If you are planning a road trip that stops in the city of Rolla, North Dakota, it is a good idea to read up on the small town before you go to visit. This is going to help you understand a bit more about the town, and it might even help you start a conversation with a local when you stop for supplies or a bite to eat.
The city of Rolla is in the county of Rolette and is also the county seat, so all county decisions occur and take place right inside Rolla. The city has been around since 1888, with a total square area of 1.2 miles. This holds the town population of just under 1,300 individuals, although this is down from its high of over 1,500 individuals in the 1980s. The average age of the city is a young 39, with over 35 percent of the individuals in the town under the age of 24. This should help increase the population in the coming years, as long as the younger generation stays inside the city. The main downside to the town is the rather large percentage of individuals living under the national poverty line, as this percentage sits at a little over 19 percent.
When you visit the town, you are going to notice all of the shops and businesses are owned by locals, so you aren't going to find a large chain facility or department store nearby. However, if you end up starting a conversation with a locale, they might point out the 28th governor of North Dakota did come from Rolla, so that at least gives you something to discuss involving the town. While driving into the city it is a good idea to have a Rolla, North Dakota Yellow Pages, which holds the Rolla, North Dakota business directory.
Written by Lyndsey Morgan