Tuesday, January 19, 2010

City’s GIS software provides updates on City stats

The year 2010 marks a new decade that not only reminds us that we are in a Census year that is very important to the City of Rolla, but also that it’s time to update City statistical information that is beneficial to businesses, and the Rolla community at large. And if you love trivia, especially Rolla trivia, you will want to continue reading this article.

Thanks to a recent upgrade (as of Jan. 12, 2010) to the City’s GIS (Geographical Information System) by the City’s Engineering Division, much new, and valuable information and statistical data is now available to the public and can be viewed on the City’s Website at : http://rollacity.org/maps/maps.shtm. It is listed under the heading “City land use” and it’s titled “land use statistics (jan 2010).”

For instance, do you know how many miles of City maintained roads there are in the City of Rolla? If you guessed 110.36 you are correct. Of the 110 miles, 7.94 miles are considered principal arterial; 6.73 miles, minor arterial; 2.37 miles arterial; 30.36 miles, collector; and 81.63 miles, local streets. How about the number of square miles in Rolla? Did you guess 11.83-square -miles? If you did, you were correct again. That number includes 7,574 acres. The original town plat of Rolla consisted of 206 acres, so you can easily see how much our City has grown since it was officially incorporated in 1861.

If you really enjoy trivia you might like to know that Rolla also has 69.67 linear miles of sidewalk and 13.02 linear miles of bike trails, which are included primarily within the ACORN Trail pedestrian/bike trail system.

Before 1900s there were 7.56 miles of sewers in Rolla. Today there are over 131 linear miles of constructed sewer lines. How many linear miles of storm sewer do you think there are today in Rolla? If you guessed 61.18 linear miles you would be right again! This also includes 3,348 sewer manholes; nine sewer lift stations and three storm sewer treatment plants. Can you name all three of these? They are the Southeast Treatment Plant (off Hwy. 72 South); Southwest Treatment Plant (off Martin Springs Outer Road) and the Vichy Sewer Treatment Plant (located on Vichy Road, on the north side of I-44). For the fanatical trivia buffs, and Geological engineers out there, Rolla’s geographical coordinates are Latitude, 37dN; Longitude, 91dW.

Would you happen to know how many miles of waterways exist in Rolla’s corporate limits? If you guessed 13.27 miles you would be correct. There are exactly 10 waterways in Rolla, consisting of the Burgher Branch, Burgher Branch Tributary; East Fork Burgher Branch; Deible Branch; Dutro Carter Creek; Spring Creek; Love Branch; Little Beaver Creek; Green Acre Branch and Little Dry Fork. The watershed basins that effect Rolla include: Spring Creek (1,118 acres); Burgher Branch (3,174 acres); Dutro Carter (2,096 acres); Deible Branch (1,417 acres); and Martin Spring Branch (1,076 acres).

The population of Rolla in 1990 was 14,090. In 2000 it was 16,367. The projected population for Rolla in 2008 was 18,438. The City is hopeful, that the results of the 2010 Census, which will take place in March of this year, the City’s population will reach the 20,000 mark, bringing many new opportunities for economic development, retail expansion, grant funding and overall status to our community.

In closing I’d like to remind everyone that Rolla City Hall will be closed this Monday, Jan. 18 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr.s’ Birthday. The Rolla City Council meeting, which is ordinarily held the first and third Monday of the month, will be held Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall (901 North Elm Street). The City of Rolla Environmental Services Department will also be closed Monday, Jan. 18 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday. Monday’s trash will be picked up on Tuesday and Tuesday’s trash will be picked up Wednesday. There will be no special pick-ups on Wednesday. If you have any questions, please call 364-6693.

For more information, please visit www.rollacity.org.

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