Technology

Stonehenge Replica at Missouri S&T

Rolla (pronounced like "ROLL-uh") is a city in Phelps County, Missouri, United States. It is the main city and government center for the county. In 2020, about 19,943 people lived there.

Rolla is located roughly halfway between the cities of St. Louis and Springfield along I-44. It is home to the Missouri University of Science and Technology, which is famous for its engineering and computer science programs.

The main office for the Mark Twain National Forest is also in Rolla. The city is part of the Ozark Highlands American Viticultural Area, where Italian immigrants first started growing grapes for wine.

History of Rolla: How the City Began

The first European-American settlers came to Phelps County in the early 1800s. They worked as farmers and iron workers near rivers like the Meramec and Gasconade. In 1842, John Webber built the very first house in what would become Rolla.

Nine years later, Edmund Ward Bishop, a railroad contractor, moved to the area. He is often called the founder of Rolla. The state officially made Rolla a town in 1858.

How Rolla Got Its Name: Three Stories

There are three different stories about how Rolla got its name.

• The Hunting Dog Story: One popular story, which is likely a folk legend, comes from a competition between Rolla and a nearby town called Dillon. Both towns wanted to be the county seat (the main government town). When Rolla won in 1861, the people of Dillon were supposedly allowed to choose the new city's name. They named it Rolla after a "good-for-nothing" hunting dog.

• The North Carolina Connection: Another story says that during a meeting to name the town, John Webber wanted to call it "Hardscrabble" because of the tough soil. Edmund Bishop preferred "Phelps Center." George Coppedge, who was from North Carolina, wanted to name it after his hometown, Raleigh. Bishop agreed to "Raleigh" if it was spelled "Rolla" to fit the local area.

• The Hunter's Mark: The story with the most evidence says the town was named after Rolla Rose from St. Louis. He and others went on a hunting trip in the 1840s. He carved his name on a tree so they wouldn't get lost. His wife, Adeline Rose, shared this story in a newspaper in 1903.

Rolla During the Civil War

Many people in Rolla had come from the Southern states, so some supported the Confederacy during the American Civil War. However, Union (Northern) forces took control of the town in June 1861. They built two small forts, Fort Wyman and Fort Dette, to protect the area. Rolla was also home to military camps called Camp Glover and Camp Davies.

A Hub for Travel and Trade

For most of its history, Rolla has been an important center for transportation and trade.

• In 1860, it became the end point of the first part of the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway, also known as the "Frisco Line." Today, the BNSF Railway still runs through the town.
• Rolla was also a regular stop along the famous U.S. Route 66. It was almost exactly halfway between St. Louis and Springfield.
• Today, major roads like Interstate 44, U.S. Route 63, and Route 72 all pass through Rolla.

Geography and Climate

Rolla covers about 11.85 square miles (30.7 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.

A special line runs through the city that separates two major river systems. On one side, water flows towards the large Missouri River. On the other side, it flows towards the smaller Meramec River.

Rolla's Weather: A Humid Subtropical Climate

Rolla has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters.

People of Rolla: Population and Diversity

Rolla's Population in 2020

The 2020 United States census counted 19,943 people living in Rolla. There were 8,470 households and 4,141 families. The population density was about 1,644 people per square mile.

Most residents (80.55%) were white. Other groups included Black or African-American (4.21%), Asian (6.26%), and people from two or more races (6.97%). About 3.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

• About 17.5% of the people were under 18 years old.
• A large group (29.7%) was between 18 and 24 years old, likely due to the university.
• The median age in Rolla was 26.8 years.

Income and Households

In 2020, the average household income was about $37,252. The average family income was around $55,595. About 12.0% of families and 27.3% of the total population lived below the poverty line.

Economy: Businesses and Jobs in Rolla

Rolla is home to several important companies:

• Royal Canin: This company makes food for dogs and cats. They have a dry food factory in Rolla.
• Brewer Science: This company makes special materials used in making computer chips. Its main office is in Rolla.
• Hartmann North America: This company makes molded-fiber packaging, especially for eggs and fruit. They opened a production site in Rolla in 2017. They use the building that used to be a Briggs & Stratton plant.

Education and Research in Rolla

Rolla is a major center for education and science.

• Local Schools: Rolla is home to Rolla High School (the Rolla Bulldogs) and Rolla Middle School.
• Missouri University of Science and Technology: This university, often called Missouri S&T, was founded in 1870. It is well-known for its strong engineering and computer science programs.
• US Geological Survey: The US Geological Survey has a large regional office in Rolla. This office includes centers for geospatial operations, water science, and geographic science. They also have a library.
• Rolla Public Library: The city has a public library where people can borrow books and other materials.

Media: News and Radio

Rolla has a weekly newspaper called the Phelps County Focus. There are also several local radio stations:

• KUMR, KRTE-FM, KFLW, KFBD, KTTR, KMOZ, KTTR-FM, KZNN, KXMO, and KKID are commercial radio stations.
• KMST (FM) is the Public Radio station.
• KMNR FM is the student radio station for the Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Notable Places to Visit in Rolla

Old Phelps County Jail

Rolla has several historic and interesting places:

• National Bank of Rolla Building: A historic building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Phelps County Courthouse: The historic county courthouse.
• Phelps County Jail: The old county jail, also a historic site.
• Rolla Ranger Station Historic District: A historic area related to the forest service.
• Headquarters, Rolla Division of the US Bureau of Mines: Another historic site.
• Missouri University of Science and Technology: The university campus has a half-scale Stonehenge replica made from solid granite. It also has an astronomical observatory and an active nuclear reactor, which was the first in Missouri.
• Missouri Department of Natural Resources: This includes the Division of Geology and Land Survey and the Ed Clark Museum of Missouri Geology.
• United States Geological Survey: You can find their regional facility here.

Notable People from Rolla

Many interesting people have connections to Rolla:

Sister Cities

Rolla has one sister city:

• Sondershausen, Thuringia, Germany

See also

In Spanish: Rolla (Misuri) para niños