Emergency Crime Scene and Biohazard Cleanup in Fruitvale, TX

Fruitvale is a small city in Van Zandt County that draws its name from its location in the center of the historic fruit-growing district of the Sabine River valley in northeastern Van Zandt County.

Fruitvale was originally called Bolen Switch, but its name was changed around 1901 after a petition of local fruit growers, and a post office was established in 1903.

The first fruit nursery at Fruitvale operated during the 1870s and 1880s, promoted by Sykes Wheeler, brother of Benjamin Wheeler, for whom the nearby town of Ben Wheeler is named.

Fruitvale was incorporated in July 1965, when it had 150 residents - the decision was rescinded six months later, but the town was later reincorporated.

Fruitvale established its own independent school district on September 1, 1964, and the Fruitvale Independent School District still serves the city today.

On April 29, 2017, a long-track EF-3 tornado tore through Van Zandt County and struck Fruitvale at EF-2 intensity, causing major damage and several injuries in the town.

Fruitvale's population was 476 at the 2020 census, up from 408 in 2010; back in 2000 its 418 residents lived in 157 households.

Fruitvale lies along U.S. Highway 80 between Edgewood and Grand Saline, covers about 1.9 square miles, and has no police department - it is patrolled by Van Zandt County sheriff's deputies and protected by a volunteer fire department.