Farmington, Missouri

Overview

• Location: St. Francois County, Missouri
• Legal status: Third-class city
• Population: 13,924 (Change since 1990: +20.1%)
• Founded: 1822
• Name origin: Agriculture
• Previously known as: Murphy's Settlement and St. Francois Court House

Geography

• Located along US 67 between Park Hills and Fredericktown
• Latitude: 37°46'55" N   (+37.7819)
• Longitude: 90°25'20" W   (-90.4221)
• Elevation: 918 feet above sea level
• Civil township: St. Francois
• Land area: 9.0 square miles
• Water area: 0.04 square miles (28.0 acres)

As the crow flies, Farmington is...

• 2.2 miles NE of De Lassus
• 3.4 miles S of Ogborn
• 3.8 miles NE of Rock Springs
• 4.5 miles SE of Hurryville
• 4.9 miles NE of Doe Run
• 5.2 miles SE of Leadington
• 5.5 miles E of Loughboro
• 6.5 miles SE of Park Hills
• 7.0 miles SE of Derby
• 7.4 miles SE of St. Francois
• 58.0 miles NW of Cape Girardeau
• 59.6 miles S of St. Louis

History

Name origin

Presumably named for the agricultural economy, even though farming wasn't nearly as important as mining at the time

Previous names

Farmington was originally called Murphy's Settlement for William Murphy of Kentucky who first visited the site in 1798. When St. Francois County was organized, the town was briefly called St. Francois Court House and then renamed to Farmington.

Timeline

1798

William Murphy explored the area and obtained permission from Spanish authorities to bring his family from Kentucky and establish a settlement.

ca. 1800

After William's death, his wife Sarah Barton Murphy established Murphy's Settlement.

1817

Post office opened.

1822

David Murphy donated 52 acres of land for the establishment of the county seat of St. Francois County.

1825

The name Farmington selected for the town.

1836

Farmington incorporated

1879

Farmington achieved fourth-class city status.

1901

St. Francois Electric Railway Co. opened a trunk railroad line to Farmington.

1981

Farmington became a third-class city.

Demographics