Farmington

Around Farmington

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Town and around · Missouri · 67k people

Farmington

Locals say Mineral Area · “Hub of the Lead Belt”

Heart of the Lead Belt

Cardinals RedOzark GreenMining Gold

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Welcome to the Mineral Area, where the hills are old and the people are friendly. Whether you're here for the outdoor adventures or the small-town charm, you'll find a place that feels like home.

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The room

One room for everyone around Farmington. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.

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Marketplace

Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Farmington. Sign in to sell something.

Things to do

  • Elephant Rocks State Park Giant granite boulders and a short loop trail.
  • Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park Natural water slides and swimming holes on the Black River.
  • Taum Sauk Mountain State Park Highest point in Missouri, with Mina Sauk Falls.
  • Missouri Mines State Historic Site Former St. Joe Lead mine, now a museum of mining history.
  • Bonne Terre Mine Underground boat tour of a flooded lead mine.
  • St. Francois State Park Hiking, fishing, and camping along the Big River.
  • Outdoors Hike Elephant Rocks
  • Outdoors Swim at Johnson's Shut-Ins
  • With kids Visit the Missouri Mines museum
  • With kids Picnic at St. Francois State Park
  • Evenings Catch a show at the Farmington Civic Center
  • Evenings Grab a drink at a local tavern
  • Locals love Small-town diners
  • Locals love Country roads

Through the year

  • St. Francois County Fair summer County fair with livestock, rides, and food.
  • Farmington Fall Festival fall Downtown festival with crafts, music, and food.
  • Park Hills Cruise Night summer Classic car show and street dance.
  • Bonne Terre Old Miners Day summer Community celebration with parade and mining history.
  • Fredericktown Apple Festival fall Apple-themed fair with crafts and food.

Humid subtropical with hot, muggy summers and cold, snowy winters. Best: Spring and fall are mild and pleasant.

Talk like a local

“Mineral Area”
The region's nickname, referring to the lead mining heritage.
“Lead Belt”
The old lead mining district.
“Shut-ins”
The natural water slides at Johnson's Shut-Ins.
“Bonne Terre”
Locals pronounce it 'bon-tear'.

Getaways

  • St. Louis Big city attractions, museums, and sports.
  • Cape Girardeau Historic river town with shopping and dining.
  • Rolla College town with outdoor recreation and breweries.
  • Poplar Bluff Gateway to the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

Local flavour

Teams

  • Farmington Firebirds Prospect League

Also rooting for St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, St. Louis City SC

Eat and drink

  • St. Louis-style pizza Thin crust, Provel cheese, cut into squares
  • Toasted ravioli Breaded and fried ravioli, a St. Louis staple
  • Gooey butter cake A St. Louis dessert classic
  • Pork steak Grilled pork shoulder steak, popular in the region

Where people go

  • Lead mines Historic and active, like the Bonne Terre Mine
  • Mark Twain National Forest Vast forested area for hiking and camping
  • St. Francois Mountains Ancient hills, part of the Ozarks
  • Small-town diners Classic American diners and cafes
  • Country roads Scenic drives through rolling hills

Heritage and traditions

The Mineral Area is proud of its hardworking lead-mining heritage and the rugged beauty of the St. Francois Mountains, where small towns keep their traditions alive.

This time of year in Farmington

  • Apple picking and the Fredericktown Apple Festival Fall Fall brings families to orchards and the festival celebrating the harvest.
  • Deer hunting season Fall Hunting camps and family traditions take over the woods in autumn.

Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — about to

Landmarks with a story

  • Washington County Courthouse (Potosi) One of the oldest courthouses in Missouri, built in the early 1800s, with a classic brick facade.
  • St. Joachim Catholic Church (Old Mines) A historic French colonial church, one of the oldest in the region, reflecting the area's French heritage.
  • Farmington Historic District 19th-century buildings around the town square, including the county courthouse and old storefronts.

Food traditions

  • Pasty Cornish miners brought this hearty meat-and-potato pastry to the lead belt, and it's still a local favorite.
  • Apple butter Fredericktown's apple orchards yield a slow-cooked spread, celebrated at the fall festival.
  • German sausage German settlers left a legacy of smoked sausages and bratwurst, often served with sauerkraut.
  • Squirrel and dumplings A backwoods Ozark dish that shows up at family gatherings, especially in hunting season.
  • Persimmon pudding A sweet fall dessert made from wild persimmons, a tradition in the Ozarks.

Music and arts

  • Bluegrass Local pickers gather at festivals and church halls, keeping the tradition alive.
  • Ozark folk crafts Quilting, basket-weaving, and woodcarving are handed down through generations.
  • Mining heritage art Sculptures and murals depict the lead-mining past, seen in parks and public buildings.

A little history

  • 1700s French settlers founded Old Mines
  • 1800s Lead mining boomed, attracting Cornish and German immigrants
  • 1860s Civil War skirmishes touched the region
  • 1900s The Old Lead Belt became a global leader in lead production
  • 1970s Mine closures reshaped the local economy

Rivalries

  • Farmington Firebirds vs. Park Hills Central Rebels Fierce high school football rivalry.
  • Potosi vs. Fredericktown Basketball rivalry in the Mineral Area.
  • Cardinals vs. Royals MLB interleague bragging rights.
  • Game day Friday night high school football
  • Game day Deer camp traditions
  • Outdoors Hike the Ozark Trail
  • Outdoors Go mushroom hunting
  • With kids Go apple picking
  • With kids Attend a high school football game

Locals speak with a Southern-influenced Ozark accent, often dropping 'g's and using phrases like 'y'all' and 'fixin' to.' The rhythm is slower and friendly, with a touch of rural Missouri drawl.

Only here

  • The Old Lead Belt, once the world's largest lead-producing district.
  • Bonne Terre Mine, now a scuba diving site in an underground lake.
  • The St. Francois Mountains, among the oldest in North America.
  • Elephant Rocks, giant granite boulders shaped like elephants.
New here? A few tips
  • Learn to pronounce Potosi as 'puh-TOE-see'.
  • Be ready for hot, humid summers and cold winters; pack for both.
  • The area is rural—plan for longer drives to get to St. Louis (about 1.5 hours).
  • Embrace the mining history—visit the Missouri Mines and Bonne Terre Mine.
  • Try a pasty at a local diner for a taste of the region's Cornish roots.

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Part of St. Louis area

Nearby

Every area
FredericktownMissouriSlow hills, deep roots.PotosiMissouriWhere the hills hold historyPerryvilleMissouriWhere the river meets the orchardChesterIllinoisRiver town charm, farm country soul.Cape GirardeauMissouriWhere the river meets the heartlandSt. LouisMissouriA river city with a big heart and even bigger flavors.CarbondaleIllinoisWhere the hills meet the prairie and the Salukis roamPoplar BluffMissouriWhere the Ozarks meet the river

Farmington, MO. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.

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