Farmhouse is a general term for the main house of a farm. It is a type of building or house which serves a residential purpose in a rural or agricultural setting. Historically common were farmhouses which were combined with space for animals called a housebarn. Other farm houses may be connected to one or more barns, built to form a courtyard, or each farm building was built separately.
                                                     
The typical American farmhouse was usually built utilizing the local prevailing building style and materials, although with agricultural adaptations that differentiated it from its urban counterparts. Forms and styles varied greatly. The styles varied from region to region, but most often remained simplistic to serve the basic needs and budget of the owners. The most rudimentary American farmhouses were the log cabin and sod house. As areas became settled, traditional folk forms such as the saltbox, hall and parlor, center hall, Cape Cod, I-house, or dogtrot plan appeared. From the 19th century onward, many featured vernacular interpretations of the more formal architectural styles, such as Greek Revival, Italianate, Carpenter Gothic, and Queen Anne.