Farmington, New Mexico History

Farmington’s history begins over 2,000 years ago when the Anasazi “basketmakers” inhabited the area in what is now known as "pit houses" and later in pueblo structures built from the native sandstone rock. Ruins from this ancient culture can still be seen around the countryside. Following the Anasazis, several other Native American tribes called the area their home including Navajo, Jicarilla Apache and the Utes, all adding to the cultural diversity found in this area to this day. Later, Spaniards settled in the eastern part of San Juan county in the early 1800s and in the mid 1870s, pioneers from nearby Animas City, Colorado founded the settlement of Farmingtown which was later changed to Farmington. Its location at the confluence of the San Juan, Animas and La Plata rivers gave the community the needed resources to grow into a prosperous farming and ranching community by the turn of the century (1900). The town was incorporated in 1901 and spent much of the early part of the 1900s as one of the major producers of apples in the country. The later part of the 20th century saw several oil and gas booms, and at one point, Farmington was New Mexico’s leading producer of oil and gas. Today, the oil and gas industry plays a vital roll in the economy of the area.

Visitor Information about Farmington, New Mexico
Things to do in Farmington, New Mexico
Contact the Farmington, New Mexico CVB