Fries, Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fries, Virginia
Town
Downtown Fries, 2012
Location of Fries, Virginia
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Grayson
Area
• Total	0.82 sq mi (2.13 km2)
• Land	0.64 sq mi (1.65 km2)
• Water	0.18 sq mi (0.48 km2)
Elevation	2,185 ft (666 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	452
• Estimate  (2021)	451
• Density	699.06/sq mi (269.98/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	24330
Area code(s)	276
FIPS code	51-29920
GNIS feature ID	1483549
Website	Official website: http://friesva.com/Home_Page.php

Fries (pronounced "freeze") is a small town in Grayson County, Virginia. It sits right on the New River. The town is about 15.5 miles (24 kilometers) northeast of Independence, the county seat. Fries is nestled in Virginia's beautiful Blue Ridge Highlands. It is also part of The Crooked Road, a famous trail for Virginia's musical heritage.

The town got its name from Francis Henry Fries, who owned a large cotton mill. Fries is known for being the former home of the Washington Mill, which operated from 1903 to 1989. It is also one of the starting points for the New River Trail State Park. The town loves its music, hosting yearly festivals that celebrate bluegrass and country music. These include the Old-Time Fiddlers' and Bluegrass Convention in August and the Festival by the New River in September.

History of Fries

Fries was named after Colonel Francis Henry Fries, a cotton mill owner from North Carolina. In 1900, a man named Jim 'Pipe' Carico contacted Fries. He suggested that Bartlett Falls on the New River would be a great spot for a hydroelectric dam. This dam could power a cotton mill.

Fries bought the land around the falls. He then hired local workers to build the dam, a cotton mill, and a whole town for the company. By 1901, a train line called the New River Train reached the mill site. Fries asked the Virginia State Legislature to officially make the new town. He wanted to name it Carico, after Jim 'Pipe' Carico. But for reasons not fully known, the town was instead named Fries, Virginia, and became official in 1902.

Building the town happened very quickly, even though they used a lot of manual labor, mules, and oxen. Many people moved to Fries for jobs. About 300 houses, a post office, a church, and a company store were built into the hillsides. The mill started working in February 1903. It used some of the most advanced technology of its time.

The mill changed owners many times over the years. It finally closed in 1989. When it closed, about 1,700 people worked there.

Fries High School also closed in 1989. Students from Fries and nearby Independence High School then went to the new Grayson County High School in Independence.

Some important historic places in Fries are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Stephen G. Bourne House, the Fries Boarding Houses, and the Spring Valley Rural Historic District.

Culture and Music

The Appalachian region is famous for its Bluegrass and traditional, or "old-timey" music. The area around Mount Airy, North Carolina, is one of the few places where this music is still very popular, even among young people.

The Old Fiddler's Convention is a very well-known traditional music contest. It has been held every year in the nearby city of Galax since 1935. This event brings together many of the best new bluegrass musicians. The Blue Ridge Music Center is also close by. It has an outdoor theater and a museum about old-time music. You can find it on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Geography of Fries

Fries is located at 36°42′56″N 80°58′33″W / 36.71556°N 80.97583°W / 36.71556; -80.97583.

The town covers a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 square kilometers). Most of this area, 0.6 square miles (1.7 square kilometers), is land. The rest, 0.2 square miles (0.4 square kilometers), is water.

Population Information

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

As of the 2010 census, 484 people lived in Fries. There were 255 households and 144 families.

In the year 2000, the town had 614 people. Most of the people were White (98.70%). A small number were African American (0.65%), Native American (0.16%), or from other backgrounds. About 0.98% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age of people in Fries in 2000 was 49 years old. About 16.8% of the population was under 18. About 28.0% were 65 years or older.

Fun and Recreation

The New River Trail State Park is a great place for outdoor activities. It is a 57.7-mile (92.9 km) long park built on an old railway line. A special 5.5-mile (8.9 km) path connects Fries to the main trail. This makes Fries one of the three end points of the park.

The historic Fries Recreation Center is located in the middle of town.

• In 1910, people saw a need for a community center for the mill workers.
• They built the Fries Lyceum, which had reading rooms and a skating rink. It became a popular spot for young people.
• In 1923, the Lyceum became a Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). It then had the only gymnasium in the Carroll-Grayson area, plus a movie theater.
• More additions were made in 1948, including a new lobby, a bowling alley, a kitchen, a dining area, a library, and more game rooms.
• The swimming pool built in front of the center, facing the New River, was a very popular addition.

Over the years, the "Y" supported semi-professional baseball teams. It has also hosted meetings for many local groups. These include the Fries Garden Club (started in 1932), the Fries Lions Club (started in 1938), and the Fries Women's Club (started in 1953).

Today, the Fries Recreation Center still hosts many groups and activities. These include the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of the USA. It also offers Red Cross Training Courses and Hunter Safety Courses. Many community-minded college students visit as well.

The Fries Recreation Center also houses the Fries Town Hall and the Fries Police Department.

See also

In Spanish: Fries (Virginia) para niños