Rolla, MO: Population, ZIP Codes & Nearby Cities

Rolla, MO is a small incorporated city located in Phelps County in the state of Missouri. Our data estimates 21,059 residents, places it at 37.946°N, 91.761°W, and lists it in Central time. This page explains its population rank, ZIP codes, nearby cities and distance to big metros.

What are the key facts about Rolla, MO?

What is the population of Rolla, MO?

Rolla has an estimated population of 21,059. That makes it the 39th largest of the 1,020 places we list in Missouri, and the largest place in its county. The typical place in Missouri has about 482 residents, so Rolla is roughly 43.7 times the size of a typical neighbor in the state.

Estimates for places of this size carry wider margins of error than those for big cities, so treat the figure as a guide to scale. Our guide to understanding city population numbers explains why sources disagree.

Places in Missouri with a similar population include Arnold (21,091), Ferguson (20,525), Ozark (20,482), Poplar Bluff (20,359), Affton (20,148). Comparing these pages is a quick way to see how Rolla differs from communities of the same scale.

How dense is Rolla?

Rolla has about 1,683 people per square mile (650 per square kilometer), which we classify as suburban. Within Missouri, it is denser than about 88% of the listed places. Land at this level is usually a mix of single-family neighborhoods, shopping corridors and parks, where driving is common but destinations are close. Read how to interpret population density to see how we draw these lines.

What ZIP codes does Rolla use?

The postal data lists 3 ZIP codes for Rolla: 65401, 65402, 65409. Several codes in one place usually reflect separate delivery areas, post offices or large buildings with their own code. Codes beginning with 6 are assigned to the central Midwest (Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska). Learn more in our guide to how ZIP codes work or check any code with the ZIP code lookup.

What time zone is Rolla in?

Rolla is in the Central time zone, which is UTC−6 from Coordinated Universal Time in standard time (IANA zone America/Chicago). The area observes daylight saving time, so clocks move forward in March and back in November. The nearest listed place in a different time zone is Vincennes, IN, about 236 miles away, which gives a sense of how far the nearest zone boundary may be. Current local time: see the Central time hub. For the rules behind these zones, read US time zones explained.

Where is Rolla located in Missouri?

Rolla lies in the central part of Missouri, at 37.946° north latitude and 91.761° west longitude. The state capital, Jefferson City, is about 49 miles to the northwest. The closest listed place in another state is Columbia, IL, roughly 91 miles to the northeast, which shows how near Rolla is to a state line. For big-city services, the nearest place with more than 100,000 people is Columbia, MO, 76 miles to the northwest.

Which cities are near Rolla, MO?

The closest listed place to Rolla is St. Robert, MO, 23.0 miles to the west. Of the eight nearest places below, 0 are in the same county. Distances are straight-line (great-circle) miles measured between place centers; see how distance is calculated.

Which county is Rolla in?

Rolla is in Phelps County, which has the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) code 29161. The county contains 5 places in our data, 1 of which have their own page here and 4 smaller communities that appear only in county and state lists. Other places in the county include St. James (4,034), Doolittle (601), Newburg (436), Edgar Springs (195). Codes like this one help separate places that share a name; see the guide to counties and FIPS codes.

How far is Rolla from major US cities?

Among six major hubs, Rolla is closest to Chicago, IL at about 345 miles and farthest from Los Angeles, CA at about 1,507 miles in a straight line. Road distances are usually 10 to 30 percent longer. Try the distance calculator for any other pair.

Are there other places called Rolla?

Yes. Our data lists 2 other places named Rolla: Rolla, ND (1,252), Rolla, KS (356). When you search for Rolla, add the state or county so you land on the right one. This page covers the Rolla in Phelps County, Missouri.

Planning a move to Rolla?

If you are weighing Rolla, start with the practical numbers: how far it is from where you live, whether it changes your time zone, and how its size and density compare with your current city. Use the distance calculator to measure the trip from where you live. The radius search tool lists every place within any distance of it. Our checklist for comparing cities explains what to check next.

Where to go next

Population and density come from a compiled dataset and are estimates. They may differ from official Census Bureau counts. Verify important figures at census.gov.