Fruitvale is a small city in Van Zandt County, Texas, United States. The population was 408 at the 2010 census, and 428 as of 2019. The town draws its name from its location. Missouri Pacific Railroad in the center of the historic fruit-growing district of the Sabine River valley in northeastern Van Zandt County. Its name was originally Bolen Switch, but it was changed around 1901 after a petition of local fruit growers, and a post office was established in 1903. In April 2017, an EF-2 tornado struck the town causing much damage and several injuries. The town is rural and has many commuters to the Dallas-Ft. Worth and Tyler areas. The town has the oldest festival in Van Zandt County still occurring today. Hosted by the Fruitvale Volunteer Fire Department, the annual stew and carnival has occurred each October since the 1940s. There are no fast-food chains or major grocery stores in the town. Residents shop and eat at neighboring towns, such as: Edgewood, Grand Saline, or Canton. Means Feed and Grocery is the only grocery store in the town, which also serves as a gas station to travelers and local residents. Fruitvale Independent School District serves the town for head start to 12th grade.
Geography
Fruitvale is located at . It lies along U.S. Highway 80 between Edgewood and Grand Saline. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles, all of it land.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 418 people, 157 households, and 116 families residing in the city. The population density was 218.4 people per square mile. There were 172 housing units at an average density of 89.9 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 92.82% White, 0.96% African American, 0.96% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 2.87% from other races, and 2.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.59% of the population. There were 157 households, out of which 37.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 23.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.03. In the city the population was spread out, with 29.4% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males. The median income for a household in the city was $24,625, and the median income for a family was $31,250. Males had a median income of $25,417 versus $25,625 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,394. About 21.8% of families and 21.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.7% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.
Fruitvale has no police department so they are served by local Van Zandt County Sheriff's deputies. Fruitvale has a volunteer fire department.
Local Business
Fruitvale is served by several business including Erwin Concrete, Fruitvale Storage, and Means Feed and Grocery, which is the only gas station in the town. Means Grocery is located in the center of the town across from the post office.
Politics
Fruitvale is heavily Republican like the rest of Van Zandt County and East Texas. Fruitvale has voted for the Republican presidential candidate in all presidential elections since 1984. In 2016, President Trump received 85% of the vote in Fruitvale. Fruitvale also consistently votes Republican in state and local elections. Before 1984, Fruitvale was heavily Democratic along with the rest of Van Zandt County.
