Founded in 1886, this district was once called Spring Valley as well as Robbers’ Roost; it is said to have been one of the toughest hell holes in the state in early days, a rendezvous for desperadoes and cattle thieves. It sits east of Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake and north of Davenport on Alder Creek. A. N. Washburn and a Mr. Price took pre-emption claims in 1880, followed by J. N. Allison. They planted orchards, which flourished. In 1886, Moses Peltier, who peddled supplies in the area with a covered wagon, established a shop and later built a store and blacksmith shop. When a post office was established in 1887, with Peltier as postmaster, three names for the town were submitted, and the postal authorities chose Fruitland.