The
Nisenan lived in the land that became Roseville for over 2000 years before being forcibly removed by disease, miners and settlers. The settlement developed around a stage coach station called Griders. According to the Roseville Historical Society, in 1864 the
Central Pacific Railroad tracks were constructed northeastward from Sacramento as part of the transcontinental railroad. The point where the tracks met the
California Central Railroad line was named "Junction". With the onset of World War II, the rail yards became busier than ever. The post-war building boom brought continued prosperity. But the nature of the city changed dramatically in the 1950s. During this decade, the railroad continued to expand and upgrade, converting its
steam engine fleet to all
diesel engines. But competition arose in new sectors: the postwar development of the national
Interstate Highway System and the airline industry adversely affected the railroads' passenger and freight traffic. Trucking carried increasing amount of freight on highways. Industry restructuring took place and jobs were lost as railroads dropped passenger routes and consolidated operations. Although the railroad has continued as a major employer in Roseville, the city's expansion has been based on the emergence of other employment sectors. Construction in 1950 of the Washington Boulevard (then called Seawell) railroad underpass dramatically affected downtown. It improved the ability of people to travel from one side of the tracks to the other, but it reduced traffic through the Roseville business district north of the tracks. Those businesses lost customers. The completion of Interstate 80 in 1956 stimulated new businesses, with a population shift, from downtown to what would become known as East Roseville. The old downtown lost more businesses and slid into a gradual decline. The Southern Pacific (now Union Pacific) yard was the site of the
1973 Roseville Yard Disaster. A major explosion and fire took place. The city saw steady population growth throughout the ensuing decades, as shopping centers, major retailers, and homes were constructed, mostly outside the historic downtown. The growth rate was modest until 1985. Between 1929, when the population was 6,425 people, and 1985, the population grew by 22,563 people. In 1985 the population stood at 28,988 people. Five years later it was 44,685 people, and by 2000 it was 74,234 people. Some of this growth was fueled by the arrival of major technology employers, such as Hewlett Packard (in 1979) and NEC (in 1983), in the city. The population as of 2014 was 126,956 people.
Revitalization In 1988, the city embarked on a multi-million dollar plan to redevelop approximately of land in the downtown core, and revitalize historic areas that had been in decline. Projects included the Vernon Streetscape Project, Atlantic Street Beautification, Civic Plaza Complex, Downtown Vernon Street and Historic Old Town, Historic Old Town Streetscape project, Riverside Avenue Streetscape project, Oak Street Improvement Project, and Washington Boulevard pedestrian underpass. A new parking garage opened in 2007, the Roseville Arts! Blueline Gallery opened in 2008, and a new Civic Center opened in 2013. The Vernon Street Town Square now features a small raised stage, a water spray for children, and a venue for community events.
Incidents On April 28, 1973, a shipment of munitions bound for the
Vietnam War exploded in Roseville's
rail yard creating a massive
disaster. In 1995, a Roseville police officer shot and killed another officer, Mark A. White, during an attack at the city's police station. White (in plain clothes) drew his weapon against the assailant, but another officer mistakenly believed White was also an assailant and shot and killed him. On October 21, 2010, a young man set fires inside the
Westfield Galleria at Roseville resulting in major damage to the mall. It reopened the next year after renovations. ==Geography==