Changes

==Geography==

==Geography==

Phelps County is located in the Ozarks of southern Missouri, astride the direct transportation routes from St. Louis to Springfield, Missouri, and from central Missouri to [[Arkansas]]. Somewhat crooked in appearance, its main body is generally rectangular in shape, with short north-south "arms" extending from its northeastern and southwestern corners. It is bordered on the east by Crawford County, on the southeast by [[Dent County, Missouri|Dent County]], on the south by [[Texas County, Missouri|Texas County]], on the west by Pulaski County, on the north by Maries County, and on the northeast by Gasconade County.

Phelps County is located in the Ozarks of southern Missouri, astride the direct transportation routes from St. Louis to Springfield, Missouri, and from central Missouri to [[Arkansas]]. Somewhat crooked in appearance, its main body is generally rectangular in shape, with short north-south "arms" extending from its northeastern and southwestern corners. It is bordered on the east by [[Crawford County, Missouri|Crawford County]], on the southeast by [[Dent County, Missouri|Dent County]], on the south by [[Texas County, Missouri|Texas County]], on the west by Pulaski County, on the north by Maries County, and on the northeast by Gasconade County.

The county has a total area of 674.32 square miles, including 671.78 of land and 2.54 of water.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20131021170230/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt</ref> It is mostly part of the Salem Plateau, a northern subdivision of the Ozarks characterized by rolling terrain with noticeable hills and limestone ridges, but few steep changes in elevation. Its highest point is an unnamed peak in the extreme south of the county, at 1,352 feet above sea level. The land tends to slope downward from south to north, with the floodplain along the Gasconade River in the northwest dropping to about 650 feet.<ref>https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=22271</ref> The sandy loam and clay soils of the region, along with the well-draining slopes of the many hillsides, account for its suitability as a wine-production center.

The county has a total area of 674.32 square miles, including 671.78 of land and 2.54 of water.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20131021170230/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_29.txt</ref> It is mostly part of the Salem Plateau, a northern subdivision of the Ozarks characterized by rolling terrain with noticeable hills and limestone ridges, but few steep changes in elevation. Its highest point is an unnamed peak in the extreme south of the county, at 1,352 feet above sea level. The land tends to slope downward from south to north, with the floodplain along the Gasconade River in the northwest dropping to about 650 feet.<ref>https://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=22271</ref> The sandy loam and clay soils of the region, along with the well-draining slopes of the many hillsides, account for its suitability as a wine-production center.