Fruita, Colorado

Fruita, Colorado
Interstate 70 sign at Fruita exit.
Interstate 70 sign at Fruita exit.
Motto(s): 
Honor the Past, Envision the Future
Location of the City of Fruita in Mesa County, Colorado.
Location of the City of Fruita in Mesa County, Colorado.
Fruita is located in the United States
Fruita
Fruita
Location of the City of Fruita in the United States
Fruita is located in Colorado
Fruita
Fruita
Fruita (Colorado)
Coordinates: 39°09′17″N 108°43′50″W / 39.15472°N 108.73056°W / 39.15472; -108.73056
CountryUnited States
StateColorado
CountyMesa[1]
Established1884
IncorporatedApril 18, 1894[2]
Government
 • TypeHome rule municipality[1]
 • MayorMatthew Breman
Area
 • Total8.183 sq mi (21.193 km2)
 • Land7.892 sq mi (20.439 km2)
 • Water0.291 sq mi (0.754 km2)
Elevation4,508 ft (1,374 m)
Population
 • Total13,395
 • Density1,697/sq mi (655/km2)
Time zoneUTC−07:00 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−06:00 (MDT)
ZIP code[5]
81521
Area code970
FIPS code08-28745
GNIS feature ID2410553[4]
Websitewww.fruita.org

Fruita (/ˈfrtə/) is a home rule municipality located in western Mesa County, Colorado, United States.[1] The city population was 13,395 at the 2020 United States Census.[3] Fruita is a part of the Grand Junction, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area and lies within the Grand Valley. The geography is identified by the bordering Colorado River (historically known as the Grand River) on the southern edge of the town, the Uncompahgre Plateau known for its pinyon-juniper landscape, and the Book Cliffs range on the northern edge of the Grand Valley. Originally home to the Ute people, farmers settled the town after founder William Pabor in 1884. Ten years later, Fruita was incorporated.

Fruita started out as a fruit-producing region. Today it is well known for its outdoor sports such as mountain biking, hiking, disc golfing and rafting, its proximity to the Colorado National Monument, and its annual festivals, such as Mike the Headless Chicken. Fruita has been the winner of the Governor's Smart Growth and Development Award for four consecutive years. The city motto is "Honor the Past, Envision the Future".

  1. ^ a b c d "Active Colorado Municipalities". Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  2. ^ "Colorado Municipal Incorporations". State of Colorado, Department of Personnel & Administration, Colorado State Archives. December 1, 2004. Retrieved September 2, 2007.
  3. ^ a b c "Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data". United States Census Bureau, United States Department of Commerce. August 12, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  4. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Fruita, Colorado
  5. ^ "ZIP Code Lookup". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original (JavaScript/HTML) on November 4, 2010. Retrieved September 22, 2007.