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Farmington, New Mexico, is the largest city in the Four Corners region.
Introduction to Farmington
The area was originally settled by Ancestral Puebloans in the 7th century. After the Jicarilla Apache refused the US Government’s offer for territory in 1874, the land that now makes up the city opened up for settlement. It was originally known as Junction City due to its proximity to three rivers.
The town of Farmington was incorporated in 1901 and connected to Durango, Colorado, by railroad in 1905. It grew significantly in the early 1950s with the construction of the San Juan Basin Natural Gas Pipeline. It was also the location of a mass UFO sighting on March 18, 1950. The railroad was abandoned in 1968 and dismantled the following year.
Today, Farmington is the largest city and county seat of San Juan County, one of the largest counties in the United States. It’s a major producer of production of petroleum, natural gas, and coal.
The main reason we passed through town was to visit Aztec Ruins National Monument, which is about 12 miles away. It’s the major attraction in the area. There’s not much more to do other than a couple museums but there are some great natural and cultural attractions nearby.
Main Street
All we did was take a quick walk through downtown along Main Street. There are a handful of historic buildings but not much else. It was very quiet.
Where to Stay in Farmington
We spent one night in town after driving in from Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado.
Region Inn (Permanently Closed)
We stayed at the Region Inn, which was very comfortable and reasonably priced. Staff was friendly and the room was big. There was also a pool but we didn’t take advantage of it.
