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The first non-Indians settled in the Roseville area in 1843, six years before Minnesota became a territory. <br />In 1850 Rose Township was established, named after Isaac Rose, one of the first white settlers, who <br />conducted the area survey. Rose Township included the areas now known as Roseville, Lauderdale, and <br />Falcon Heights, as well as parts of present day St. Paul and Minneapolis. <br />Farms and nurseries dominated the area until the 1930s when commercial development arrived, attracted <br />by the wide-open space, convenient location, and the railroad. At the same time, people began leaving the <br />inner cities for the more spacious, less congested lifestyle of the suburbs. <br />By 1948 the township form of government could no longer accommodate the area’s rapid growth. <br />Roseville incorporated as a village in May of 1948, followed by Falcon Heights and Lauderdale, which <br />led to Rose Township ceasing to exist. <br />Roseville’s population and commercial development grew dramatically during the 1950’s and 1960’s. The <br />City then turned its focus from planning to redevelopment and preservation. Today Roseville is a mixed <br />land use community with a strong residential base and vibrant retail. It has become the commercial hub <br />of the northeastern metro area. <br />This area is considered to be amajor population and economic growth area in the state, and among one of <br />the highly ranked economic growth areas in the country. The City of Roseville currently occupies a land <br />area of 13.7 square miles and serves a population of 35,306. Roseville is a completely developed <br />community and is bordered on all sides by other incorporated communities. <br />The City of Rosevillehas operated under the council-manager form of government since 1974. Policy- <br />making and legislative authority are vested in a city council consisting of the mayor and four other <br />members. The city council is responsible, among other things, for passing ordinances, adopting the budget, <br />appointing committees, and hiring the city manager. The city manager is responsible for carrying out the <br />policies and ordinances of the council, for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the city government, <br />and for appointing the heads of the various departments. The council is elected on a non-partisan basis. <br />Council members serve four-year staggered terms, with three council members elected every four years <br />and the mayor and one council member elected in staggered four-year terms. The council and mayor are <br />elected at large. <br />The City of Roseville provides a full range of services, including police and fire protection; the <br />construction and maintenance of highways, streets, and other infrastructure; water and sewer services and <br />recreational activities and cultural events. <br />Supplemental demographic and statistical information is shown below. <br />107 <br /> <br />