Homes for Sale in Phelps County
The History of Rolla
The first European-American settlers in Phelps County arrived in the early 19th century, working as farmers and iron workers along the local rivers, such as the Meramec, the Gasconade, and the Little Piney. In 1844, nine years later, railroad contractor Edmund Ward Bishop, considered to be the founder of Rolla, settled in the area. The state officially established Rolla as a town in 1858.
For most of its history, Rolla has served as transportation and trading center. It was the original terminus of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway, colloquially known as the "Frisco Line". Today, the BNSF Railway directly runs through the town.
Rolla was also a regular stop along U.S. Route 66, as it is almost located exactly halfway between the larger cities of St. Louis and Springfield. Today, Interstate 44, U.S. Route 63, and Route 72 all run through Rolla.
Today, Rolla is home to:
Phelps County Regional Medical Center: employing a staff of over 1,700 and licensed for 242 patient beds. The PCRMC Physicians Group has over 130 providers and offers over 30 physician specialty services. In addition to the main Rolla campus, the PCRMC Physicians Group also has primary care and women’s health clinics in St. James, Cuba, Salem, Vienna and Waynesville.
Missouri University of Science & Technology: Founded in 1870 as one of the first technological schools west of the Mississippi, Missouri University of Science and Technology is one of the nation's top technological research universities. Today, Missouri S&T is focused on providing a top return on investment for students, research partners, employers and donors, as outlined in the strategic plan.
MO-SCI Corporation is a world leader in high quality precision glass technology working with many fortune 500 companies as their priority or sole provider of specialty glasses. MO-SCI's glass microspheres, fibers and frit have many uses including (internationally recognized) healthcare applications. Engineers at MO-SCI are recognized world-wide for revolutionary research, development and manufacturing of glass for specialty applications. Companies seek out MO-SCI with seemingly improbable ideas to research and develop into an application that the company than takes to market.
Brewer Science: Dr. Terry Brewer’s discovery of anti-reflective coatings resulted in a revolution in the global microelectronics industry and ushered in today’s high-speed, lightweight electronic devices. Under Dr. Brewer's leadership, Brewer Science has grown to be a global leader in developing and manufacturing advanced materials and equipment for the reliable fabrication of cutting-edge microdevices used in electronics such as tablet computers, smartphones, digital cameras, televisions, and LED lighting.
The Rolla Public School District is accredited with “Distinction in Performance”, the highest level of accreditation by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Three of the schools in the district have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as “Blue Ribbon” schools. The Rolla High School was also designated one of the first A-plus schools in the state, which means graduating students who meet certain criteria can receive free tuition to Missouri community colleges for two years. Wyman Elementary was recognized as one of the top 10 schools in the state for student performance during the 2007 school year.
The Rolla Park System includes 310 acres of land that is divided into 34 parks and includes the 40-acre Rolla Cemetery, which was incorporated into the city in 1861. The Parks Department manages small, neighborhood parks with nothing more than playground equipment installed, to Ber Juan Park, which includes a softball/baseball complex, tennis courts, lake, skate park, and the City's Recreation Centre and outdoor pool facilities in its 85 acres.
