Dearfield, Colorado, located in Weld County, was the state’s largest black homesteading settlement, established by Oliver Toussaint Jackson in 1910. Inspired by a white colony in Greeley, Jackson formed the Negro Townsite and Land Company, and eventually attracted 19 settlers by 1911. The town thrived during World War I but faced decline due to drought in the 1920s and 30s. Its population peaked between 1917 and 1921, housing up to 300 residents. The settlers netted over $50,000 from their first significant crop in 1918, reinvesting in their community. Despite initial success, the Dust Bowl led to a mass exodus, and attempts to rebrand the town and sell it to the federal government failed. Today, a few deserted buildings remain, and Dearfield is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.