The Village of Roy was first settled in the late 1800s a few miles west of town. It was moved to the present site to be near the Southern Pacific Railroad which was accommodating the many homesteaders moving into file on claims of land.

Named for it's founders, the Roy brothers, the Village was not incorporated until 1916, and has always functioned on an elected Mayor and Council form of government.

Roy's claim to fame is that Bob Wills wrote the song "San Antonio Rose" while a resident here in 1927. Bob worked as a barber during the day in Roy and played with a dance band at night. He wrote a song called "Spanish Two-Step" which fit the style of dancing most popular here, and this song later became the famous "San Antonio Rose". Also, Tommy McDonald, now in the Football Hall of Fame, began his football playing career at Roy High School.

Many of the buildings in town are old, but sturdy, from the early years of the settlement. Several of these yesteryear buildings have been refurbished and made into attractive homes and places of business. The Floersheim Building was a general store from 1897 until 1969, and now houses a Print Shop and several business rental units. The Mesa Theater still stands, equipped and in good condition. An early day hospital is now an apartment complex, and the Senior Citizens Center once was the headquarters for the telephone company. The Village offices are presently located in a WPA (Works Progress Administration) project building which was completed in 1936.