1789Military
In 1789, Boaz Fleming, a Revolutionary War veteran, migrated to western Virginia and purchased a 254-acre farm from Jonathan Bozarth.
1808History
In 1808, Fleming made his annual trek to Clarksburg to pay his brother's Harrison County taxes.
1814History
In 1814, Fleming circulated a petition to do precisely that, naming the proposed county Madison County in honor of Dolley and James Madison.
1817Culture
In 1817, Fleming's sons—William and David—began to clear land on a part of their father's farm to make way for the new town; this part of the farm would later become downtown Fa...
1819Government
=== Modern history ===
In 1819, Fairmont was founded as Middletown, Virginia.
1820Government
The town was incorporated as Middletown on January 19, 1820.
1842Government
The current borders of Marion County were established in 1842, and Middletown was named the county's seat.
1843Government
The Borough of Fairmont was incorporated in 1843 by the Virginia General Assembly.
1852Infrastructure
By 1852—little more than 30 years after the city's founding—a large portion of Fairmont was reported to be run-down and dilapidated.
1863Military
In 1863, during the American Civil War, Confederate General William E.
1873Architecture
Reports from 1873 indicate that these buildings had continued to fall into disrepair.
1876Disaster
On April 2, 1876, a fire destroyed a large portion of the city's business district, as well as many houses in the area.
1890Government
Fleming, 8th Governor of West Virginia
Carrie Watson Fleming, First Lady of West Virginia, 1890–1893
Frank Cruise Haymond, Judge of West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, 1945–...
1891History
Between 1891 and 1901—in a span of only 10 years—Fairmont's population had increased from 1,000 to 7,000.
1899Government
The City of Fairmont was chartered in 1899; as a result of the charter, the city absorbed the surrounding towns of Palatine (also known as East Side) and West Fairmont.
1901Infrastructure
By 1901, Fairmont was an important commercial center.
1905Government
The school was established in the late 1800s, and the school was relocated in 1905 and 1928.
1911History
Senator from West Virginia from 1911 to 1913
Hershel W.
1917Government
Originally established as a school for teachers, the college was named Fairmont Normal School, and was located on the corner of Fairmont Avenue and Second Street and moved to it...
1918History
The least snow in a season has been 12.0 inches (0.30 m) between July 1918 and June 1919, whilst the wettest calendar year has been 1956 with 58.12 inches (1,476.2 mm) and the d...
1928Education
The school was built in 1928.
1929Government
The International Thespian Society, originally called National Thespians, was founded in 1929 in Fairmont, West Virginia by Dr.
1958Government
Covington, former chief justice of Supreme Court of Missouri, first woman to hold that position
Mike DeVault (born 1958), state legislator
Frank Kendall Everest Jr., U.S.
1977History
Bowen, 1977–1979
Edwin C.
1978History
By 1978, an issue with Fairmont's land experiencing subsidence appeared because the remains of Fairmont's 19th-century coal mines were crumbling.
1980History
Daley, 1980–1986
Michael E.
1987History
Solomon, 1987–1988
Edwin J.
1988History
Thorne, 1988–1996
E.
1990Sports
Representative from West Virginia's 3rd Congressional District
Raphiael Putney (born 1990), basketball player
Mary Lou Retton, gymnast, 1984 Olympic gold medalist, member of Pre...
1997History
Bruce McDaniel, 1997–2007
James W.
2000History
=== 2000 census ===
At the 2000 census, there were 19,097 people, 8,447 households and 4,671 families living in the city.
2008History
Snider, 2008–2009
Jay I.
2009History
Rogers III, 2009–2015
Robin I.
2010History
=== 2010 census ===
At the 2010 census, there were 18,704 people, 8,133 households and 4,424 families living in the city.
2015History
Gomez, 2015–2018
Valerie A.
2019History
Means, 2019–2023
Travis L.
2020History
It is the principal city of the Fairmont micropolitan area, which includes all of Marion County in North Central West Virginia and had a population of 56,205 in 2020.
2024History
In 2024, Fairmont hosted the inaugural Veggie Man Day, a one-day event in July to celebrate the Vegetable Man and West Virginia folklore.