Established in 1910 by Oliver Toussaint Jackson, an entrepreneur from Boulder, the remains of this self-sustaining African American townsite are located approximately 70 miles northeast of Denver just south of the South Platte River. Jackson acquired the land for Dearfield through a desert claim, and by 1915, there were over 44 cabins established on the homestead, making Dearfield the largest African American homesteading settlement in Colorado. Using dry-farming techniques, residents of the townsite shipped their surplus crops to markets in Denver. World War I sparked high demand for agricultural products, spurring economic development in the townsite and expanding cultural life. At its height, Dearfield boasted its own school, hotel, churches, community center, annual festival, and reportedly over 300 residents. The harsh drought of the 1930s and the Dust Bowl led to the collapse of much of the agriculture throughout Dearfield. Residents began to seek alternative work in the city and buildings throughout the town were torn down to repurpose lumber. By 1948, the townsite had one remaining resident.
Today, the remains of Dearfield sit among land primarily used for cattle ranching and petroleum extraction just south of U.S. Route 34. While grasses dominate most of the vegetation, a few trees and shrubs, including white poplar, Siberian elm, and lilac, can be found near the areas where structures once stood. Remnants of former roads and traces of barbed wire and wood post fencing belonging to the townsite are also present. The horizon is flat, only to be interrupted by the occasional windmill or communication tower. Only a few of the original Dearfield structures remain, in various states of disrepair. These include a former filling station, a former diner, and Oliver Toussaint Jackson’s home. The buildings and some of the surrounding land is owned by the Black American West Museum. Dearfield was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.
