Dearfield, Colorado was once a thriving Black agricultural settlement founded in 1911 by Oliver Toussaint Jackson. You’ll find this ghost town in northeastern Colorado, where nearly 300 residents built a self-sufficient community valued at over one million dollars by 1920. The Great Depression and Dust Bowl devastated the colony, leaving only abandoned structures today. The site represents a remarkable experiment in Black self-determination that continues to reveal its significance through ongoing preservation efforts.
Key Takeaways
- Dearfield was once a thriving Black agricultural community in northeastern Colorado founded in 1911 by O.T. Jackson.
- The settlement reached its peak during 1917-1921 with nearly 300 residents and property valued at over one million dollars.
- Environmental devastation from the Dust Bowl and economic collapse during the Great Depression led to Dearfield’s abandonment.
- Only a few structures remain today, including the Jackson House, an abandoned gas station, and a diner.
- Preservation efforts include a $497,776 grant and potential National Park Service designation to honor Black homesteading history.
The Vision of Oliver Toussaint Jackson
Three key influences shaped Oliver Toussaint Jackson’s ambitious vision for Dearfield: his entrepreneurial background, political connections, and philosophical inspiration from Booker T. Washington’s self-help philosophy.
Born to former slaves in 1862, Jackson developed business acumen through restaurant ventures before establishing the Negro Townsite and Land Company in 1910.
Jackson’s vision centered on creating a self-sufficient Black agricultural community where residents could achieve economic independence away from systemic discrimination. When he claimed 320 acres in northeastern Colorado in 1911, he wasn’t just founding a settlement—he was building a model of community resilience.
Jackson’s ambitious Dearfield experiment represented both escape from discrimination and an audacious blueprint for Black self-determination through agriculture.
His political connections, particularly with Governor Shafroth, provided essential support despite causing tension with other Black leaders skeptical of Jackson’s Democratic affiliations.
At its peak in 1921, Dearfield achieved remarkable economic success with a valuation of $750,000 and approximately 700 residents living in the thriving community.
The community built critical infrastructure including two churches, a school, and various businesses to support their self-sufficient lifestyle.
Ultimately, Dearfield embodied Jackson’s ideal of pooled resources and collective self-reliance.
Rise of a Self-Sufficient Black Agricultural Colony
While many Black homesteaders across the American West sought individual land claims, Dearfield emerged in 1910 as a deliberately collective enterprise that embodied agricultural self-sufficiency and racial solidarity.
You’d find remarkable community resilience in how settlers transformed 19,000 acres of drought-prone land into productive farms using innovative dry farming techniques. Initially living in tents and dugouts, residents soon constructed wooden cabins, stores, and communal facilities.
Their agricultural innovation yielded diverse crops—from winter wheat to strawberries—and livestock that sustained families and generated commercial surplus. Oliver Toussaint Jackson, who established various businesses before founding the Negro Town Site and Land Company in 1909, was instrumental in purchasing homestead land in Dearfield.
The Dearfield Farmers Association collaborated with agricultural extension agents, implementing advanced farming methods that increased yields by one-third between 1919-1920. By 1920, the thriving community had grown to nearly 300 residents with property valued at over one million dollars.
This Black colony wasn’t merely about survival—it represented a deliberate experiment in self-determination and economic independence from wage labor dependency.
Daily Life in Dearfield’s Golden Era
During Dearfield’s golden era from 1917 to 1921, when the community reached its peak population of 200-300 residents, daily life flourished around a robust infrastructure that included two churches, a school, restaurant, gas station, and boarding house.
You’d have witnessed the transformation from early tents and dugouts to a town of 44 wooden cabins built on homestead claims. Residents balanced agricultural work—raising diverse crops and livestock—with outside employment in Greeley or Denver.
The community’s social fabric was woven through vibrant community events and social gatherings at the dance pavilion and lodge. The settlement was founded by Oliver Toussaint Jackson in 1910 with the vision of creating a self-sufficient African American colony.
The rhythms of Dearfield life echoed through gatherings where neighbors became family under pavilion lights and lodge rafters.
The colony’s self-sufficiency was evident in its farming practices, with 1920 yielding record harvests. By 1921, this entirely African American settlement had achieved an impressive net worth of $1,075,000. The founders chose the name after a supporter remarked that the land and its potential harvest would be very dear to them.
Devastating Impact of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl
The devastating one-two punch of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl shattered Dearfield’s hard-won prosperity almost overnight.
These twin catastrophes created unsurmountable environmental challenges and economic factors that ultimately led to the community’s collapse.
When facing this unprecedented crisis, Dearfield residents encountered:
- Wheat prices plummeting from $2 to $1 per bushel, undermining the financial viability of farms
- Severe drought beginning around 1930 that rendered cropland unworkable
- Powerful dust storms that buried homes and businesses in massive drifts
- Complete erosion of topsoil, destroying the agricultural foundation upon which the community had built its independence
Black Americans who had sought prosperity and dignity through farming opportunities in Dearfield saw their dreams crumble under these harsh conditions.
By 1940, the once-thriving settlement of Black homesteaders had dwindled to only two residents remaining in Dearfield.
What Remains Today: Historic Buildings and Landmarks
If you visit Dearfield today, you’ll find a handful of resilient structures still standing guard over this historic Black settlement, including the 1917 Jackson House, the Dearfield Service Station (1919-1920), and a metal garage that have weathered decades of neglect.
Archaeological excavations throughout the townsite have revealed concrete foundations of former homes and businesses, along with everyday artifacts like silverware, broken plates, and kerosene lamps that offer glimpses into residents’ daily lives.
These physical remnants, now protected through preservation efforts by the Black American West Museum and the Dearfield Preservation Partnership, serve as tangible connections to the community’s pioneering spirit and historical significance. The town was officially designated as one of Colorado’s “Most Endangered Places” in 1999, highlighting the urgent need for preservation. A large marble sign now marks the location off US Highway 34, helping visitors locate this important piece of Colorado’s history.
Standing Sentinel Buildings
Despite decades of abandonment and harsh prairie conditions, several significant buildings still stand sentinel in Dearfield, silently testifying to the town’s pioneering Black settlement history.
The Black American West Museum now owns 80% of these structures, spearheading historic preservation efforts alongside the Dearfield Preservation Partnership’s community engagement initiatives.
Four key structures remain visible today:
- Jackson House (1917) – Built by founder O.T. Jackson, this cornerstone residence symbolizes the vision for Black self-sufficiency.
- Abandoned gas station (1919) – Slated for restoration as a visitor center using National Park Service grant funding.
- Dilapidated diner/lunch counter – Marked with a historical plaque commemorating its significance as a community gathering place.
- Scattered wooden cabins and farmhouses – Representing original homesteader dwellings from Dearfield’s 1917-1921 peak years.
Archaeological Treasures Unearthed
Beneath the sun-baked earth of Dearfield’s abandoned townsite, archaeological excavations have revealed a treasure trove of artifacts that paint an intimate portrait of Black pioneer life on the Colorado plains.
About one foot below the surface, you’ll find cultural artifacts including broken porcelain, China fragments, buttons from work clothes, and wallpaper pieces inside remaining structures.
These discoveries, led by researchers Bob Brunswig and George Junne over the past decade, carry tremendous archaeological significance.
Each item excavated illuminates the daily domestic routines and self-sufficiency efforts of early Black homesteaders.
The Dearfield Dream Project continues this work, connecting you to this remarkable frontier story through field schools and annual volunteer events.
Through these fragments of everyday life, you’re witnessing the tangible evidence of an extraordinary American experiment.
Preservation Efforts and Future of a Forgotten Legacy
The Black American West Museum‘s leadership in preserving Dearfield faces substantial challenges, as the Jackson House and Filling Station require immediate stabilization against weathering and structural deterioration.
You’ll find that the $497,776 grant from the NPS African American Civil Rights Program has enabled critical first steps in honoring these pioneering Black homesteaders’ legacy through targeted restoration efforts.
The collaboration between universities, preservation organizations, and government entities demonstrates a growing commitment to guarantee that this remarkable chapter in African American history won’t be lost to neglect or development pressures.
Restoration Challenges Ahead
As Dearfield’s historic structures continue to deteriorate, preservationists face a complex web of challenges that threaten this landmark of Black homesteading history.
The struggle for financial sustainability requires addressing fragmented ownership while combating environmental threats that accelerate decay.
Major restoration challenges include:
- Funding gaps – despite nearly $498,000 from the NPS and corporate donations, the $1 million+ needed for basic stabilization remains elusive
- Ownership complexities – with 80% belonging to the Black American West Museum and remainder split among private families
- Environmental deterioration – harsh Colorado plains weather threatening Jackson’s home and the filling station with imminent collapse
- Competing land use pressures – urban expansion and development projects encroaching on this historic landscape
Community engagement through educational initiatives may offer sustainable pathways forward while honoring this representation of African American self-determination.
Honoring Black Homesteaders
Despite formidable restoration challenges, ongoing efforts to honor Dearfield’s Black homesteaders represent a powerful commitment to preserving a nearly forgotten chapter of American history.
You’ll find a remarkable coalition working to secure Dearfield’s legacy—from the Black American West Museum’s preservation initiatives to History Colorado’s funding support. Congressional studies are now evaluating the site for National Park Service designation, which would provide essential federal protection and resources.
These efforts highlight Black Homesteader Contributions to Western settlement and agricultural innovation. Through educational programs, exhibitions, and community events, advocates guarantee that the story of Community Resilience at Dearfield inspires future generations.
Descendants of original settlers, alongside historians and preservation groups, continue fighting for national recognition that would permanently honor these pioneering Americans who carved independence from the Colorado plains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Were There Any Notable Conflicts With Neighboring White Communities?
Like ships passing in calm waters, you’ll find historical records show minimal racial tensions in Dearfield. Instead, evidence indicates relatively peaceful community relations with neighboring white settlements, including economic interdependence and social interactions.
What Happened to the Descendants of Dearfield’s Original Settlers?
You’ll find most descendants relocated to urban areas like Denver, preserving their community legacy through oral histories and preservation advocacy. Their descendant experiences reflect continued commitment to Dearfield’s significance despite geographic dispersal.
Did Dearfield Have Its Own Local Government Structure?
Rather than a polished municipal apparatus, you’d find Dearfield operated under informal community leadership. Oliver Jackson’s Negro Townsite and Land Company provided local governance without established charter, council, or elected officials typical of incorporated towns.
Were There Any Famous Visitors to Dearfield During Its Heyday?
No documented famous visitors came to Dearfield during its heyday. Historical events were recorded without mentioning notable guests, despite the settlement’s significance to African American agricultural independence.
What Crops Were Most Successfully Grown in Dearfield?
You’d find melons, especially watermelons, thrived as Dearfield’s most celebrated crop. Their agricultural techniques included scientific dryland farming methods that also supported corn, hay, oats, vegetables, barley, potatoes, and sugar beets.
References
- https://www.uncovercolorado.com/ghost-towns/dearfield/
- https://www.rmpbs.org/blogs/rocky-mountain-pbs/dearfield-colorado-historic-site
- https://history.weld.gov/County-150/Weld-County-Towns/Dearfield-Colorado
- https://pehc.colostate.edu/2022/03/dearfield-colorados-almost-forgotten-black-ghost-town/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dearfield
- https://www.cpr.org/2024/02/14/dearfield-could-become-part-of-the-national-park-service/
- https://www.nps.gov/people/oliver-toussaint-jackson.htm
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Toussaint_Jackson
- https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/02/12/the-american-west-oliver-t-jacksons-black-colony-of-dearfield-in-northeastern-colorado/
- https://www.deseret.com/2022/12/30/23508635/dearfield-colorado-black-history/
