Farmington (and surrounding San Juan County) makes up one of the four metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in New Mexico.

[7] The primary non-government industries of Farmington are the production of petroleum, natural gas, and coal and its function as a major retail hub.

Six years later, the U.S. government offered territory in the rest of San Juan County to the Jicarilla Apache but they refused.

[8] By September 19, 1905, the railroad was finished connecting Farmington to Durango, Colorado, expanding economic and settlement opportunities.

It was unusual in that it was a standard-gauge railway that connected to the Denver & Rio Grande Western Railroad narrow-gauge lines of southwestern Colorado.

[10] In addition, in the 1920s there was significant investment in natural gas and oil in the area, although actual production remained low until the 1950s.

On March 18, 1950, Farmington was the site of a mass UFO sighting in which over half the town's population was reported to have seen large saucers in the sky flying at rapid speeds.

[9] The population was expanding rapidly after the 1940s construction of a developed road connecting Farmington to U.S. Route 66 and Albuquerque and the San Juan Basin Natural Gas Pipeline in 1953, led by Tom Bolack.

[13] Despite its altitude of 5,473 feet (1,668 m), the city can experience hot summers and cold winters with low precipitation throughout the year.

Farmington has been the home of the Connie Mack World Series baseball tournament, played in August every year at Ricketts Park (capacity 5,072), since 1965 (except in 2020, when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

The Connie Mack World Series consists of 10 or more teams from various regions around the United States, including Puerto Rico.

Owned and operated by the City of Farmington, Pinon Hills has been ranked in the Top Municipal Golf Courses by Golfweek Magazine for several years.

[35][36] Voting has historically strongly favored conservative ideals and candidates, although state and local government bonds and other tax-imposing initiatives are almost always approved by the electorate.