Phelps County is named for John S Phelps, who was a politician, soldier during the American Civil War and the twenty-third Governor of Missouri.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Maries County and Gasconade County
E – Crawford County and Dent County
S – Dent County and Texas County
W – Pulaski County
Created: November 13, 1857 
County Seat:
Rolla 1857 – present
County Courthouse – Rolla
Location: 200 North Main Street / West 3rd Street
Built: 1992 – 1994
Style: Modern
Architect: Stack & Associates, Inc. of St. James
Contractor: Hawkins Construction Company of St. Louis
Description: The building faces northeast and is a two story red colored brick, concrete and glass structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Rolla. The northeast front has four vertical glass panels and rises to a peak at the roof line. From the center extend a north wing and an east wing with pitched roofs and small windows. The building sits on the side of a slope with the basement entrance on the south side. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 25th Judicial Circuit.
Old County Courthouse – Rolla
Location: 305 West 3rd Street / North Main Street
Built: 1859 – 1863
Style: Georgian Revival
Architect: P J Lynch and Andrew Malcolm
Contractor: P J Lynch and Andrew Malcolm
Description: The building faces north and is a two story red colored sand-mud brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Rolla and is 45 feet by 65 feet. The north front has a central entrance on the first story with small balcony above on the second story. The roof is gabled. The corners of the building have stone trim. On the roof is a large square open cupola. The architect and contractor was P J Lynch and Andrew Malcolm. Vault wings were added after 1881 on the east and west sides. The contractor was C V Sanforth and the jail was added in 1912. The cupola was removed in the 1940’s.
See: The 25th Judicial District covers Maries County, Phelps County, Pulaski County and Texas County.
History: The county was created in 1857 and Rolla was selected as the county seat. The first court met in the home of John Dillon and at the office of the Pacific Railroad. The first courthouse was a two story brick structure built by Andrew Malcolm and P J Lynch in 1859 to 1863 at a cost of $5,975 after delays. In 1867 to 1868, J G Braddish was hired to finish work on the courthouse. In 1881 two fireproof vaults were added at a cost of $2,176. The second courthouse was constructed in 1992 to 1994 at a cost of $4,179,000.
County Courthouse – Rolla
Old County Courthouse – Rolla
Photos taken 2009