To organize a community in the Fruita area were unsuccessful until the present day town was established in 1884, by William E. Pabor, who formed the Fruita Town and Land Company for the purpose of selling town lots. The photo to the right shows Aspen Avenue circa 1890 looking west towards Circle Park.
Pabor recognized the fruit producing potential of the area. Having worked with the Greeley colony, he founded the new town along the same lines, including the provision that no liquor was sold or manufactured in the town. This provision lasted until it was voted out in the late 1970's. The original town site was planned to take in eighty acres with a park in the middle.

The first school was a log cabin, followed by a frame structure and then a brick building. Built in 1912, the old brick school house now serves as the Civic Center.