Difference between revisions of "Phelps County, Missouri"
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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, 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> | + | 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 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> |
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| + | The Gasconade River, which forms part of the county's northwestern border, is its most important waterway and drains its western and central portions. The Meramec and its tributary, the Bourbeuse River, drain the easternmost section. | ||
==Communities== | ==Communities== | ||
Revision as of 17:38, April 3, 2021
Phelps County is a county in the south-central part of the state of Missouri, approximately halfway between St. Louis and Springfield. It had a population of 45,156 at the 2010 census.
Officially organized by the state legislature on November 13, 1857, the county was named for John Smith Phelps, then a prominent politician in southern Missouri. Rolla is the county seat and largest city.
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, on the south by 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.[1] It is mostly part of the Salem Plateau, a northern subdivision of the Ozarks characterized by rolling terrain with noticeable hills 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.[2]
The Gasconade River, which forms part of the county's northwestern border, is its most important waterway and drains its western and central portions. The Meramec and its tributary, the Bourbeuse River, drain the easternmost section.
Communities
Phelps County is home to five incorporated communities:
- Doolittle
- Edgar Springs
- Newburg
- Rolla (county seat)
- St. James