The area was once territory of the Canibas tribe of AbenakiIndians. They had two camps located near Farmington Falls, with fields cleared for cultivation of maize and potatoes. Their fort's stockade enclosed about an acre at the center of what is today Farmington Falls village.
A group from Topsham arrived in 1776 to explore the area and lay out a town, called Plantation No. 1 or Sandy River Plantation, but permanent settlement was delayed by the Revolutionary War.[4]
In 1781, the first settlers arrived, the same year a sawmill was established. On February 1, 1794, Sandy River Plantation was incorporated as Farmington, named for its unusually fertile soil. Beginning with a cluster of log houses at Farmington Falls, the town grew quickly and prospered. Agriculture was an important early occupation, with hay a principal product. Orchards yielded apples and other fruit. Farmington became one of the largest wool producing towns in New England, with many herds of sheep grazing the hills and intervales.[5]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 55.82 square miles (144.57 km2), of which 55.67 square miles (144.18 km2) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.39 km2) is water.[1] Farmington is drained by Wilson Stream, Temple Stream, Beaver Brook and the Sandy River.
Farmington is divided into four local areas and sometimes mapped as such. They are West Farmington, Fairbanks, Farmington Falls, and Farmington (downtown). Each except Fairbanks has its own zip code, but all are within Farmington's town limits.
Climate
Typical for Maine, Farmington has a humid continental climate (KöppenDfb) with cold (sometimes severely cold) winters and warm, often humid summers.[8] Winters are cold and snowy, with forty nights per year under 0 °F or −17.8 °C and 68.6 days failing to top freezing. Snow cover peaks in February at typically around 18 inches or 0.46 metres, but the maximum reached is 84 inches or 2.13 metres on February 28, 1969. The coldest month since records began in 1893 was January 1982, with an average of 3.4 °F or −15.9 °C, and the hottest was July 1921, with an average of 73.3 °F or 22.9 °C, including 12 days over 90 °F or 32.2 °C,[9] while the coldest winter was that of 1917–1918, with an average temperature of 10.45 °F or −12.0 °C. The hottest day was August 3, 1975, which reached 101 °F or 38.3 °C, while the coldest temperature was −39 °F or −39.4 °C on January 20, 1994.
Precipitation is abundant throughout the year, with snowfall especially heavy in winter. The wettest calendar month was December 1969, with 15.49 inches or 393.4 millimetres including 41.0 inches (1.04 m) of snow and a fall from a warm front of 9.97 inches or 253.2 millimetres of precipitation (mostly rain) on December 27 and 28. The snowiest season was from July 1968 to June 1969, with total snowfall of 164.0 inches or 4.17 metres, while the least snowy was from July 1980 to June 1981, with 43.0 inches or 1.09 metres.
Climate data for Farmington, Maine (1991–2020, extremes 1893–present)
As of the census[13] of 2010, there were 7,760 people, 3,072 households, and 1,597 families residing in the town. The population density was 139.4 inhabitants per square mile (53.8/km2). There were 3,441 housing units at an average density of 61.8 per square mile (23.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.9% White, 0.3% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.
There were 3,072 households, of which 23.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.2% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 48.0% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.75.
The median age in the town was 32.1 years. 16% of residents were under the age of 18; 27.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 18.3% were from 25 to 44; 23.3% were from 45 to 64; and 15.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 45.3% male and 54.7% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,410 people, 2,813 households, and 1,533 families residing in the town. The population density was 132.8 inhabitants per square mile (51.3/km2). There were 3,048 housing units at an average density of 54.6 persons/sq mi (21.1 persons/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.48% White, 0.20% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 0.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,813 households, out of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 9.1% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 45.5% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 18.4% under the age of 18, 25.0% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,814, and the median income for a family was $33,656. Males had a median income of $27,569 versus $21,101 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,982. About 18.0% of families and 22.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.6% of those under the age of 18 and 5.4% ages 65 or older.
Farmington is the county seat and largest town in Franklin County. It has regional administrative buildings such as a courthouse and DHHS branch. It is governed by a board of selectmen who meet at Town Hall on alternating Tuesdays at 6:30 pm. Daily administration is by a town manager, and the town holds an annual town meeting in March.[citation needed]
Farmington is home to The University of Maine at Farmington, part of Maine's public university system. UMF had a full-time enrollment of 1,800 in 2016.[14]
Neighborhoods
Downtown Farmington – The main part of town, downtown has several banks, houses, stores, and public facilities. The University of Maine at Farmington is next to downtown. Downtown is at the intersection of Main Street and Broadway Street.
West Farmington – West Farmington is at the junction of U.S. 2 and SR 43. Titcomb Mountain is in West Farmington. The Whistle Stop Rail-Trail starts at Oakes Street and continues to East Wilton, Wilton and Jay. Bikers, hikers, ATVs, snowmobiles, and cross-country skiers use the trail. There is also a gas station. The Zip code is 04992.
Farmington Falls – Farmington Falls is at the junction of U.S. 2, SR 41 and SR 156. There are some houses and a church. The Sandy River passes through here. The zip code is 04940.
Fairbanks – Fairbanks once housed a school, and has a trading post and some restaurants. It is at the junction of SR 4 and SR 27. It is part of the 04938 Zip Code. The Lillian Nordica House is in Fairbanks.
Wilton Road – U.S. 2 passes through Farmington. This area is mostly businesses. The zip code is 04938.
Front Street – Front Street is a street behind downtown. There are a few houses before the intersection at Broadway. The Narrow Gauge Square has a cinema, an eye doctor, and a few stores. Prescott Field is for baseball, softball, and soccer for the University of Maine at Farmington. It is the main way to get to the Sandy River swimming area. Front Street is considered Historic Farmington's main street.
Prophecy
Farmington is the subject of a prophecy by the Quaker Licia Kuenning (formerly Lisa Bieberman) about a Coming New Order in the town. This was originally prophesied for Tuesday, June 6, 2006 but, after gathering more than 80 people together with no apparent miracles on that date, is now[when?] prophesied "within the next few years".[15][16]
^Coolidge, Austin J.; John B. Mansfield (1859). A History and Description of New England. Boston, Massachusetts: A.J. Coolidge. pp. 124–126. A History and Description of New England Coolidge Mansfield.
^Maine League of Historical Societies and Museums (1970). Doris A. Isaacson (ed.). Maine: A Guide 'Down East'. Rockland, Me: Courier-Gazette, Inc. pp. 284–285.
^"Station: Farmington, ME". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
