Fries, VA

Fries is a town in Virginia. The 2020 census counted 450 residents. Fries was named after North Carolina cotton mill owner Colonel Francis Henry Fries. Jim 'Pipe' Carico contacted Fries in 1900 and proposed Bartlett Falls on New River as a site for a hydroelectric dam that could power a cotton mill. The Old Fiddler's Convention, one of the most prominent traditional music contests in the United States, has been held annually in the nearby city of Galax since 1935. The historic Fries Recreation Center is located in downtown Fries. Taken together, these details give a newcomer a usable picture of Fries, where its history, geography, and current gathering places meet. For Fries, the memorable detail is the way older history and current gathering places share one local map. Fries hosts of annual music festivals reflecting its strong bluegrass. Fries includes a historic district.