Farmington, Missouri
Encyclopedia
Farmington is a city in St. Francois County located 60 miles (96.6 km) south of St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...

 in the Lead Belt
Lead Belt
The Southeast Missouri Lead District, commonly called the Lead Belt, is a lead mining district in the southeastern part of Missouri. Counties in the Lead Belt include Saint Francois; Crawford; Dent; Iron; Madison: Reynolds; and Washington...

 region in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...

 in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population was 16,240. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....

 of St. Francois County. The Farmington Micropolitan Statistical Area embraces St. Francois County and Washington County
Washington County, Missouri
Washington County is a county located in East Central Missouri in the United States. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county's population was 25,195. The largest city and county seat is Potosi...

 and has a population of 90,554 as of 2010.

Farmington was established in 1822 after its agricultural history and was previously known as Murphy's Settlement for William Murphy of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...

 who first visited the site in 1798. When St. Francois County was organized, the town was briefly called St. Francois Court House and then later renamed to Farmington.

Geography

Farmington is located at 37°46′55"N 90°25′20"W (37.781932, −90.422145). According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...

, the city has a total area of 9 square miles (23.3 km²), of which, 8.9 square miles (23.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.44%) is water.

History

Arriving upon land west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...

 in 1798—which was, at that time, part of the upper Louisiana Territory
Louisiana Territory
The Territory of Louisiana or Louisiana Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1805 until June 4, 1812, when it was renamed to Missouri Territory...

 and under Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....

 rule—was the Irish born William Murphy. Murphy was searching for the ideal site to relocate his family and, as the tradition goes, came to find a spring near the now-standing St. Francois County Courthouse with the aid of a local Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...

. Deciding that this was an excellent place to set up home, Murphy acquired a Spanish Land Grant, allowing him and his family to establish a settlement along the St. Francois River
St. Francis River
The Saint Francis River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, about long, in southeastern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas in the United States...

.

In his travels back to Kentucky, Murphy passed, leaving it up to his wife, Sarah Barton Murphy, and their grown sons to establish the settlement–which they did when arriving to the site around 1800. Named Murphy’s Settlement, Sarah Barton Murphy is known to have assembled the premier Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...

 Sunday School west of the Mississippi River. Due to Spanish law barring any religious services that were not of Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

 tradition, Murphy and her students orchestrated the learning in secret.

A post office in Murphy’s Settlement opened in 1817, followed by the annexation
Annexation
Annexation is the de jure incorporation of some territory into another geo-political entity . Usually, it is implied that the territory and population being annexed is the smaller, more peripheral, and weaker of the two merging entities, barring physical size...

 of the land to the United States through the Louisiana Purchase
Louisiana Purchase
The Louisiana Purchase was the acquisition by the United States of America of of France's claim to the territory of Louisiana in 1803. The U.S...

–creating the state of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...

. With the advent of this, David Murphy made a contribution of 52 acres (210,436.7 m²) of land for the installation of the county seat of what was soon to be St. Francois County in 1822. The name of the town, Farmington, was selected in 1825, with incorporation as a town granted in 1836–soon becoming a village 20 years later in 1856.

In the mid-19th century, Farmington enjoyed growth and economic well-being through the building of the historic Plank Road, which stretched from Pilot Knob
Pilot Knob, Missouri
Pilot Knob is a city in Iron County, Missouri, United States. The population was 697 at the 2000 census. It lies eight miles south of Belgrade and thirteen miles east of Centerville.-History:...

 to Ste. Genevieve
Ste. Genevieve, Missouri
Ste. Genevieve is a city in and the county seat of Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri, United States. The population was 11,654 at the 2000 census...

. The road was built to transport both supplies from the shipping facilities located along the river to the mines
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...

 and to move the mine’s iron ore to the shipping facilities. The route was soon taken over by the St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad.

The first public school was constructed in 1870 and in 1879, Farmington gained the recognition as a fourth-class city–an accolade that was surpassed in 1981 when Farmington became a third-class city.

Laying down roots more than two centuries ago, Farmington has certainly become a prosperous Midwestern
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....

 city. Since its 1860 population of 500, the city has transformed into a community of more than 19,000. Its economic sector has continued to thrive and its educational institutions and medical centers maintain the highest level of quality. Holding tight to its values, residents and businesses take pleasure in living in "The City of Tradition and Progress."

Economy

The airline Multi-Aero, which flies passenger airline services as Air Choice One, has its headquarters in Farmington.

Government

Farmington's publicly-elected government consists of a Mayor and eight City Council members representing the city's four Wards who set city policy. The city's policies are carried out by a City Administrator who works closely with the City Clerk, City Council and City Attorney.

List of City Mayors

Chronological list of city mayor since becoming a fourth-class city in 1879. (Upgraded to a third-class city in 1981.)
  • John A. Weber (1879-1883)
  • Edward Zeller (1883-1891)
  • George Herzog (1891-1893)
  • Peter Schmitt (1893-1899)
  • Kossuth W. Weber (1899) Died shortly after taking office.
  • G.M. Wilson (1899-1905)
  • John T. Burks (1905-1907)
  • G.M. Wilson (1907-1909)
  • William R. Taylor Jr. (1909-1911)
  • G.M. Wilson (1911-1913)
  • Barton H. Boyer (1913-1915)
  • Jones E. McKinney (1915-1917)
  • Charles H. Giessing (1917-1919)
  • Dr. Clarence A. Tetley (1919-1934) 15-yr mayorship - died in office.
  • B.T. Gentges (1934-1939)
  • Shelton T. Horn (1939-1947)
  • James C. Morris (1947-1953)
  • Orville Woodard (1953-1959)
  • Fred L. Revoir (1959-1961)
  • Orville Woodard (1961-1965)
  • W.K. Giessing (1965-1971)
  • Dr. Douglas K. Ross (1971-1973) won 2nd term in 1973, but resigned during term for health reasons.
  • Floyd Hager (1973-1979)
  • Witten Ledbetter (1977-1979) Died in office.
  • Floyd Hager (1979-1981)
  • Ron Stevens (1981-1989)
  • Mike O'Brien (1989-1993)
  • Gary Wilkinson (1993-1997)
  • Kevin P. Engler
    Kevin P. Engler
    Kevin P. Engler is a Republican member of the Missouri Senate, representing the 3rd District since 2005. He became Majority leader in January 2009. Previously he was a member of the Missouri House of Representatives from 2003 through 2005...

     (1997-2002) Resigned after election to State Legislature.
  • Scott Semar (2002-2003)
  • Charles Rorex (2003-2006)
  • Larry Forsythe (2006)- mayor pro tem
  • Jeannie Roberts (2007-2009)
  • Stuart 'Mit' Landrum (2009-present)


last few entires need verification of dates served

Public schools

The Farmington R-VII School District serves the city's need for public education. According to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education or DESE, autonomous of the governor and the Missouri State Legislature, administers primary and secondary public education in the state of Missouri. Local municipalities and their respective school districts operate individual public...

, there are six elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools in the school district for a total of nine schools. During the 2008–2009 school year, there was a total of 3,743 students and 306 certified staff members enrolled in the Farmington R-VII School District. The school colors are gold and black and the mascot is the knight (knightette for females). Athletics offered in the school district include boys' and girls' basketball, cross country, soccer, tennis, track, boys' baseball, golf, football, wrestling, and girls' softball and girls' volleyball. Other activities include band (marching, jazz, and concert) cheerleading, colorguard, winter guard, dance team, FFA, AFJROTC, and FBLA.

Elementary
  • Jefferson Elementary
  • Lincoln Intermediate
  • Roosevelt Elementary
  • Truman Kindergarten
  • Washington-Franklin Elementary
  • W.L. Johns Early Childhood Center

Secondary
  • Farmington Middle School
  • Farmington Senior High School
  • Juvenile Detention Center
  • Midwest Learning Center


Private schools

Farmington is also home to two private schools that serve both the educational and religious needs of some students and their families in the community.

  • St. Joseph Catholic School (PK-8)
  • St. Paul Lutheran School (PK-8)


Religion

Approximately 51.21% of the people in Farmington are religious, meaning they affiliate themselves with a religion. Many of these religious residents identify as Christians
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...

—38.08% are Protestants
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...

, 7.65% are Roman Catholics
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

, 5.03% identify with another Christian faith, 0.43% are Mormons, 0.03% belong to an Eastern religion
Eastern religion
This article is about far east and Indian religions. For other eastern religions see: Eastern_world#Eastern_cultureEastern religions refers to religions originating in the Eastern world —India, China, Japan and Southeast Asia —and thus having dissimilarities with Western religions...

, and 0.00% are Jewish
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...

.

Climate

Average annual temperature is 54 °F (12.2 °C). Average high temperature (July) is 88.5 °F (31.4 °C). Average low temperature (January) is 18.8 °F (-7.3 °C).

Demographics

As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...

of 2000, there were 13,924 people, 4,647 households, and 2,909 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...

 was 1,555.0 people per square mile (600.7/km²). There were 5,003 housing units at an average density of 558.7 per square mile (215.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.73% White, 7.36% African American, 0.50% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...

, and 1.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.16% of the population.

There were 4,647 households out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...

 living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city the population was spread out with 18.9% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 131.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 137.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,251, and the median income for a family was $39,899. Males had a median income of $27,448 versus $20,330 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...

 for the city was $14,706. About 8.9% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under age 18 and 8.4% of those age 65 or over.

Employment and Industries

Farmington is located at the crossroads of US 67 and Missouri Hwy 32. It is home to S&R products. ACCENT
Accent
-Speech and language:* Accent , pronunciation characteristic of a certain locality* Accent , of a word* Stress , tone levels and emphasis used in many languages for words or grammar* A diacritical mark is also known as an accent....

, a call center, is a recent addition to Farmington's industrial base. Other major employers in the city are BJC Parkland Health Center, Mineral Area Regional Medical Center, USA Drug, and Farmington Correctional Center.

Attractions

  • Farmington is the home of the Farmington Browns, a minor league baseball team in the collegiate woodbat KIT League
    KIT League
    The Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League is a summer collegiate wooden bat league. The league's name is formed from the initials of the states that originally hosted the first iteration of the KIT League...

    , which has teams in Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, and Tennessee. The Browns play a 50-game season in June and July of each year.
  • Farmington is also home to a professional equity summer theatre called ColeBeanBay Theatre Company. The theatre utilizes two venues in Farmington, the Centene Center and Long Memorial Hall.
  • Farmington also has a park system, with major parks including Engler Park, Wilson-Rozier Park, and Trimfoot park.
  • St. Joe State Park is right outside the city limits and attracts ATV riders, campers, horseback riders, bicyclists, and swimmers.
  • Several major chain hotels are available to house tourists.

Notable residents

  • Sam Agnew
    Sam Agnew
    Samuel Lester Agnew was a catcher in Major League Baseball. From 1913 through 1919, he played for the St. Louis Browns , Boston Red Sox and Washington Senators . Agnew batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Farmington, Missouri.Agnew debuted with the St. Louis Browns on April 10,...

    , Major League Baseball catcher
  • Jake Arrieta
    Jake Arrieta
    Jacob Joseph Arrieta is a right-handed starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles.-Early life:...

    , Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Herbert Asbury
    Herbert Asbury
    Herbert Asbury was an American journalist and writer who is best known for his true crime books detailing crime during the 19th and early 20th century such as Gem of the Prairie, Barbary Coast: An Informal History of the San Francisco Underworld and The Gangs of New York...

    , writer, was born in Farmington. He later published a controversial chapter about a prostitute from Farmington in Up From Methodism, which was seen as a liability for The American Mercury
    The American Mercury
    The American Mercury was an American magazine published from 1924 to 1981. It was founded as the brainchild of H. L. Mencken and drama critic George Jean Nathan. The magazine featured writing by some of the most important writers in the United States through the 1920s and 1930s...

    .
  • Ed Blaine
    Ed Blaine
    Edward Homer Blaine was born in Farmington, Missouri on January 30, 1940. He played offensive guard on the University of Missouri Tigers football team while a pre-med student there...

    , football player
  • Kevin P. Engler
    Kevin P. Engler
    Kevin P. Engler is a Republican member of the Missouri Senate, representing the 3rd District since 2005. He became Majority leader in January 2009. Previously he was a member of the Missouri House of Representatives from 2003 through 2005...

    , member of the Missouri Senate
  • Walter Lewis Hensley
    Walter Lewis Hensley
    Walter Lewis Hensley was a U.S. Representative from Missouri.Born near Pevely, Missouri, Hensley attended the public schools and the law department of the University of Missouri....

    , U.S. Representative
  • Lloyd McBride
    Lloyd McBride
    Lloyd McBride was an American labor leader and president of the United Steelworkers of America from 1977 to 1983.-Early life and union work:...

    , labor leader
  • Greggory Nations
    Greggory Nations
    Greggory "Gregg" Nations is an American television writer and script coordinator. He wrote several episodes for The District and Nash Bridges with Carlton Cuse. Nations joined the production crew of Lost, and created the show's Bible after re-reading the scripts and creating a timeline...

    , writer and co-producer of "Lost" TV Series
  • James Robinson McCormick
    James Robinson McCormick
    James Robinson McCormick was a United States Representative from Missouri.Born near Irondale, Washington County, Missouri, McCormick attended public schools in Washington County, Missouri. He received private instruction and entered Transylvania University, Lexington, Kentucky, as a medical student...

    , U.S. Representative
  • Barney Pelty
    Barney Pelty
    Barney Pelty , was a major league baseball pitcher known as "the Yiddish Curver" because he was one of the first Jewish baseball players in the American League. His career ERA is 2.63, 60th-best of all pitchers in major league baseball...

    , Major League Baseball pitcher
  • Kyle Richardson
    Kyle Richardson
    Kyle Davis Richardson is a former National Football League punter. He played college football at Arkansas State University and went on to have a ten-year professional career...

    , National Football League punter
  • Charles E. Sebastian
    Charles E. Sebastian
    Charles Edward Sebastian was the 30th mayor of Los Angeles, California, serving from 1915 to 1916.-Biography:He was born in Farmington, Missouri on March 30, 1873....

    , Mayor of Los Angeles
  • Robert Moore Williams
    Robert Moore Williams
    Robert Moore Williams , born in Farmington, Missouri, was an American writer, primarily of science fiction. Pseudonyms included John S Browning, H. H. Hermon, Russell Storm and E. K. Jarvis ....

    , writer
  • Dan Peek
    Dan Peek
    Daniel Milton 'Dan' Peek was a musician best known as a member of the rock band America from 1970 to 1977, together with Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell...

    , founding member of the band America, lived in Farmington from 1978 until his death in 2011.

External links

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