BlockBefore

Rolla, Missouri

28 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1912 and the latest in 2004. It stands in Rolla Township. It lies in ZIP code area 65401. It stands on Frisco Creek. The Survey maps it on the Rolla quadrangle. 19,943 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,122 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Rolla within Phelps County

On record in Rolla

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 5 records

Population over time

2 figures

Rolla grew from 19,559 to 19,943 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
201019,559
202019,943+384 (+2%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

18 surveys from 28 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

148 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 148 fires within 5 miles of Rolla between 1992 and 2020, burning about 321 acres in total. 1 started naturally. 4 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined66
Debris and open burning60
Equipment and vehicle use5
Recreation and ceremony5
Smoking4
Arson/incendiarism4
Misuse of fire by a minor2
Natural1
Railroad operations and maintenance1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
28 September 1999Debris and open burning3.0 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
18 September 1995Debris and open burning2.0 acresMissouri Department of Conservationnot named
17 September 2006Arson/incendiarismunder an acreMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
16 September 2019Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMissouri Department of Conservation179467-08102-09162019-1600
9 August 2018Debris and open burningunder an acreMissouri Department of Conservation178675-08102-08092018-1546
8 August 2018Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMissouri Department of Conservation178691-08102-08082018-1148
6 August 2006Missing data/not specified/undetermined3.0 acresMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
5 August 2006Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Phelps County

Mines and quarries near this place

10 of 49 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 49 workings within 5 miles of Rolla: 40 past producers, 8 producers, 1 prospect. 8 still produce. What was taken out: Fire Clay (Refractory), Stone, Crushed/Broken, Iron, Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
UnkLimestone, DimensionPast Producer
UnkLimestone, DimensionPast Producer
Portable Gravel PlantSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Roving Screen PlantSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
UnkFire Clay (Refractory), Sand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Buckland MineIronPast ProducerHematite, Marcasite
Buckland MineIronPast Producer
Gus Storr ProspectIronPast Producer
Kelly Mine # 2IronPast Producer
Kelly Mine No. 2IronPast ProducerHematite, Limonite, Pyrite

Every working recorded in Phelps County

Storms near this place

60 of 155 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Rolla in 155 storm reports between 1994 and 2026: 61 thunderstorm wind, 61 hail, 15 flash flood, 9 heavy rain. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
September 2001LightningRolla$150,000no account filed
August 2022Thunderstorm WindRolla$100,000Extensive wind damage occurred to five homes, multiple power lines and poles, and trees. | A barn was also destroyed.
May 2001Thunderstorm WindRolla$100,000no account filed
July 2016Thunderstorm WindRolla$50,000Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the county. A few trees were blown on to cars. One tree was blown down on to a house causing structural damage.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindRolla$50,000Numerous power polls down were reported down 2 miles south of Rolla along State Highway O, near and just east the intersection of Highway 72.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindRolla$50,000Severe thunderstorm wind gusts removed a roof from a home and overturned a shed. Power lines were also blown down from large trees falling onto them.
April 1994Thunderstorm WindRolla$50,000Ham radio operators reported an overturned tractor-semitrailer along Interstate 44 from high wind. A section of the interstate was closed for a short time. Homes received minor damage and numerous trees were blown down in Rolla.
May 2002LightningRolla$50,000no account filed
April 2024Thunderstorm WindRolla$25,000Multiple power lines were reported with some downed trees causing damage. A 42 mph gust was recorded on a home weather station north of town.
April 2024Thunderstorm WindRolla$25,000Shingles and some roof decking was removed from the roof of a motel by high wind gusts.
May 2021Thunderstorm WindRolla$25,000High winds downed tree limbs damaging street lights and power lines causing power outages.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindRolla$25,000Several power lines were reported down in town.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindRolla$25,000A warehouse on the north side of Rolla sustained roof damage from severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
August 2008Thunderstorm WindRolla$20,000Thunderstorm wind gusts knocked over several trees and power poles in Rolla. Power failures resulted from the damage for several hours.
April 2001Thunderstorm WindRolla$20,000no account filed
July 2011Thunderstorm WindRolla$15,000Several trees and power lines were blown down. Shingles were blown off several roofs and windows were broken due to downed trees. A few sheds were blow over.
July 2002Thunderstorm WindRolla$15,000no account filed
November 1998Thunderstorm WindRolla$15,000no account filed
August 2019Thunderstorm WindRolla$10,000Several trees were reported down across Rolla. One tree was on a residence Faulkner Road with minor damage reported.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindRolla$10,000Several power lines and large tree limbs were blown down across the county.
August 2008Thunderstorm WindRolla$10,000Severe thunderstorm wind gusts damaged several power poles and trees.
May 2002Thunderstorm WindRolla$10,000no account filed
April 2000Thunderstorm WindRolla$6,000no account filed
September 2014Thunderstorm WindRolla$5,000A tree was blown down onto a house causing minor damage.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindRolla$5,000A few power poles were blown down.
July 2010LightningRolla$5,000Lightning damaged a vehicle and caused it's air bags to deploy.
December 2008Flash FloodRolla$5,000Urban flooding in Rolla led to water running in a few homes.
August 2000Thunderstorm WindRolla$5,000no account filed
June 1999Thunderstorm WindRolla$5,000no account filed
November 1998Thunderstorm WindRolla$5,000no account filed
May 1995HailRolla$4,200The Missouri Highway Patrol and Rolla Police Department reported golf ball-size hail in and around the Rolla area between 1830 and 1845CST. Damage was mainly confined to dents in automobiles.
May 2019Thunderstorm WindRolla$2,000Minor roof damage occurred to a home in eastern Rolla.
August 2013LightningRolla$2,000A tree struck by lightning fell on power lines at 805 Oaklane Drive.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindRolla$2,000Several trees were blown down onto power lines.
May 1995HailRolla$1,700The Missouri Highway Patrol and Rolla Police Department reported golf ball-size hail in and around the Rolla area between 1830 and 1845CST. Damage was mainly confined to dents in automobiles.
March 2017Thunderstorm WindRolla$1,000There was minor damage to roofing and siding to an apartment complex in Rolla. A picture of this damage was on social media.
February 2009Thunderstorm WindRolla$1,000Several road signs were downed from severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
May 1995Thunderstorm WindRolla$500Several trees and power lines were knocked down north of Rolla.
June 1995Thunderstorm WindRolla$400Large trees and power lines were blown down in and west of Rolla.
March 2026FloodRolla-Highway 63 was closed due to flooding just north of Highway 72 underneath a railroad bridge in Rolla.
April 2026Thunderstorm WindRolla-A tree was reported down and blocking a road in town.
April 2026Flash FloodRolla-County Road 5120 was closed at a low water crossing.
April 2026Thunderstorm WindRolla-A large tree was reported down.
April 2026HailRolla-Hail up to quarters in size were reported.
April 2026HailRolla-Hail up to half dollars in size were reported.
June 2025Flash FloodRolla-Flash flooding occurred near Winchester Drive and Newcastle Drive. Water was over the road and impassable.
June 2025Flash FloodRolla-Street flooding was reported on the east side of Rolla from heavy rainfall.
May 2024HailRolla-Report of quarter size hail.
May 2024HailRolla-Report of quarter size hail.
April 2024HailRolla-Hail up to half dollars in size was reported.
November 2024Heavy RainRolla-The CoCoRaHS station MO-PH-64 located 2.2 miles south of Rolla measured a 2-day rainfall total of 8.19 inches.
November 2024Heavy RainRolla-The CoCoRaHS station MO-PH-56 located 2.8 miles south of Rolla measured a 2-day rainfall total of 8.18 inches.
May 2023HailRolla-Penny sized hail was reported.
May 2023HailRolla-Nickle sized hail was reported.
May 2022Thunderstorm WindRolla-A large tree was down on Greentree Road.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindRolla-A few large limbs were snapped.
May 2021Thunderstorm WindRolla-Multiple large limbs and several trees were reported down near the Phelps County Regional Center and 10th Street.
July 2019Heavy RainRolla-A 24 hour rainfall of 1.85 inches was measured.
May 2019Heavy RainRolla-A co-op observer reported a 24-hr rainfall accumulation of 3.07 inches.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindRolla-Part of a fence was blown down along with small tree branches.

Every storm recorded in Phelps County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Northwye1.8 miles28
Dillon4.1 miles23
Doolittle5.9 miles25
Signal (historical)6.0 miles17
Vida6.7 miles26
Westcott (historical)6.9 miles25
Dean Ford7.2 miles23
Newburg7.4 miles25

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on RollaAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q955386The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 751949. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.