Fries, Virginia
Location of Fries, Virginia
Coordinates: 36°42′56″N 80°58′33″W / 36.71556, -80.97583
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Grayson
Area
- Total	0.8 sq mi (2.1 km²)
- Land	0.6 sq mi (1.7 km²)
- Water	0.2 sq mi (0.4 km²)
Elevation	2,185 ft (666 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	614
- Density	947.8/sq mi (366.0/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	24330
Area code(s)	276
FIPS code	51-29920[1]
GNIS feature ID	1483549[2]

Fries (pronounced "freeze") is a town in Grayson County, Virginia, United States. The population was 614 at the 2000 census. Fries is part of the Blue Ridge area, and shares in that region's old-time musical traditions. The small town is home to the Festival by the New River, held in September at the town park on the banks of the New River, and the Old-Time Fiddlers' and Bluegrass Convention in August, hosted by the local volunteer fire department ^[3].

History

The Town of Fries, named for textile mill owner Colonel Francis Fries, is nestled on the north banks of the New River, just fifteen miles northeast of the Grayson County seat in Independence. Originally, Fries existed as a small trading center with a river crossing. Washington Mills Company purchased much of the land that Fries now sits upon and began construction of the damn and textile mill at Bartlett Falls in April of 1901, the same year Fries was incorporated. Despite heavy reliance on manual labor, mules, and oxen, construction progressed at a break-neck pace. Around 300 houses, a post office, church, and company commissary were wedged into the surrounding hillside before the mill began operation in February 1903. The population that was once made up of around 40 meager families blossomed overnight. The mill continued in operation until 1989. At the time the mill closed, it employed 1,700 people. Fries High School also closed in 1989. The students from Fries, along with students from nearby Independence High School were combined to form Grayson County High School, located in Independence. The current population of Fries is estimated at around 564 people.^[4]

A hallmark of both Fries and the surrounding area has always been a rich tradition in Bluegrass and old-time music. The Old Fiddler’s Convention, the world’s oldest and largest convention of its kind has been held in nearby Galax since 1935. The annual convention draws massive crowds and promotes economic boom in Galax, Fries, and other surrounding communities, as musicians and enthusiast flood the area for the multi-day festival.^[5] --Dwfender (talk) 19:15, 22 May 2008 (UTC)

Geography

Fries is located at 36°42′56″N, 80°58′33″W (36.715537, -80.975849)^[6].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), of which, 0.6 square miles (1.7 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (19.75%) is water.

Demographics

A part of the spinning force working in the Washington Cotton Mills. May 1911. Photographed by Lewis Hine.

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 614 people, 298 households, and 177 families residing in the town. The population density was 947.8 people per square mile (364.7/km²). There were 337 housing units at an average density of 520.2/sq mi (200.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.70% White, 0.65% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16% from other races, and 0.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.

There were 298 households out of which 17.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.3% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.6% were non-families. 39.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.71.

In the town the population was spread out with 16.8% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 19.4% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 28.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 75.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $21,250, and the median income for a family was $30,250. Males had a median income of $27,946 versus $18,472 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,107. About 14.1% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.8% of those under age 18 and 14.4% of those age 65 or over.

References

Bibliography

• Fussell, Fred C. (2003). Blue Ridge Music Trails: Finding a Place in the Circle. North Carolina Folklife Institute. 080785459X. 
• Bond, Avery; Nichols, Martha. History of Fries, VA. Grayson Area Information Network. Retrieved on 2007-03-28.

External links

• Fries, Virginia is at coordinates 36°42′56″N 80°58′33″W / 36.715537, -80.975849 (Fries, Virginia)Coordinates: 36°42′56″N 80°58′33″W / 36.715537, -80.975849 (Fries, Virginia)
• Fries VA - Where the New River Trail Begins

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Grayson County, Virginia County seat: Independence Towns Fries | Independence | Troutdale Unincorporated communities Elk Creek | Mouth of Wilson | Baywood