Phelps County Jail

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

From the record

“Phelps County Jail is a historic jail located on Park Street between Second and Third Streets, Rolla, Missouri, was built in 1860 for $3,000. The jail was operated by Phelps County from 1860 to 1912.”
Wikipedia article Phelps County Jail, CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 9 National Register listings published here for Phelps County · listed in 1990 · category: Building.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 building as contributing to the listing.
Address. Park St. between Second and Third Sts., Rolla, 65401
When was it listed? May 1990
Category. building
Township. Rolla township
National Register reference number. 90000766 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

Fires near this property

147 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 147 fires within 5 miles of Phelps County Jail between 1992 and 2020, burning about 380 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/undetermined	65
Debris and open burning	62
Equipment and vehicle use	5
Smoking	4
Recreation and ceremony	4
Arson/incendiarism	4
Natural	1
Railroad operations and maintenance	1
Misuse of fire by a minor	1

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

Date	Cause	Size	Reported by	Name on the report
28 September 1999	Debris and open burning	3.0 acres	Missouri Department of Conservation	not named
18 September 1995	Debris and open burning	2.0 acres	Missouri Department of Conservation	not named
17 September 2006	Arson/incendiarism	under an acre	Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office	not named
16 September 2019	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Missouri Department of Conservation	179467-08102-09162019-1600
9 August 2018	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Missouri Department of Conservation	178675-08102-08092018-1546
8 August 2018	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Missouri Department of Conservation	178691-08102-08082018-1148
6 August 2006	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	3.0 acres	Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office	not named
5 August 2006	Missing data/not specified/undetermined	under an acre	Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office	not named

Every fire recorded in Phelps County

Mines and quarries near this property

10 of 40 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 40 workings within 5 miles of Phelps County Jail: 31 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.

Site	Commodity	Status	Recorded
Unk	Limestone, Dimension	Past Producer
Unk	Limestone, Dimension	Past Producer
Portable Gravel Plant	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Roving Screen Plant	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Unk	Fire Clay (Refractory), Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Buckland Mine	Iron	Past Producer	Hematite, Marcasite
Buckland Mine	Iron	Past Producer
Gus Storr Prospect	Iron	Past Producer
Kelly Mine # 2	Iron	Past Producer
Kelly Mine No. 2	Iron	Past Producer	Hematite, Limonite, Pyrite

Every working recorded in Phelps County

Storms near this property

60 of 155 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Rolla, the town this property stands in, 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.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
September 2001	Lightning	Rolla	$150,000	no account filed
August 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$100,000	Extensive wind damage occurred to five homes, multiple power lines and poles, and trees. \| A barn was also destroyed.
May 2001	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$100,000	no account filed
July 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$50,000	Numerous 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 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$50,000	Numerous 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 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$50,000	Severe 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 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$50,000	Ham 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 2002	Lightning	Rolla	$50,000	no account filed
April 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$25,000	Multiple 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 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$25,000	Shingles and some roof decking was removed from the roof of a motel by high wind gusts.
May 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$25,000	High winds downed tree limbs damaging street lights and power lines causing power outages.
August 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$25,000	Several power lines were reported down in town.
June 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$25,000	A warehouse on the north side of Rolla sustained roof damage from severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
August 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$20,000	Thunderstorm wind gusts knocked over several trees and power poles in Rolla. Power failures resulted from the damage for several hours.
April 2001	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$20,000	no account filed
July 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$15,000	Several 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 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$15,000	no account filed
November 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$15,000	no account filed
August 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$10,000	Several trees were reported down across Rolla. One tree was on a residence Faulkner Road with minor damage reported.
July 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$10,000	Several power lines and large tree limbs were blown down across the county.
August 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$10,000	Severe thunderstorm wind gusts damaged several power poles and trees.
May 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$10,000	no account filed
April 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$6,000	no account filed
September 2014	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$5,000	A tree was blown down onto a house causing minor damage.
July 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$5,000	A few power poles were blown down.
July 2010	Lightning	Rolla	$5,000	Lightning damaged a vehicle and caused it's air bags to deploy.
December 2008	Flash Flood	Rolla	$5,000	Urban flooding in Rolla led to water running in a few homes.
August 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$5,000	no account filed
June 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$5,000	no account filed
November 1998	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$5,000	no account filed
May 1995	Hail	Rolla	$4,200	The 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 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$2,000	Minor roof damage occurred to a home in eastern Rolla.
August 2013	Lightning	Rolla	$2,000	A tree struck by lightning fell on power lines at 805 Oaklane Drive.
August 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$2,000	Several trees were blown down onto power lines.
May 1995	Hail	Rolla	$1,700	The 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 2017	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$1,000	There was minor damage to roofing and siding to an apartment complex in Rolla. A picture of this damage was on social media.
February 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$1,000	Several road signs were downed from severe thunderstorm wind gusts.
May 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$500	Several trees and power lines were knocked down north of Rolla.
June 1995	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	$400	Large trees and power lines were blown down in and west of Rolla.
March 2026	Flood	Rolla	-	Highway 63 was closed due to flooding just north of Highway 72 underneath a railroad bridge in Rolla.
April 2026	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	-	A tree was reported down and blocking a road in town.
April 2026	Flash Flood	Rolla	-	County Road 5120 was closed at a low water crossing.
April 2026	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	-	A large tree was reported down.
April 2026	Hail	Rolla	-	Hail up to quarters in size were reported.
April 2026	Hail	Rolla	-	Hail up to half dollars in size were reported.
June 2025	Flash Flood	Rolla	-	Flash flooding occurred near Winchester Drive and Newcastle Drive. Water was over the road and impassable.
June 2025	Flash Flood	Rolla	-	Street flooding was reported on the east side of Rolla from heavy rainfall.
May 2024	Hail	Rolla	-	Report of quarter size hail.
May 2024	Hail	Rolla	-	Report of quarter size hail.
April 2024	Hail	Rolla	-	Hail up to half dollars in size was reported.
November 2024	Heavy Rain	Rolla	-	The CoCoRaHS station MO-PH-64 located 2.2 miles south of Rolla measured a 2-day rainfall total of 8.19 inches.
November 2024	Heavy Rain	Rolla	-	The CoCoRaHS station MO-PH-56 located 2.8 miles south of Rolla measured a 2-day rainfall total of 8.18 inches.
May 2023	Hail	Rolla	-	Penny sized hail was reported.
May 2023	Hail	Rolla	-	Nickle sized hail was reported.
May 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	-	A large tree was down on Greentree Road.
August 2022	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	-	A few large limbs were snapped.
May 2021	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	-	Multiple large limbs and several trees were reported down near the Phelps County Regional Center and 10th Street.
July 2019	Heavy Rain	Rolla	-	A 24 hour rainfall of 1.85 inches was measured.
May 2019	Heavy Rain	Rolla	-	A co-op observer reported a 24-hr rainfall accumulation of 3.07 inches.
August 2019	Thunderstorm Wind	Rolla	-	Part of a fence was blown down along with small tree branches.

Every storm recorded in Phelps County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

5 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Property	Distance	Listed
Phelps County Courthouse	under 500 feet	1993
National Bank of Rolla Building	0.3 miles	2001
Headquarters, Rolla Division of the Bureau of Mines	0.6 miles	2017
Rolla Ranger Station Historic District	0.9 miles	2003
Community Theater	7.3 miles	2006

Sources for this property

National Archives record	The nomination case file for reference 90000766 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia article	Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Phelps County	All 9 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
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.