During the 1850s railroad access encouraged the development of coal mines in the area. While coal continues to be a source of employment, today the town is on a high-tech corridor with a NASA software facility and a software consortium. Other Fairmont products include mine machinery and aluminum.
Fifteen miles south off SR 310, Valley Falls State Park features a series of waterfalls generated by the Tygart Valley River. The park's 1,145 acres are popular with anglers, picnickers and hikers; phone (304) 367-2719 or (800) 225-5982. Fairmont is the northern end of the scenic section of US 250, which runs 73 miles to Huttonsville and continues as US 219 to Lewisburg.