Dearfield likely had at most 200-300 people living in or around the townsite in the larger homesteading area. When the colony started, only a few men initially joined Jackson at the site the first winter, and seven families had filed claims. By 1915, the colony had about 40 farms with a total population of 111. In 1920, the population was almost 200. With the poor conditions brought by the end of WWI, the Great Depression, and dust bowl, the population was down to 12 by 1940, and in 1953, the last resident, Jennie Jackson, moved out.
Many people purchased land or filed for homestead land in or near the colony, but left soon after seeing the true farming conditions in Weld County. This inconsistency makes finding true numbers regarding the population at any given time difficult, as the amount of land purchased was not reflective of the reality at the colony.
In the following tabs include biographies for a few influential, long term residents, or shop owners.
Junne, George H. et. al. "Dearfield, Colorado: Black Farming Success in the Jim Crow Era." In Enduring Legacies, edited by Artudo Almada et. al. p. 101-117. University Press of Colorado. 2011. https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt46nvjc.12.
Picher, Margaret, "Dearfield, Colorado: A Story From The Black West," Masters of Arts Thesis, University of Denver, 1976.
Stiff, Cary. "The Dream of Dearfield" The Denver Post Empire Magazine, November 2, 1969, p. 47-51. Series 6, Folder 5, Box 2, SC100, Carl Maag Collection, University of Northern Colorado Archives and Special Collections.