Roy is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 816 at the 2020 census.

History

Roy was officially incorporated on January 16, 1908. It is a rural city outside Tacoma and primarily features ranch-style homes and farms. Roy was one of the early communities in the area, a prosperous boom-town and a major stop on the railroad line. But 3 major blows reduced this once-thriving town to its current form. A major fire in 1929 wiped out most of the downtown businesses just before the Depression started. The railroad eventually discontinued using Roy as a main stop. The Army annexed most of the surrounding land to the north and west, limiting expansion and the local tax base, and erasing the nearby community of Loveland. Major features and/or attractions in Roy and the vicinity include the Roy Pioneer Rodeo, attracting participants and spectators from several states and Canada.

Geography

According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...

, the city has a total area of , all of it land. Although the intersection of SR 7 and SR 507 is known as the Roy "Y", the intersection is in

Spanaway Spanaway is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pierce County, Washington, United States. The population was 35,476 at the 2020 census, up from 27,227 in 2010. Spanaway is an unincorporated area near Tacoma, and is often identified together with ...

, about seven miles northeast of Roy.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 793 people, 303 households, and 215 families living in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 326 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 82.0%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 3.2%

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 2.4% Native American, 3.7% Asian, 0.9%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 0.8% from other races, and 7.2% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race were 3.8% of the population. There were 303 households, of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.0% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.07. The median age in the city was 35.9 years. 26% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29% were from 25 to 44; 26.6% were from 45 to 64; and 8.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.9% male and 50.1% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 260 people, 102 households, and 68 families living in the city. The population density was 995.2 people per square mile (386.1/km²). There were 114 housing units at an average density of 436.4 per square mile (169.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.15%

, 0.77%

, 3.46% Native American, 2.31% Asian, 3.85% from other races, and 8.46% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 8.08% of the population. There were 102 households, out of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.96. In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 26.2% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males. The median income for a household in the city was $32,727, and the median income for a family was $34,643. Males had a median income of $31,964 versus $21,477 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the city was $14,527. About 6.8% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 12.1% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those 65 or over.

Notable people

* Morgan Hicks, 2004 Olympian in women's three position rifle * Robin Hobb, fantasy author * Victor L. Kandle,

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest Awards and decorations of the United States Armed Forces, military decoration and is awarded to recognize American United States Army, soldiers, United States Navy, sailors, Un ...

recipient

References

External links

City of Roy
Official website {{authority control Cities in Pierce County, Washington Cities in Washington (state) Cities in the Seattle metropolitan area