County of courthouse: Phelps County
Location of courthouse: Main St. & 3rd St., Rolla
Built: 1859
Architect: P.J. Lynch & Andrew Malcolm
Location of county:Slightly SE of center in state; crossroads of Old US-66, Interstate 44 & US-63, MO-68/72
Population: 44,744 (2017)
"Organized from Crawford, Pulaski and Maries Counties by act of legislature November 13, 1857. On the north are Maries and Gasconade Counties; on the west, Pulaski County; on the south, Texas and Dent Counties; on the east is Crawford County. Named for John S. Phelps (1814-1866), a popular congressman at that time, who later became governor of Missouri (1876)." ~ History of Laclede, p. 632; Laws of Missouri, 1857, p. 397
"Phelps County, Missouri, was established November 13, 1857. The county was named for the honorable John Smith Phelps, then prominent Missourian and U.S. Congressman, and later governor of Missouri from 1877-1881. The first county court convened on November 25, 1857 in the John Dillon cabin. The historic courthouse was begun in mid-summer of 1860, used as a union hospital during the Civil War and served as the courthouse until February, 1994, at which time all county offices were relocated in the new Phelps County Courthouse. The new courthouse was dedicated on May 22, 1994." ~ Phelps County
"Rolla became county seat of Phelps County when E.W. Bishop, one-time associated with the railroad, donated 50 acres of land for this purpose, 1858. Court was held in the railroad office for a time. The county name honors John S. Phelps, Mo. Governor. The town name is probably a phonetic adaptation of Raleigh, N.C., but conjecture also credits other theories. Early settlers found a source of saltpeter for gunpowder in nearby caves.
"The University of Missouri School of Mines & Metallurgy, early school of mines in U.S., was opened in 1871. The school has a notable mineral museum. Also in Rolla are the State Trachoma Hospital, first such institution in U.S., completed, 1939; Missouri Geological Survey Offices; and Federal Bureau of Mines and U.S. Geological Survey branch offices.
At St. James, 10 miles northeast, are the State Federal Soldiers Home, founded, 1897; and Missouri's Boys Town, youth conservation project, opened, 1949. Near St. James is Rosati (formerly Knobview), an Italian settlement famed for its grape production.
"Maramec Iron Works, 7 miles southeast of St. James, is site of first major commercial iron furnaces in Missouri, 1826. Near the iron works is lovely Maramec Spring, which has an average flow of 96 million gallons daily.
Part of Mark Twain National Forest falls in the area which abounds in caves, streams, springs, highland views, and Indian mounds.
"In nearby Pulaski Co., 26 miles southwest, if Fort Leonard Wood, U.S. Army training post." ~ State Historical Socetiy of Missouri, 1953