When the Texas & Pacific Railway was built across Northern Van Zandt County in 1873, a switch was installed on a rise between Mill Creek to the west and Caney Creek to the east.  The switch was named Bolton in honor of one of the railroad officials.  Bolton eventually became a town and changed names several times but was changed to Fruitvale in 1903.  

  One of the first cabins built in the area was built by "Stoof" Simpson using rejected cross ties.  Familes moved to the area from Creagleville, Small, and the Barren Ridge area,  Around 1900, people began to realize the the soil here was ideally suited for growing fruits and vegetables.  Orchards and truck crops were put in thus drawing more familes in.

  The first major industry in Fruitvale was cross tie and cord wood marketing.  The fruit and vegetable industry, along with cord wood, became so important that a siding was added alongside the switch during growing season. Carloads of product and wood products were shipped out of Fruitvale daily.​

   The first United States Post Office was established June of 1886.  Even though it is a small community, Fruitvale has had a Post Office in continuous operation since 1899.

   In the late 1940's , the Fruitvale school district was consolidated with the smaller Lawrence Springs and Round Flat schools to form the present day Fruitavle ISD.

   Fruitvale was incorporated in July 1965, when it had 150 residents; six months later the decision was rescinded, but later the town was reincorporated. Fruitvale continued to grow in the 1960s. In 1988 the community had 395 residents, eight businesses, and several churches. ​

   In 1990 the population was 349, and in

2000 it was 418.