Phelps County, Missouri

Founding: 1857
Parent counties: Crawford and Maries

Namesake: John Phelps, Missouri governor
Seat: Rolla (1861–)

Land area: 672 square miles

Population (2020): 44,638

Population (historic): 5,714 (1860); 12,568 (1880); 14,194 (1900); 15,308 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1860–1910; 1920–2010

Subdivisions: Five cities; ten townships

National Register listings: 11

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,260 (6.3%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 31.6%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 3.5%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 11.3%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 9.7%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $821
Average outbuilding value (1930): $596

Average farmhouse size (1940): 4.3 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,982
Average farm size (1920): 66.9 acres
Sources of settlement: Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, and Germany

___________________________________________________________________________________

Rolla

Namesake: Unknown

Founding: 1858 (platting); 1858 (post office); 1861 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 19,943

Population (historic): 1,354 (1870); 1,592 (1890); 2,261 (1910); 3,670 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1870–1910; 1920–1970; 1980–2020
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 269 (3.1%)

___________________________________________________________________________________



View and filter the data. Or see a larger map.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Outstanding Buildings

1. *Joseph Aaron Log House (1866). 15077 Road 7100. Rolla.
2. *Pleasant Wayman House (1842/1871). 23045 Road 6410. Spring Creek. Razed.