Our History

Early History

Greenfield, located in Monterey County, began as Clark Colony in April of 1905, created by a subdivision of 4,000 acres of valley bottomland by the California Home Extension Association, a branch of Rancho Arroyo Seco. A public drawing was held at their branch office in Los Angeles on April 5, 1905. The average price per acre was $37.50, including water rights. Persons purchasing 2.5 acres or more were entitled to first option on 1 or 2 town lots.

Water Distribution System

The organization of the water distribution system, the Clark Colony Water Company, was formed on April 7, 1905. The organization would be in charge of distributing water to the stockholders who paid the debt at the rate of $25 for each of the subdivision's acres. With a water canal system and good growing conditions, people of Danish, Swiss and other nationalities from surrounding areas settled in Greenfield. The Clark Colony settlers then constructed the largest irrigation and domestic water supply system in the Salinas Valley.

Today, the Clark Colony Water Company still holds 1916 Prior Rights guaranteeing delivery to its members a certain amount of water from the Arroyo Seco River before any other agencies' use of the river water.

School Buidling

On April 6, 1906, the district purchased a lot from Edward Greenfield for $33.75 along with two adjacent to the Arroyo Seco Development Company for $145.80. By 1906, local carpenters including R.D. Hall, Alfred Hansen and Al Leoni had completed a new school building on the property, located at El Camino Real and Walnut Avenue consisting of two classrooms with a library between them. Romie School District officially became Greenfield School District on July 1, 1909.

Oak Avenue and El Camino Real - 1938

A black and white photo of a store on the corner.

100 Block El Camino Real - 1938

A black and white photo of a stand alone building.

200 Block El Camino Real - 1938

A black and white photo of a row of businesses.

Naming & Municipality Status

Clark Colony evolved into Clark City and was eventually renamed Greenfield, after the United States Postal Service informed the City that there were too many "Clark Cities" in the state. The name Greenfield was picked to honor a long time settler of the area, Mr. Greenfield, who was instrumental in the formation of the City and was active in public affairs of the City and its service clubs such as the Grange Organization.

Greenfield was recognized as a municipality by the State of California legislature and incorporated on January 7, 1947. Greenfield's first Mayor was Tom Rogers.