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Fruit Valley is the westernmost neighborhood, as well as the largest neighborhood by land area, in Vancouver, Washington. This neighborhood has several natural resources like Vancouver Lake, Shillapoo Natural Area and the Ridgefield Wildlife Sanctuary. Fruit Valley was once the site of prune, peach and filbert orchards, and was the home to many of the Hudson Bay Company employees. The neighborhood commercial base changed with the arrival of the railroad around 1908. It became more industrialized and serviced the WWII manufacturing needs. 300 homes were built to house workers and their families during WWII. More and more services came to the area including a community center to provide movies, dances, church services and daycare. After the war housing became the prime focus, and the residential community continues to grow today. Today, commercial agriculture remains a viable activity, and it exists in harmony with the industrial uses at the Port of Vancouver, the commercial enterprises along Fourth Plain and Fruit Valley Road, and the residential uses throughout the neighborhood.
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