Fries, Virginia

Fries, Virginia
Downtown Fries, 2012
Downtown Fries, 2012
Location of Fries, Virginia
Location of Fries, Virginia
Coordinates: 36°42′56″N 80°58′33″W / 36.71556°N 80.97583°W / 36.71556; -80.97583
CountryUnited States
StateVirginia
CountyGrayson
Area
 • Total0.82 sq mi (2.13 km2)
 • Land0.64 sq mi (1.65 km2)
 • Water0.18 sq mi (0.48 km2)
Elevation
2,185 ft (666 m)
Population
 • Total452 Decrease
 • Estimate 
(2021)[2]
451
 • Density699.06/sq mi (269.98/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code
24330
Area code276
FIPS code51-29920[3]
GNIS feature ID1483549[4]
WebsiteOfficial website

Fries (pronounced "freeze") is an incorporated town located on the New River in Grayson County, Virginia, 15.5 miles (24 kilometers) northeast of the county seat in Independence — in Virginia's Blue Ridge Highlands and on Virginia's musical heritage trail, The Crooked Road.

Named after prominent cotton mill owner, Francis Henry Fries, the town is noted as the former site of Washington Mill (1903-1989); as one of three end points of the New River Trail State Park and as the host of annual music festivals reflecting its strong bluegrass and country music traditions — with its August Old-Time Fiddlers' and Bluegrass Convention and its September Festival by the New River.[5]

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "City and Town Population Totals: 2020—2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ Fussell, pgs. 74 - 74