Located about 25 miles east of Greeley, Colorado, Dearfield was founded in 1910 as a self-sufficient African-American farming community. The town was formed by Oliver Toussaint Jackson. Jackson who lived there until his death in early 1948. At its height, the town had around 700 residents, but by the 1940s it had declined and most of the residents had moved away. Dearfield is now a ghost town, with only a few structures still standing as silent reminders of its past. These include a gas station, a diner, and the founder’s home.
There is a historic marker in the town. The University of Northern Colorado is currently involved with restoring the town as a historical location. There has been some talk about including the site in the National Parks system. I’m not really sure where that effort stands at the moment.
I visited and photographed Dearfield in April, 2023. I will someday revisit the location and see how reconstruction is progressing.
