Rolla History
1818-The first pioneers came to the Rolla area and began to farm.
1826-Thomas James built the first Iron Works in the Rolla area.
1844-First building built inside the city limits.
1845-James Albert scouts the area for railroad opportunities.
1853-Edmund Bishop, known as the founder of the town of Rolla, arrived with the
goal of building the "Frisco branch of the Southwest Railroad."
1857-Phelps County is oficially created. Bishop offered a large tract of land in
for offical use. This action greatly affected the future Rolla history.
1858-Rolla is officially surveyed and is named after Raleigh, North Carolina.
1970-