Rolla, North Dakota
Rolla is a city of 1,039 people in Rolette County, North Dakota, founded in 1888.
Why visit Rolla
Townapedia lists 1 place to eat and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Curt's Theater.
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 75°F; January lows average -3°F.
Weather in Rolla
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Rolla
Rolla is a city in Rolette County, North Dakota, United States. It is the county seat of Rolette County. The population was 1,223 at the 2020 census. The city contains a small park and a small outdoor pool.
From the Wikipedia article Rolla, North Dakota (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Restaurants and cafes1
Shopping1
Schools, colleges and libraries10
Turtle Mountain Community High School
School · 5.8 mi
1350 Braves Boulevard, Belcourt
Turtle Mountain Community Middle School
School · 5.9 mi
1330 Braves Blvd, Belcourt
History
Rolla was laid out in 1888 in part of Edward Owen's homestead. The origin of the name Rolla is disputed, but there are three main theories. It was either derived from a contraction of the county name, which was coined by Dr. Richard D. Cowan, a local physician, it was named after Arthur Noyes's brother, Rolla, or it was named after Rolla, Missouri. A post office has been in operation in Rolla since 1888. In 1890, it was made the county seat, and in the year following on April 21 it was officially a village. The city was incorporated in 1907.
From the History section of Rolla, North Dakota on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Healthcare1
Map of Rolla
14 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15°F | -3°F | 0.4 in |
| Feb | 19°F | 0°F | 0.4 in |
| Mar | 30°F | 12°F | 0.7 in |
| Apr | 48°F | 25°F | 1.1 in |
| May | 62°F | 38°F | 2.9 in |
| Jun | 70°F | 49°F | 3.7 in |
| Jul | 75°F | 54°F | 3.3 in |
| Aug | 75°F | 52°F | 2.7 in |
| Sep | 65°F | 43°F | 1.7 in |
| Oct | 50°F | 29°F | 1.2 in |
| Nov | 33°F | 16°F | 0.8 in |
| Dec | 20°F | 3°F | 0.7 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Rolla 1Ne (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Rolette County has had 13 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2022-07-13: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-04-01: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2017-07-12: Flooding (Flood)
- 2013-05-29: Flooding (Flood)
- 2011-05-10: Flooding (Flood)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Devils Lake Municipal Airport (DVL) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 60 miles away.
- Green Acres 4 mi west, about 6 min by car
- Belcourt 6 mi west, about 10 min by car
- Shell Valley 10 mi west, about 16 min by car
- Rolette 16 mi southwest, about 27 min by car
- East Dunseith 19 mi west, about 30 min by car
- Dunseith 21 mi west, about 33 min by car
- Cando 31 mi southeast, about 50 min by car
- Rugby 37 mi southwest, about 1 h by car
- Bottineau 38 mi west, about 1 h by car
- Leeds 39 mi south, about 1 h by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Rolla North Dakota LOC fsa.8a32622, John Vachon, Public domain
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.