Royse was instrumental in getting the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway line brought from Greenville to Dallas through Rockwall County.

Still a small town, Royse City was feeling the impacts of the rapid growth of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, along with Rockwall County.

The city's location along Interstate 30 between Rockwall and Greenville helped to fuel this growth.

Royse City has grown rapidly to the north and south as newer subdivisions have been built.

Following nationwide trends of greater diversification, the racial and ethnic makeup in 2020 was 61.67% non-Hispanic white, 8.31% Black or African American, 1.64% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.26% some other race, 4.46% multiracial, and 23.11% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The local economy consists of service businesses, restaurants, stores, schools, and medical offices.

In June 2019, the popular travel center chain Buc-ee's added a store in Royse City.