Established in 1890, the history of Royal began at Hering's Mill, located four and one-half miles north of the present town site. In the beginning and for a number of years thereafter, the community was known as Savage. Historic records indicate that Dr. George Savage of Sioux City had promised to give a large sum of money for the purpose of building a school to any new town named for him along a proposed line of railroad. Such an offer was too good to regard lightly -- at least so thought the promoters of the would-be town. The name of Savage was quickly appended and thus it remained until Rev. S. A. Baer, of Brunswick, who looked after the spiritual welfare of the village, sought to change it.