District 5180 emerged in 1995 as an inevitable step in the orderly progression of Rotary International. It brought with it the basic philosophy, the social dignity, and the lasting traditions of its illustrious predecessors, Districts 13, 23, 2, 105, 109, 164, and 5190 (519). Recognizing a directive from Chicago as mandate, a small group of fifteen men from nine existing clubs in California met at Fresno and organized District 13, the first district of which our present 5180 was a part.

The original mother district, including the Clubs of San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, Stockton, Fresno, San Jose, and Berkeley, in California; Reno in Nevada; Phoenix in Arizona; Honolulu in Hawaii; and Albuquerque in New Mexico, formed the nucleus from which the present 5180 found its origin. Rotary District 13 was divided in 1918 and all of California became District 23. In 1922, District 23 became District 2 and remained District 2 until 1937. With the continued growth of Rotary, the District number designation continued to change. In 1937 District 105 was split from District 2. Between the years of 1937 and 1947, the District recognized California clubs in an area extending north to Susanville and also added three new clubs in Nevada. By 1947 District 109 had split from 105, but the number of the new district was destined for a short life. In 1949 Rotary International again felt the need to change the identity of the District and District 109 now became know as District 164.

From its origin in 1957, District 519 grew from a club strength of 51 with a membership of 3315 to a strength of 79 clubs with a membership of over 4,500. In 1991, a redistricting proposal dividing District 5190 (renumbered) by RI from 519 along the Sierra- Nevada ridge was offered. The proposal was not approved.

In September of 1992, another proposal to split District 5190 into two districts was offered. The split received the requisite approval and lead the way to the formation of District 5180 effective on July 1, 1995. The now District was made up of clubs in the Sacramento Valley (34 clubs and 2,200 members.) On July 1, 1997 District 5180 was restructured again with the transfer of Penn Valley to District 5190. The Rotary Club of Midtown Sacramento was chartered on November 1, 1994 and in the spring of 2004 the Historic Folsom Club was chartered bringing the total number of clubs in the district to 35.