Greenfield, California facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Greenfield California
City
Nickname(s): Broccoli Capital of the World
Motto(s): "Where Historic El Camino Real Meets Monterey Wine Country"
Location in Monterey County, California
Greenfield, California Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	Monterey
Incorporated	January 7, 1947
Named for	Edward Greenfield
Area
• Total	2.95 sq mi (7.6 km²)
• Land	2.91 sq mi (7.5 km²)
• Water	0.04 sq mi (0.1 km²) 1.29%
Elevation	289 ft (88 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	18,937
• Density	6,507.6/sq mi (2,512.6/km²)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	93927
Area code(s)	831
FIPS code	06-30994
GNIS feature IDs	1660698, 2410657

Greenfield is a city in Monterey County, California, United States. It used to be called Clarke Colony. The city is located in the Salinas Valley, about 33 miles (53 km) southeast of Salinas. It sits at an elevation of 289 feet (88 meters).

In 2020, the population of Greenfield was 18,937 people. This was an increase from 16,330 people in 2010. Greenfield is famous for its yearly Harvest Festival. It is also part of the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments.

History of Greenfield

How Greenfield Started

In 1902, a group called the California Home Extension Association bought 4,000 acres (1,600 hectares) of land. This land was once part of a large Mexican land grant called Rancho Arroyo Seco. The land was sold to buyers in 1905. People could buy an acre with water rights for about $37.50. If you bought 2.5 acres, you also received a town lot.

John S. Clark, who started the Association, also got the water rights. He created the Clark Colony Water Company. This company brought water to the city from the nearby Arroyo Seco river.

Naming the City

The new town was first going to be named "Clark City." However, the U.S. Postal Service said there were too many "Clark Cities" in California. So, the community decided to name the town after Edward Greenfield. He was one of the early founders and president of the Association.

The organized water system and good growing conditions attracted many people. People from Denmark, Switzerland, and other countries came to live in this new colony. In the 1930s, wells were dug to get even more water. This made sure there was water all year round.

Water Rights and City Growth

The Clark Colony Water Company still has special rights from 1916. These rights guarantee that its members get a certain amount of water from the Arroyo Seco first. The old water canals are still used and can be seen today.

Greenfield officially became a city on January 7, 1947. Tom Rogers was the first mayor of Greenfield. Later, Elias de Leon, Jr. became the first directly elected mayor and the first Hispanic/Latino mayor in 1986.

Geography and Climate

Salinas Valley, on River Road near Marina

Where is Greenfield Located?

Greenfield is in the middle of the Salinas Valley. It is surrounded by mountains: the Gabilan Range to the east and the Santa Lucia Range to the west.

The city is about 145 miles (233 km) south of San Francisco. It is also about 95 miles (153 km) south of San Jose and 65 miles (105 km) north of Paso Robles. U.S. Route 101 goes through Greenfield, with four exits for easy access.

The United States Census Bureau says Greenfield covers a total area of 2.95 square miles (7.64 square kilometers). Only a small part, 0.04 square miles (0.10 square kilometers), is water.

Ideal Climate for Agriculture

Greenfield is near California's Central Coast. This area has rich soil and a great climate. These conditions are perfect for many farms and wine companies. Some of the vineyards and wineries nearby include Chalone, Scheid Vineyards, and J.Lohr.

The climate in Greenfield is mild. Average temperatures are around 40°F (4°C) in winter and about 80°F (27°C) in summer. High temperatures can reach the low 90s°F (32-33°C) in mid-summer. Most of the rain falls between October and March. The area gets about 14-20 inches (35.6 – 51 cm) of rain each year.

Population and People

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1950	1,309	—
1960	1,680	28.3%
1970	2,608	55.2%
1980	4,181	60.3%
1990	7,464	78.5%
2000	12,583	68.6%
2010	16,330	29.8%
2020	18,937	16.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

Population Growth

Greenfield is the second largest city in the Salinas Valley. It is also the fifth largest city in Monterey County. In 2006, Greenfield was one of the fastest growing cities in California. Its population grew from 13,270 in 2005 to 15,335 in 2006.

In 2010, Greenfield had a population of 16,330 people. Most of the people living in Greenfield were of Hispanic or Latino background. The city has a young population, with many families and children.

New Residents from Oaxaca

In recent years, many immigrants have moved to Greenfield from the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Many people from Oaxaca speak special native languages that are different from English or Spanish. A large group of these immigrants speak the Copala Triqui language. They have moved to Greenfield to escape poverty and conflicts in their home region.

Media and News

To learn more about Greenfield, you can listen to local radio stations like K-DON FM - 102.5. Television service comes from the Monterey-Salinas-Santa Cruz area. Local newspapers include the South County Index, Greenfield News, and the Monterey County Herald.

Economy and Jobs

Organic farmland

The "Salad Bowl of the World"

Greenfield is located in one of the most productive farming areas in the world. This region is often called the "Salad Bowl of the World." About 60 percent of the leaf lettuce grown in the United States comes from the Salinas Valley.

Every year, more than $3 billion (US) worth of fruits, vegetables, and nuts are grown and sent out from this area. Because of this, many big vegetable companies have their main offices in the nearby city of Salinas.

Tourism and Wine

More and more tourists are visiting the Greenfield area. This region is also known as "Steinbeck Country" because of the famous author John Steinbeck.

The area is also a top place for growing wine grapes. This is thanks to the rich soil and good climate. Vineyards, wineries, and wine tasting rooms are continuing to grow throughout the region.

Education in Greenfield

Local Schools

The Greenfield Union School District (GUSD) has four elementary schools and one middle school. It serves about 2,500 students from kindergarten through 8th grade.

Greenfield also has a high school, but it is part of a different district called the South Monterey County Joint Union High School District (SMCJUHSD). Greenfield High School teaches about 974 students.

In 2008, Greenfield Elementary was praised by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Superintendent Jack O'Connell. This was because the school had greatly improved its test scores for five years in a row.

Cesar Chavez Elementary
Mary Chapa Academy
Oak Avenue Elementary
Vista Verde Middle School
Arroyo Seco Academy
Greenfield High School (SMCJUHSD)

Arts and Culture

Annual Harvest Festival

Greenfield hosts an annual Harvest Festival every year on the third Sunday of October. This is a popular event for the community.

Yanks Air Museum Project

A new campus for the Yanks Air Museum is being built in Greenfield. This museum is originally from Chino, California. The new site is on a 440-acre (178-hectare) plot of land called Hanson Ranch. During World War II, this ranch was the site of the Hanson Auxiliary Field, an airstrip.

The new museum will have a facility and a 4,250-foot (1,295-meter) runway. This runway will be used for museum planes and for private planes. The new museum will not replace the one in Chino, but will make the museum much bigger.

Community Museum and Arts Center

Greenfield is also building the Tom Rogers Community Museum. It is named after the city's first mayor. This museum will show the history of Greenfield, going back to 1905.

The Greenfield Cultural Arts Center has also opened. It is located at 215 El Camino Real and is a partnership with the Arts Council of Monterey County.

Sister Cities

Greenfield has several sister cities, which are towns that form special bonds to promote cultural ties.

Images for kids

Location in Monterey County, California