In 1823, Arthur Power, a devout Quaker originally from Farmington, New York, purchased a number of tracts of land in this area.

By 1826, the location of the village of Farmington was firmly established along Shiawassee Trail, and the settlement boasted at least three churches, a school, two taverns, and several other merchants.

There were also several dairies and cheese factories, a small foundry, and at least four lumber and grist mills.

[2] The village grew rapidly from about 1850 to 1890, with the original Quaker influence gradually diminishing as new settlers moved in.

[2] The Farmington Historic District is triangular in shape, and consists primarily of residential buildings, with the remainder mostly commercial in nature.