Farmington, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Farmington, West Virginia
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Town
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| Motto(s):
"The Heart of Marion County"
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Location of Farmington in Marion County, West Virginia
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 Farmington, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Farmington, West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | West Virginia | |
| County | Marion | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Town Council | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 0.43 sq mi (1.11 km2) | |
| • Land | 0.41 sq mi (1.08 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) | |
| Elevation | 932 ft (284 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 389 | |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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403 | |
| • Density | 879.52/sq mi (339.28/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
26571
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| Area code(s) | 304 | |
| FIPS code | 54-26932 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1554446 | |
| Website | https://www.townoffarmingtonwv.com/ | |
Farmington is a small town located in Marion County, West Virginia, in the United States. In 2020, about 389 people lived there. The town sits near Buffalo Creek and the Allegheny Mountains. It is about 6 miles west of Fairmont, which is the main city in Marion County. Farmington is well-known because of the 1968 Farmington Mine disaster.
Contents
History of Farmington
The town of Farmington got its name because many of the first people who settled there were farmers. The first settlers arrived in the late 1700s. These included James Goodin, Nicholas Wood and his family, and Jacob Straight and his family.
In 1801, a settler named Joseph Morgan built a mill in the area. The community was known by different names, like Willeyville and Underwood, before it became officially known as Farmington. The town was officially made a part of Marion County in 1896.
Railroad and Mining History
Even after it was officially named Farmington in 1896, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad still called its stations in town "Underwood." This was because there were many other towns named Farmington.
Farmington was also important for coal mining. It was near Mine Number 08, which belonged to the Jamison Coal and Coke Company. This mine had an explosion in 1926 and was later closed in the 1940s.
The town is also close to Mine Number 09, owned by Consolidated Coal Company. This mine was the site of the 1968 Farmington Mine disaster. This tragic event caused the deaths of 78 people. The mine had also experienced an explosion in 1954 and was finally sealed in 1978.
Education in Farmington
Students in Farmington attend schools that are part of Marion County Schools. This school system covers all of Marion County.
Local Schools
Younger students, from preschool to third grade, go to Fairview Elementary School. Students in grades four through eight attend Fairview Middle School. Both of these schools are located in nearby Fairview.
Older students, from ninth to twelfth grade, attend North Marion High School. This high school is about 2 miles east of Farmington. It has a Farmington mailing address.
Next to North Marion High School is the Marion County Technical Center. This center offers special programs for high school students. These programs focus on vocational and career training.
Former Farmington High School
Before 1975, Farmington had its own high school, called Farmington High School. Its sports teams were known as the Farmers. The school had to close because of problems with its building. These issues were caused by subsidence, which is when the ground sinks. This sinking affected several buildings in town during the 1970s. North Marion High School opened four years later. It brought together students from Farmington and other nearby high schools.
Geography of Farmington
Farmington is located in West Virginia. Its coordinates are 39 degrees 30 minutes 47 seconds North and 80 degrees 15 minutes 7 seconds West. The town is situated along Buffalo Creek.
Town Area
According to the United States Census Bureau, Farmington covers a total area of about 0.43 square miles (1.11 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 0.42 square miles (1.08 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.01 square miles (0.03 square kilometers), is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 89 | — | |
| 1880 | 179 | 101.1% | |
| 1910 | 519 | — | |
| 1920 | 679 | 30.8% | |
| 1930 | 819 | 20.6% | |
| 1940 | 880 | 7.4% | |
| 1950 | 824 | −6.4% | |
| 1960 | 709 | −14.0% | |
| 1970 | 595 | −16.1% | |
| 1980 | 583 | −2.0% | |
| 1990 | 414 | −29.0% | |
| 2000 | 387 | −6.5% | |
| 2010 | 375 | −3.1% | |
| 2020 | 389 | 3.7% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 403 | 7.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The population of Farmington has changed over the years. In 1870, there were 89 people. The population grew to its highest in 1940 with 880 people. By 2020, the population was 389.
Population in 2010
In 2010, there were 375 people living in Farmington. These people made up 163 households and 111 families. The town had about 893 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Farmington were White (97.9%). A small number were Asian (0.3%) or from two or more races (1.9%). About 0.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 30.7% of households had children under 18 living with them. Many households (51.5%) were married couples living together. About 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals living alone.
The average age in Farmington was 39.6 years old. About 21.9% of residents were under 18. About 17.1% were 65 years or older. The town had a nearly equal number of males (49.9%) and females (50.1%).
Notable People from Farmington
Farmington has been home to several well-known individuals.
- Waitman T. Willey was born near Farmington. He became a U.S. Senator.
- Frank Gatski was a famous athlete. He is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Joe Manchin is a U.S. Senator who represents West Virginia.
- Sam Huff was also a great athlete. He is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
See also
In Spanish: Farmington (Virginia Occidental) para niños
