Farmington’s story begins in 1735, when the estate was first patented and later developed into a working plantation prior to 1780. During the American Revolution, the property was briefly confiscated by the Commonwealth of Virginia from its owner, Francis Jerdone, a Loyalist. After regaining his rights, Jerdone sold the estate in 1785 to George Divers—who, legend says, rode two horses to exhaustion in his race from Philadelphia to secure the purchase.

Under Divers’ ownership, Farmington gained one of its most defining features: in 1803, Thomas Jefferson designed an octagonal addition to the main house, now known as the Jefferson Room. Later modifications, including those made by General Bernard Peyton, divided the space, but the room was restored in the 1920s and again in 1976 using Jefferson’s original drawings preserved at the University of Virginia.

The Farmington known today began to take shape in 1927 when a group of Charlottesville businessmen envisioned a country club and residential community worthy of the estate’s history and natural beauty. With nearly 1,000 acres, sweeping mountain views, and a distinguished architectural legacy, Farmington was the ideal setting. The property was incorporated on August 27, 1927, and soon thereafter, golf course architect Fred Findlay, noted landscape designers, and local craftsmen began transforming the land. The Club and its grounds officially opened on May 15, 1929.

Since then, Farmington has continued to grow while honoring its architectural heritage and Jeffersonian roots. The Jefferson Room restoration—guided in 1976 by Dr. Frederick D. Nichols, Professor of Jeffersonian Architecture at UVA—returned the space to its intended form, preserving one of the most significant residential interiors connected to Thomas Jefferson outside of Monticello.

Today, Farmington stands as a rare blend of history, architecture, landscape, and community—still evolving, yet deeply connected to the people and place that shaped it.