Old county courthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Phelps County is a county in the central portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 United States census, its population was 44,638. The largest city and county seat is Rolla.[1] The county was organized on November 13, 1857, and was named for U.S. Representative and Governor of Missouri John Smith Phelps.[2]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the mean center of U.S. population in 2000 fell within Phelps County.[3]
Phelps County comprises the Rolla, Missouri micropolitan statistical area. Much of the county is included within the Ozark Highlands American Viticultural Area. Vineyards and wineries were first established in the county by Italian immigrants in Rolla. Since the 1960s, winemakers have revived and created numerous vineyards in Missouri and won national and international tasting awards.[4]
The first Phelps County Court convened on November 25, 1857, in the John Dillon cabin.[5] The historic courthouse was begun in midsummer of 1860, used as a Union hospital during the American Civil War, and served as the courthouse until February 1994, when all county offices were relocated into the new Phelps County Courthouse, which was dedicated on May 22.[6]
History
[edit]
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Settlers of European descent established farms along the riverbanks in this area in 1818–1819.[7] One year later, Lieutenant James Abert started the first railroad reconnaissance survey in Rolla. Abert was later to become the first professor of civil engineering at the Missouri School of Mines. The founder of Rolla, Edmund Ward Bishop, was originally a railroad construction contractor in New York. He came to this part of the country in 1853, tasked with building the Frisco branch of the Southwest Railroad.[8]
Because of an urgent demand, Phelps County was created by legislative action on November 13, 1857, from portions of Pulaski, Maries and Crawford counties.[9] A special commission was appointed to select a county seat, with instructions to locate the site on the mail line of the railroad as near as possible to the county's center. Bishop then offered a tract of some 50 acres (200,000 m2) for the official town site, and it was accepted. There was disagreement over the site – the "westerners" wanted Rolla, and the "easterners" wanted Dillon, so the General Assembly did not legally declare Rolla to be the official county seat until 1861. The 600-strong group that favored Dillon signed a protest citing the fact that only two of the three commission members had met to consider the possible sites for the county seat. They contested the decision all the way through the Missouri Supreme Court. Before the high court could make a decision, however, the Legislature took action on January 14, 1860, confirming the location of the county seat at Rolla. Smarting under a considerable amount of criticism concerning the matter, all members of the county court resigned during April 1858, but later withdrew their resignations. It was finally settled in favor of Rolla.
Rolla was officially surveyed, laid out, and named in 1858. Bishop wanted to call it Phelps Center, since his house was the center of the county. John Webber preferred the name "Hardscrabble" for obvious reasons. George Coppedge, another original settler, and formerly of North Carolina, favored "Raleigh" after his hometown. The others agreed with Coppedge on the condition that it should not have "that silly spelling, but should be spelled 'Rolla'." The county seat locating commission designated the area now known as Rolla to be the county seat.[10]
The town of Rolla did not exist when the county was officially created (November 1857); only the houses of J. Stever and John Webber were located in the area.[11] Early court business included the location and opening of roads from the county seat to various places within the state, including St. Louis, Springfield, Jefferson City, Lake Spring, and Salem. In this last road order, dated in July 1858, the use of the name Rolla first appears in the court records. The name was used earlier, in May 1858, in a deed of railroad land to the county.
On April 26, 1859, the county court ordered the 50 acres (200,000 m2) donated by Mr. Bishop for the site of the county seat to be surveyed. The survey was conducted by A.E. Buchanan, a young railroad surveyor. Buchanan delivered his plat to the county court on May 31, 1859.
Civil War
[edit]
The railroad ran its first train on December 22, 1860, making Rolla the terminus of the road. Until the continuation of the Frisco, all goods were loaded on wagons and transported to Springfield and south and west on what is now U.S. Highway 66 (Interstate 44). During the American Civil War, Rolla was an important military post, hosting up to 20,000 Union troops. The Phelps County Court House was transformed into a hospital during the war.
In April 1861, Fort Sumter was fired upon and a decision was made to support the South. On May 10, the Circuit Court session saw a heated debate of secession, which caused a breakup of the proceedings. As the story goes, Circuit Court Judge James McBride soon departed to assume command as a Confederate general under Sterling Price. Outside the courthouse, a group of men drew down the United States flag and raised a Confederate flag, which had been hastily pieced together by the women of Rolla. The tension was thick when the group then moved to the newspaper office of Charles Walder, a Union supporter and editor of the Rolla Express. Walder was forced to close his shop and cease printing. Southern sympathizers patrolled the town day and night, often ordering Union sympathizers to leave town.
On June 14 of that year, General Franz Sigel arrived by train with his 3rd Missouri Infantry and took over the town. From that day until the close of the war, Rolla was in Union hands.
The 13th Illinois Infantry Regiment, under Colonel John B. Wyman, was brought in to guard Rolla and the Pacific Railroad's terminal. This regiment did the basic planning and building of Fort Wyman, although other regiments completed it. President Abraham Lincoln’s personal order was that Rolla should be held at all costs.
Rolla was an important site during the Civil War because the southwest branch of the Pacific Railroad ended here. Thousands of Union troops and their supplies came to Rolla by train from St. Louis and then were transferred to wagon trails to go to the battles of Wilson Creek in Springfield and Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove in Arkansas, plus a number of other smaller skirmishes. The railroad had arrived in Rolla in 1860 but the outbreak of the war halted the westward expansion of the line.
After General Price's defeat at Pea Ridge in March 1862, several troops who were organized by Governor Jackson returned home. Confederate sympathizers, unwilling to profess their loyalty and support to the Union after the battle, were treated harshly. One example is the shooting of former Presiding Justice Lewis F. Wright and four of his sons in 1864, after being taken from their homes for "questioning".The town of about 600 civilians had a large population of Union troops at that time. Since the Union forces seized control of the town early in the war, they had a big impact upon the town and its operation.
The town was a busy place for the visitor. In 1860, sugar sold for 10 cents a pound and tobacco for 30 cents a pound. Whiskey went for 25 cents a gallon. City lots sold for $25 each. The courthouse was used as a hay storage barn and later as a hospital for wounded soldiers. After the commanding general of the Union Forces, General Nathaniel Lyon, was killed at the Wilson's Creek battle near Springfield, his body was brought to Rolla to be transported back east for burial. Old Town Rolla was located along Main Street near the courthouse. The business district moved to Pine Street in the late 19th century.
Following the Union defeat at Wilson's Creek on August 10, 1861, the Union Army fell back to Rolla and began building an earthen fort on a hill alongside present Highway 63 about a mile from the courthouse. The rectangular fort had a dry moat around the perimeter with 32-pound field pieces located on each corner of the fort to cover any attack on Rolla from the south. It was named Fort Wyman after Colonel John B. Wyman. Fort Dette was a more detailed fort that was constructed in 1863 on what is now the campus of Missouri University of Science and Technology. It was constructed in a cross shape with positions for both 24-pound cannons and ports for individual rifle fire.
University
[edit]
The Morrill Land-Grant College Act was approved by the U.S. Congress in 1862, and in 1863, the Missouri Legislature accepted this opportunity to set up a new type of higher education within the state. The act specified that the "leading object shall be without excluding other scientific and classical studies, and including military tactics, to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and mechanics arts...in order to promote the liberal and practical education of the industrial classes in the several pursuits of professions of life."
The Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy was founded in 1870 because the area was rich in minerals and because the geographic location was good. Phelps County bid $130,545, including lands and bonds, and was awarded the prize. Today, it is named Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) and is known as one of the finest engineering schools in the world. Not confined to mining and metallurgy, it confers bachelor's degrees in 23 fields of engineering and science, as well as graduate degrees in 28 fields of engineering and science.
Other towns
[edit]
Other towns within the county included Newburg, incorporated in 1888, and St. James, incorporated in 1869. Arlington and Jerome were both incorporated in 1867, but neither is incorporated at this time. Doolittle, the last of Phelps County's towns to be formed, was incorporated on July 2, 1944. Other Phelps County communities include Edgar Springs, which was incorporated during the 1970s.
Geography
[edit]
According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 674 square miles (1,750 km2), of which 2.5 sq mi (6.5 km2) (0.4%) are covered by water.[12]
Adjacent counties
[edit]
Maries County – northwest
Gasconade County – northeast
Crawford County – east
Dent County – southeast
Texas County – south
Pulaski County – west
Major highways
[edit]
I-44
US 63
Route 8
Route 68
Route 72
Other geographical features
[edit]
Courtois Hills
Maramec Spring
Democrat Ridge
Mark Twain National Forest, national protected area, partially within Phelps County
Slaughter Sink, the state's deepest sinkhole[13][14]
Demographics
[edit]
Historical population
Census
Pop.
Note
%±
1860
5,714
—
1870
10,506
83.9%
1880
12,568
19.6%
1890
12,636
0.5%
1900
14,194
12.3%
1910
15,796
11.3%
1920
14,941
−5.4%
1930
15,308
2.5%
1940
17,437
13.9%
1950
21,504
23.3%
1960
25,396
18.1%
1970
29,481
16.1%
1980
33,633
14.1%
1990
35,248
4.8%
2000
39,825
13.0%
2010
45,156
13.4%
2020
44,638
−1.1%
US Decennial Census[15]1790-1960[16] 1900-1990[17]1990-2000[18] 2010-2020[19]
2020 census
[edit]
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 44,638. The median age was 35.7 years, 20.5% of residents were under the age of 18, and 16.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 110.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 110.8 males age 18 and over.[20]
46.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 53.8% lived in rural areas.[21]
There were 17,815 households in the county, of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 26.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[20]
There were 20,174 housing units, of which 11.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 57.8% were owner-occupied and 42.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.8%.[20]
Racial and ethnic composition
[edit]
As of the 2020 census, the racial makeup of the county was 86.0% White, 2.3% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.4% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.1% from some other race, and 6.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.8% of the population.[22]
Phelps County, Missouri – Racial and ethnic compositionNote: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)
Pop 1980[23]
Pop 1990[24]
Pop 2000[25]
Pop 2010[26]
Pop 2020[27]
% 1980
% 1990
% 2000
% 2010
% 2020
White alone (NH)
32,488
33,626
36,884
40,792
37,941
96.60%
95.40%
92.62%
90.34%
85.00%
Black or African American alone (NH)
296
396
586
977
1,028
0.88%
1.12%
1.47%
2.16%
2.30%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)
81
141
226
221
231
0.24%
0.40%
0.57%
0.49%
0.52%
Asian alone (NH)
347
773
934
1,313
1,506
1.03%
2.19%
2.35%
2.91%
3.37%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)
x [28]
x [29]
25
29
20
x
x
0.06%
0.06%
0.04%
Other race alone (NH)
128
9
26
27
230
0.38%
0.03%
0.07%
0.06%
0.52%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)
x [30]
x [31]
659
874
2,423
x
x
1.65%
1.94%
5.43%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)
293
303
485
923
1,259
0.87%
0.86%
1.22%
2.04%
2.82%
Total
33,633
35,248
39,825
45,156
44,638
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
100.00%
2000 census
[edit]
As of the 2000 United States census,[32] 39,825 people, 15,683 households, and 10,240 families resided in the county. The population density was 59 people per square mile (23 people/km2). The 17,501 housing units had an average density of 26 units per square mile (10/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 93.24% White, 1.50% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 2.35% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 1.79% from two or more races. About 1.22% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
Of the 15,683 households, 30.3% had children under 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were not families. Around 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.92.
The county's age distribution was 23.7% under 18, 14.5% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 102.9 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,243, and for a family was $49,343. Males had a median income of $29,428 versus $19,893 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,275. About 11.30% of families and 16.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.00% of those under age 18 and 13.00% of those age 65 or over.
Religion
[edit]
According to the Association of Religion Data Archives County Membership Report (2000), Phelps County is a part of the Bible Belt, with evangelical Protestantism being the majority religion. The most predominant denominations among residents in Phelps County who adhere to a religion are Southern Baptists (38.24%), Roman Catholics (11.43%), and Christian Churches and Churches of Christ (10.75%). The several smaller but often growing denominations, including Assemblies of God 5.5%, the United Methodist Church 5.0%, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 4.8%, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 4.2%, Church of God (Anderson Indiana) 3.2%, Church of the Nazarene 1.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, Episcopal Church 1.2%, Seventh Day Adventist 0.9%, and the Orthodox Church 0.8%.[33]
Education
[edit]
Of adults 25 years of age and older in Phelps County, 79.0% possess a high school diploma or higher, while 21.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher as their highest educational attainment.
Public schools
[edit]
Newburg R-II School District – Newburg
Newburg Elementary School (K-06)
Newburg High School (07–12)
Phelps County R-III School District – Edgar Springs
Phelps County Elementary School (K-08)
Rolla School District 31 – Rolla
Colonel John B. Wyman Elementary School (Pre K-03)
Harry S. Truman Elementary School (Pre K-03)
Mark Twain Elementary School (Pre K-03)
Rolla Middle School (04–06)
Rolla Junior High School (07–08)
Rolla High School (09–12)
St. James R-I School District – St. James
Lucy Wortham Elementary School (K-05)
St. James Middle School (06–08)
St. James High School (09–12)
Private schools
[edit]
KVC Missouri School – St. James – (01–12) – nonsectarian
St. Patrick Elementary School – Rolla – (PK-08) – Roman Catholic
Alternative and vocational schools
[edit]
B.W. Robinson State School – Rolla – (K-12) – Special Education
Rolla Technical Center – Rolla – (11–12) – Vocational/Technical
Rolla Technical Institute High School – Rolla – (09–12) – Vocational/Technical
Colleges and universities
[edit]
Missouri University of Science and Technology – formerly known as the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR) – a public, four-year university
Drury University – a satellite campus
East Central College – a satellite campus
Columbia College -a satellite campus (no longer active in Rolla)
Public libraries
[edit]
James Memorial Library[34]
Newburg Public Library[35]
Rolla Public Library[36]
Communities
[edit]
Cities and towns
[edit]
Doolittle
Edgar Springs
Newburg
Rolla (county seat)
St. James
Unincorporated communities
[edit]
Arlington
Beulah
Blooming Rose
Clementine
Clinton
Craddock
Dillon
Duke
Elk Prairie
Flag Spring
Flat
Jerome
Northwye
Powellville
Rosati
Royal
Seaton
Table Rock
Vida
Winkler
Yancy Mills
Politics
[edit]
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Local
[edit]
Until recently, both the Republican and Democratic parties equally controlled politics at the local level in Phelps County. Currently, the Republican party holds all of the elected positions in the county, with the exception of one unknown party preference.[37][38]
Phelps County, Missouri
Elected countywide officials
Assessor
Tim Kean
Republican
Circuit Clerk
Marlaina Wallace
Republican
County Clerk
Laura Johnson
Republican
Collector
Faith Ann Barnes
Republican
Commissioner(presiding)
Joey Auxier
Republican
Commissioner(district 1)
Sherry Stites
Republican
Commissioner(district 2)
Gary Hicks
Republican
Coroner
Ernie Coverdell
Republican
Prosecuting Attorney
Brendon Fox
Republican
Public Administrator
Dana Sooter
Republican
Recorder
Robin Kordes
Republican
Sheriff
Michael Kirn
Unknown
Surveyor
Terris Cates
Republican
Treasurer
Cathy Tipton
Republican
State
[edit]
Phelps County is divided into four legislative districts in the Missouri House of Representatives, all of which are held by Republicans.
District 62 — Currently is represented by Bruce Sassmann (R-Bland) and consists of the north-central part of the county.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Phelps County (2020)[37]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Bruce Sassmann
1,780
79.29%
Democratic
Nancy Ragan
464
20.71%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Phelps County (2018)[38]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Tom Hurst
1,428
77.44%
Democratic
Ashley Fajowski
416
22.56%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Phelps County (2016)[39]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Tom Hurst
1,873
100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Phelps County (2014)
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Tom Hurst
1,093
100.00%
+41.33
Missouri House of Representatives — District 62 — Phelps County (2012)
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Tom Hurst
1,205
58.67%
Democratic
Greg Stratman
849
42.33%
Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
Year
Republican
Democratic
Third Parties
2024
71.60% 13,690
25.90% 4,952
2.50% 477
2020
68.74% 13,408
28.80% 5,621
2.46% 497
2016
62.51% 11,633
33.14% 6,168
4.35% 809
2012
51.23% 9,282
45.65% 8,271
3.12% 565
2008
43.33% 8,485
53.28% 10,226
3.39% 481
2004
59.09% 10,970
39.54% 7,341
1.37% 254
2000
51.59% 8,280
45.77% 7,345
2.64% 424
1996
34.97% 5,342
62.55% 9,555
2.49% 380
1992
40.41% 6,687
59.59% 9,860
0.00% 0
1988
67.69% 9,610
31.26% 4,438
1.05% 149
1984
63.88% 8,897
36.12% 5,031
0.00% 0
1980
56.98% 7,701
42.58% 5,755
0.44% 60
1976
50.67% 6,307
49.25% 6,131
0.08% 10
District 120 — Currently is represented by Jason Chipman (R- Steelville) and consists of the eastern part of the county, including St. James.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 120 — Phelps County (2020)[37]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Jason Chipman
4,700
75.73%
Democratic
Theresa Scmitt
1,505
24.27%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 120 — Phelps County (2018)[38]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Jason Chipman
3,740
72.21%
Democratic
Theresa Scmitt
1,431
27.63%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 120 — Phelps County (2016)[39]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Jason Chipman
5,254
100.00%
+28.77
Missouri House of Representatives — District 120 — Phelps County (2014)
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Jason Chipman
2,553
71.23%
+1.65
Democratic
Zechariah Hockersmith
1,031
28.77%
−1.65
Missouri House of Representatives — District 120 — Phelps County — Special Election (2013)
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Shawn Sisco
1,713
69.58%
−30.42
Democratic
Zechariah Hockersmith
749
30.42%
+30.42
Missouri House of Representatives — District 120 — Phelps County (2012)
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Jason T. Smith
4,860
100.00%
District 121 — Currently is represented by Don Mayhew (R-Crocker) and consists of the communities of Doolittle, Jerome, Newburg, and Rolla.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 121 — Phelps County (2020)[37]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Don Mayhew
7,984
96.26%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 121 — Phelps County (2018)[38]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Don Mayhew
4,987
63.50%
Democratic
Matt Heltz
2,845
36.23%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 121 — Phelps County (2016)[39]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Keith Frederick
7,690
100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 121 — Phelps County (2014)
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Keith Frederick
4,075
100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 121 — Phelps County (2012)
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Keith Frederick
7,546
100.00%
District 142 — Currently is represented by Bennie Cook (R-Houston) and consists of the southeastern part of the county, including the communities of Beulah, Duke, and Edgar Springs.
Missouri House of Representatives — District 142 — Phelps County (2020)[37]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Bennie Cook
896
98.35%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 142 — Phelps County (2018)[38]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Robert Ross
760
98.32%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 142 — Phelps County (2016)[39]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Robert Ross
716
75.77%
−24.23
Democratic
Bobby Johnston, Jr.
229
24.23%
+24.23
Missouri House of Representatives — District 142 — Phelps County (2014)
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Robert Ross
460
100.00%
Missouri House of Representatives — District 142 — Phelps County (2012)
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Robert Ross
792
100.00%
All of Phelps County is a part of Missouri's 16th District in the Missouri Senate and is currently represented by Dan Brown (R-Rolla).
Missouri Senate — District 16 — Phelps County (2018)[38]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Dan Brown
10,025
62.78%
Democratic
Ryan Dillon
5,908
37.00%
Missouri Senate — District 16 — Phelps County (2014)
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Dan Brown
9,043
100.00%
Federal
[edit]
United States presidential election results for Phelps County, Missouri[40]
Year
Republican
Democratic
Third party(ies)
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
1888
685
31.34%
1,183
54.12%
318
14.55%
1892
883
37.01%
1,287
53.94%
216
9.05%
1896
1,038
36.19%
1,816
63.32%
14
0.49%
1900
1,153
40.64%
1,603
56.50%
81
2.86%
1904
1,371
47.46%
1,384
47.91%
134
4.64%
1908
1,520
45.00%
1,804
53.40%
54
1.60%
1912
782
27.77%
1,565
55.58%
469
16.65%
1916
1,487
43.44%
1,887
55.13%
49
1.43%
1920
2,692
52.25%
2,422
47.01%
38
0.74%
1924
2,085
37.91%
2,918
53.05%
497
9.04%
1928
2,967
50.51%
2,896
49.30%
11
0.19%
1932
1,794
26.70%
4,858
72.29%
68
1.01%
1936
2,690
36.44%
4,658
63.11%
33
0.45%
1940
3,319
40.90%
4,780
58.91%
15
0.18%
1944
3,180
42.69%
4,256
57.14%
13
0.17%
1948
3,053
36.89%
5,202
62.85%
22
0.27%
1952
4,694
49.13%
4,846
50.72%
14
0.15%
1956
4,773
50.06%
4,761
49.94%
0
0.00%
1960
5,663
55.31%
4,576
44.69%
0
0.00%
1964
3,755
39.40%
5,776
60.60%
0
0.00%
1968
5,577
47.33%
4,211
35.74%
1,995
16.93%
1972
7,598
68.05%
3,567
31.95%
0
0.00%
1976
6,153
49.18%
6,261
50.04%
98
0.78%
1980
7,366
54.30%
5,470
40.32%
730
5.38%
1984
9,012
63.98%
5,074
36.02%
0
0.00%
1988
8,329
58.44%
5,867
41.16%
57
0.40%
1992
6,040
36.08%
6,852
40.93%
3,847
22.98%
1996
6,990
45.70%
6,405
41.87%
1,902
12.43%
2000
9,444
58.49%
6,262
38.78%
440
2.73%
2004
11,874
63.50%
6,666
35.65%
160
0.86%
2008
11,706
59.96%
7,394
37.87%
424
2.17%
2012
11,895
65.05%
5,798
31.71%
593
3.24%
2016
12,709
67.92%
4,766
25.47%
1,238
6.62%
2020
13,480
68.77%
5,637
28.76%
484
2.47%
2024
13,658
70.46%
5,379
27.75%
348
1.80%
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Phelps County (2018)[38]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Josh Hawley
10,124
62.92%
Democratic
Claire McCaskill
5,363
33.33%
Libertarian
Japheth Campbell
255
1.58%
Independent
Craig O'Dear
242
1.50%
Green
Jo Crain
88
0.55%
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Phelps County (2016)[39]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Roy Blunt
11,063
59.70%
+11.94
Democratic
Jason Kander
6,576
35.48%
−9.79
Libertarian
Jonathan Dine
533
2.88%
−4.09
Green
Johnathan Dine
193
1.04%
+1.04
Constitution
Fred Ryman
167
0.90%
+0.90
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Phelps County (2012)
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Todd Akin
8,579
47.76%
Democratic
Claire McCaskill
8,133
45.27%
Libertarian
Jonathan Dine
1,252
6.97%
Phelps County is included in Missouri's 8th Congressional District and is currently represented by Jason T. Smith (R-Salem) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Smith won a special election on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, to finish the remaining term of U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (R-Cape Girardeau). Emerson announced her resignation a month after being reelected with over 70 percent of the vote in the district. She resigned to become CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative.
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Phelps County (2020)[37]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Jason T. Smith
13,591
70.23%
Democratic
Kathy Ellis
5,302
27.42%
Libertarian
Tom Schmitz
456
2.35%
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Phelps County (2018)[38]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Jason T. Smith
10,977
68.59%
Democratic
Kathy Ellis
4,716
29.47%
Libertarian
Jonathan Shell
302
1.89%
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Phelps County (2016)[39]
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Jason T. Smith
13,288
72.59%
+2.29
Democratic
Dave Cowell
4,453
24.33%
−0.27
Libertarian
Jonathan Shell
564
3.08%
+1.26
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Phelps County (2014)
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Jason T. Smith
7,387
70.30%
−3.69
Democratic
Barbara Stocker
2,585
24.60%
+0.08
Libertarian
Rick Vandeven
191
1.82%
+0.79
Constitution
Doug Enyart
133
1.27%
+0.81
Independent
Terry Hampton
212
2.02%
+2.02
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Phelps County (Special Election 2013)
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Jason T. Smith
3,084
73.99%
+0.40
Democratic
Steve Hodges
1,022
24.52%
+1.59
Libertarian
Bill Slantz
43
1.03%
−2.45
Constitution
Doug Enyart
19
0.46%
+0.46
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Phelps County (2012)
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
±%
Republican
Jo Ann Emerson
13,142
73.59%
Democratic
Jack Rushin
4,095
22.93%
Libertarian
Rick Vandeven
622
3.48%
Political culture
[edit]
At the presidential level, Phelps County is a fairly Republican-leaning county despite containing a relatively large university. George W. Bush easily carried Phelps County in 2000 and 2004. Bill Clinton was the last Democratic presidential nominee to carry Phelps County in 1992, and like many of the rural counties throughout Missouri, Phelps County favored John McCain over Barack Obama in 2008. It moved even further to the Right when it voted at record numbers for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020. Trump received the most votes any candidate ever has, in Phelps county—for President—in 2020, and took 68% of the vote. In 2024, Trump became the first Republican in history to achieve over 70% of the vote, something that only one person had achieved before, that being Franklin D. Roosevelt during his overwhelming landslide in 1932.
Like most rural areas throughout central Missouri, voters in Phelps County generally adhere to socially and culturally conservative principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings. In 2004, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman—it overwhelmingly passed Phelps County with 77.94 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters as Missouri became the first state to ban same-sex marriage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state—it failed in Phelps County with 52.25 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve embryonic stem cell research. Despite Phelps County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing populist causes like increasing the minimum wage. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Phelps County with 69.42 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 78.99 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.
See also
[edit]
National Register of Historic Places listings in Phelps County, Missouri
^"Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
^"History". Phelps County. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
^"Mean Center of Population for the United States: 1790 to 2010" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 21, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
^Cattell, Hudson (December 24, 2013). Wines of Eastern North America: From Prohibition to the Present—A History and Desk Reference. Cornell University Press. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-8014-6900-8.
^"History". Phelps County. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
^Missouri State Parks National Register of Historic Places NPS Form 10-900 [1]
^"Ozarks Civil War | Counties". Retrieved May 29, 2023.
^"Abert Expedition | The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture". Oklahoma Historical Society | OHS. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
^"A Directory of Towns, Villages, and Hamlets of Missouri". thelibrary.org. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
^Insider, The (August 3, 2022). "This story of the naming of Rolla makes The Insider howl like a houn'". phelpscountyfocus.com. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
^"The Story of Rolla, Volume 1 by Missouri S&T Library and Learning Resources | Curtis Laws Wilson Library – Issuu". issuu.com. November 9, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
^"2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
^"Expedition Slaughter Sink: Journeying to the bottom of Missouri's deepest sinkhole".
^Located at N37.88372/W92.01915, 0.4 mile S of Powellville
^"US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
^"Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
^"Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
^"Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
^"State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
^ abc"2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
^"2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
^"2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
^"1980 Census of Population – General Social and Economic Characteristics – Missouri- Table 16 – Persons by Spanish Origin, Race, and Sex: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 20-25.
^"1990 Census of Population – General Population Characteristics – Missouri: Table 5 – Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 13-63.
^"P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Phelps County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
^"P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Phelps County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
^"P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Phelps County, Missouri". United States Census Bureau.
^included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
^included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
^not an option in the 1980 Census
^not an option in the 1990 Census
^"US Census website". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
^"Most popular religious groups in Phelps County, MO".
^Breeding, Marshall. "James Memorial Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
^Breeding, Marshall. "Newburg Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
^Breeding, Marshall. "Rolla Public Library". Libraries.org. Retrieved May 8, 2017.
^ abcdef"2020 Phelps County Election Results" (PDF). Phelps County Clerk. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 25, 2021.
^ abcdefgh"2018 Phelps County Election Results" (PDF). Phelps County Clerk.
^ abcdef"County Results – State of Missouri – 2016 General Election – November 8, 2016 – Official Results". Missouri Secretary of State. December 12, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
^Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 26, 2018.
Further reading
[edit]
History of Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Webster, Wright, Texas, Pulaski, Phelps, and Dent counties, Missouri (1889) full text
External links
[edit]
Digitized 1930 Plat Book of Phelps County from University of Missouri Division of Special Collections, Archives, and Rare Books
Places adjacent to Phelps County, Missouri
Maries County
Gasconade County
Pulaski County
Phelps County, Missouri
Crawford County
Texas County
Dent County
v
t
e
Municipalities and communities of Phelps County, Missouri, United States
New Phelps County courthouse in Rolla
Location within the U.S. state of Missouri
United States
Missouri
I-44
US 63
Route 8
Route 68
Route 72
