Page Contents for Fairmont, West Virginia

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Government

Historical Events

Chamber of Commerce.

Organizations, Churches, and Sports.

Schools.

Miscellany

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Statistics & Facts

The West Virginia state capital is Charleston.
The population of Fairmont is approximately 20,389 (2000), 18704 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 9,958 (1990), 8133 (2010).
The amount of land area in Fairmont is 19.49 sq. kilometers.
The amount of land area in Fairmont is 8.2 sq. miles.
The amount of surface water is 0.932 sq kilometers.
The distance from Fairmont to Washington DC is 181 miles.
The distance to the West Virginia state capital is 114 miles. (as the crow flies)
Fairmont is positioned 39.48 degrees north of the equator and 80.14 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Fairmont elevation is 933 feet above sea level.
Fairmont average annual rainfall is 53.96 inches per year
Fairmont average annual precipitation is 54.0 inches peryear.
Fairmont average annual snowfall is 36.2 inches per year.
The average winter temperature is 29.1 degrees F.
The average summer temperature is 66.6 degrees F.

Location

in the north-central portion of the state where the West Fork River and the Tygart River come together. These two rivers form the Monongahela River, which is one of the few rivers in the world which flows northward.
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History & History Related Items

What was once two separate cities eventually became what is now Fairmont. Middletown was established on 19 January 1820. It was on the west bank of the Monongalia. The name was chosen either because of its proximity between Morgantown and Clarksburg or because the first settler, Boaz Fleming, has a wife from Middletown, Delaware. No one knows for sure. Palatine developed on the east side of the river and was settled by Germans from the Palatinate States of southwestern Germany. They named their town after their homeland.

Middletown was re-named Fairmont in 1843 due to its natural beauty and the "fair mount" on which is was laid out. On 18 Feb 1843, it was named the county seat of the new Marion County. In 1899 Fairmont and Palatine merged to create one city. The new city's 100th birthday was celebrated in 1999.

This history page has lots of information.
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Attractions

A page about Fairmont

Prickett's Fort
located just outside of Fairmont
The fort was built in 1774. It provided a place of refuge from Indian attack for early settlers to the area

Marion County Museum Marion County Museum
211 Adams Street
Fairmont, WV 26555-1636
Phone (304) 367-5398
This museum is housed in the former residence for the County Sheriff. It is also the home of the Marion County Historical Society.

Recreation in the general area.

Things to see and do in Fairmont.

NOTED NOTABLES
Mary Lou Retton - 1984 Olympic Gold Medal winner in gymnastics is from Fairmont, Marion County.
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Fairmont City Government

The City of Fairmont
Phone: 304-366-6211

Fairmont has a City Council/City Manager form of government. There is a a nine member council which is elected at-large for staggered four year terms. After each election, council members vote one member as the Mayor.

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COUNTY GOVERNMENT

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Fairmont is the county seat of Marion County. Marion County Clerk
200 Jackson St.
Fairmont, WV 26554
Phone: (304) 367-5445

Fairmont Historical Events

1984
Native daughter, Mary Lou Retton, scored big for her hometown when she received two perfect 10's during her gold-medal win in Gymnastics in the Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles.

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1908, July 5
The first Father's Day Service of the World was conducted in Fairmont, West Virginia on July 5, 1908 at the former Central United Methodist Church, when it was Williams Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church South. More about this historical fact is documented on this page
This is the location of our web page for the church and our page for Father's Day.

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1876, April 2
Most of the business district was burned and destroyed. This was the same day that neighboring Palatine became an incorporated village.

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1852
The "Great Iron Bridge" was built for pedestrians and wagons. It was a suspension bridge and connected Fairmont and Palatine.

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1852, April 5-6
The "Mon" rose to 43 feet above low water stage in a terrible flood which devastated the area.

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1844
The first courthouse was built and completed. It was a red brick, two-story building with a cupola and bell at the top. It was on Adams Street.

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1772
The first white settlers arrived in the area of present-day Marion County in what was then western Virginia.

Fairmont Chamber

Chamber of Commerce
110 Adams St.
Fairmont, WV 26554-2824
Phone: 304 363-0442

Fairmont Organizations

Chamber of Commerce
110 Adams St.
Fairmont, WV 26554-2824
Phone: 304 363-0442

Fairmont Schools

Dunbar Middle School
101 High Street
Fairmont, West Virginia
Phone: 304-367-2131

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East Fairmont High School
1993 Airport Road
Fairmont, WV 26554
Phone: (304) 367-2140
Fax: (304) 367-2180

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Fairmont State College
1201 Locust Avenue
Fairmont West Virginia 26554 Fairmont

Miscellany

The population of Fairmont was:
1990 - 20,210
2000 - 20,389