Q: How Did the City of Greenfield Get it's Name? - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

Q: How Did the City of Greenfield Get it's Name?

A: Our KION Question came from Wilmar in Morro Bay.  He wrote in saying, "I know how Greenfield came by its original name of Clark Colony, but how did it get the name Greenfield?"

According to the Monterey County Historical Society, there are several assumptions why it was changed from Clark to Greenfield.  In fact, there's information on the topic in the book Monterey County Name Places by Donald Clark.

The book says the origin of the name Greenfield is "somewhat clouded."

A post office application, dated January 16, 1905, shows that James R. Jeffrey applied for an office to be named "Clark City" and stated that it would be serving at least 1500; probably 2000 (people).  This can be found in the files of the National Archives.  The postal authorities crossed out the suggested name and substituted "Greenfield."

According to the book, there are at least two stories accounting for the choice of name.  According to the first story, Greenfield was suggested because at the time, alfalfa was the main crop in the area.  Reportedly, the fields were green year-round. 

A different version was offered by the Greenfield News, which reported that it was named in honor of Edward Greenfield, who was the president of the California Home Extension Association and director of the Clark Colony Water Company.