Photos: The Ghost Town of Dearfield, Once Worth Over $1 Million

WARNING: Under no circumstances should you enter this property. By doing so you risk bodily harm and/or prosecution for trespassing on private property.

Colorado is loaded with ghost towns. Each location has a really cool story to tell and is tied to an important part of the history of the Centennial State.

Most ghost towns in Colorado can be found high up in the mountains not far from some incredible mines once filled with silver and gold. The townsite of Dearfield was no such place, but it was valued at over $1 million in 1921. So what happened?

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Where is Dearfield, Colorado?

The old Dearfield townsite can be found in Weld county, Colorado. It's about 30 miles or so east of Greeley on US 34. From Greeley, travel Highway 85 south to Garden City. Head east on 34 for 24 miles and keep your eyes open for the townsite.

Dearfield: An African American Agricultural Community

Oliver Toussaint Jackson, inspired by Booker T. Washington, found an opportunity with the American Homestead Act to apply for funding to homestead an agricultural community for African Americans. Settlers joined Dearfield from Denver, Minnesota, and Kansas, and by 1920 it was home to almost 300 people.

Good People Who Wanted a Better Life

Oliver Toussaint Jackson was an impressive individual. He ran several successful restaurants between Denver and Boulder before working for the Governor of Colorado as a messenger. It was Colorado's Governor Shafroth who helped Jackson find his way to funding with the Homestead Act. Scroll on to see photos of the Dearfield townsite which was occupied until the last resident left in 1973.