City of Farmington

Attractions • Community • History• General Information

Nestled in the picturesque San Juan River valley, within sight of Colorado’s rugged San Juan Mountains and desert highlands of Arizona and Utah, Farmington, New Mexico (pop. 41,000) is the largest city in the Four Corners area. The Four Corners is the point where the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet. This intersection provides the only spot in the nation where you can stand in four states at one time.

Settled by pioneers at the confluence of the Animas, La Plata and San Juan Rivers, Farmington blossomed into a flourishing farm and ranch economy and incorporated in 1901. The extractive industries (oil, gas and mining) are the largest employers in the area, but for more than 10 years Farmington’s economy has diversified—in large part to its role as a regional retail hub. This region is the traditional homeland of a number of Native American Tribes, including the Navajo, Jicarilla Apache, Ute Mountain Ute, Southern Ute and Hopi nations. The Navajo Reservation borders Farmington at its west and southwest limits, and contributes culturally and economically to the community. Our Native American artists are showcased in our Totah Festival held on Labor Day Weekend every year.

Farmington offers a wonderful array of southwestern arts and entertainment, from historic trading posts to theater under the stars. Farmington has been the home of the Connie Mack World Series (for baseball players 16-18) for 40 years and also will again be hosting the National High School Finals Rodeo in 2008 and 2009. The city also boasts of having one of the top rated public golf courses in the country—Piñon Hills, rated the number one municipal course in the nation by Golf Digest—along with their Olympic size pool (the Farmington Aquatic Center) and the Gateway Park, Farmington Museum and Visitors Center, and the new award-winning Farmington Public Library. In fact, their “Quality of Life” plan was awarded Honorable Mention in the 2000 U.S. Conference of Mayors City Livability Program.

Led by a council-manager form of government, the city runs its own electric utility (production and distribution), civic center and public library.

The Farmington Municipal School District (comprised of 11 elementary schools, 4 junior highs, 2 high schools and 1 alternative high school) is complemented by San Juan Community College, a progressive junior college with highly rated academic, as well as vocational programs.