Farmington, Minnesota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Farmington
City
Motto(s):  "A Proud Past, A Promising Future."
Location of the city of Farmington within Dakota County, Minnesota
Country	United States
State	Minnesota
County	Dakota
Incorporated	February 12, 1872
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
• Body	Farmington City Council
Area
• Total	14.87 sq mi (38.52 km2)
• Land	14.62 sq mi (37.87 km2)
• Water	0.25 sq mi (0.65 km2)
Elevation	902 ft (275 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	23,632
• Estimate  (2022)	23,566
• Density	1,616.31/sq mi (624.05/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code	55024
Area code(s)	651
FIPS code	27-20618
GNIS feature ID	0643570
Sales tax	8.125%

Farmington is a city located in Dakota County, Minnesota, in the United States. It's part of the larger Minneapolis-St. Paul area. In 2020, about 23,632 people lived there.

History of Farmington

The Exchange Bank Building in downtown Farmington

People started settling in the area where Farmington is now in the early 1850s. A small village called Dakota City grew up where several railroads met and near the Vermillion River.

The train station in Dakota City was very popular and was called "Farmington Station." Soon, people outside the town started calling the whole place Farmington by mistake. Because of this, the town's name was officially changed from Dakota City to Farmington. The name "Farmington" was chosen because there were many farms nearby. In 1872, Farmington officially became a village. This made it the second oldest community in Dakota County.

An important event in Farmington's history was when the Dakota County Fair moved there in 1869. Another big event was the Great Fire of Farmington on November 22, 1879. This fire destroyed many homes, stores, a hotel, and a grain building in the downtown area. The fire started when a cart carrying fireworks tipped over.

Farmington High School had its first graduating class in 1884. In 1897, Farmington was one of the first places in the United States to offer free mail delivery to people living in rural areas. The city continued to grow throughout the 1900s. In 1972, Farmington celebrated its 100th birthday. More recently, the city has added many new neighborhoods, especially to the north of the original downtown.

Farmington is home to three buildings that are listed on the Register of Historic Places. These are the Daniel F. Akin House, the Church of the Advent, and the Exchange Bank Building.

Farmington's Economy

Farmington is home to the Minneapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZMP). This center helps manage air traffic in the region. There is also a Marigold Kemps packing plant in the city.

Geography of Farmington

Farmington covers an area of about 14.94 square miles (38.70 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

The city shares its borders with Lakeville to the west and Empire Township to the east. To the south, it borders the Townships of Castle Rock and Eureka.

Some of the main roads that run through Farmington include County Road 31/Pilot Knob, County Road 50, Minnesota Highway 50, and Minnesota Highway 3.

Community Life

Farmington hosts the Dakota County Fairgrounds. You can enter the fairgrounds from 220th Street or Highway 3. These fairgrounds are the largest in Minnesota, covering 360 acres. They also host the largest county fair in the state, with about 125,000 visitors each year.

Farmington is a suburb of the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area. Most of the city is made up of homes and neighborhoods. The city can be thought of in two main parts: the area north of County Highway 50 and the area south of Highway 50. The northern part has grown a lot in the last 18 years. The southern part is known as "Downtown" and has seen less new building in recent years.

There are also new developments in the northeast part of Farmington and west-central Empire Township. Farmington has many biking and walking trails that connect its neighborhoods. A trail along the Vermillion River links the downtown, uptown, and Empire Township areas.

Population and People

2010 Census Information

In 2010, about 21,086 people lived in Farmington. There were 7,066 households, and 5,426 of these were families. The city had about 1,435 people per square mile.

Most of the people living in Farmington were White (89.8%). Other groups included African American (2.1%), Native American (0.5%), and Asian (3.6%). About 3.6% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

In 51.4% of households, there were children under 18 years old. About 63.4% of households were married couples living together. The average household had 2.95 people, and the average family had 3.38 people.

The average age of people in Farmington was 31.6 years old. About 33.3% of residents were under 18.

Education in Farmington

Schools in Farmington are managed by ISD 192. This school district serves about 6,900 students. It includes students from Farmington, the eastern part of Lakeville, and parts of Castle Rock, Empire, and Eureka Townships.

The mascot for Farmington Senior High School is Pouncer the Tiger. The school colors are orange and black, sometimes with white.

Notable People from Farmington

• Walter Klaus, a Minnesota state legislator and farmer.
• Steve Strachan, who was on the Farmington City Council and in the Minnesota House of Representatives. He also served as sheriff of King County, Washington.
• James F. White, a Minnesota state legislator and funeral director.
• Mike Markuson, an American football coach.

See also

In Spanish: Farmington (Minnesota) para niños