Editing Greenfield, California (section)

==History==
In 1902, the California Home Extension Association, founded by John S. Clark, purchased {{convert|4000|acre}} of land that had been part of [[Rancho Arroyo Seco]], a Mexican land grant deeded to Joaquín de la Torre in 1840. The land was put up for sale at a public drawing in Los Angeles in 1905. Buyers could purchase an acre with water rights for about $37.50. A purchase of {{convert|2.5|acre}} came with an added benefit — a lot in town.

In addition to the acreage, Clark got the water rights to the land. He formed the Clark Colony Water Company, which became the organization for water distribution and filled the city with water from the nearby [[Arroyo Seco (Salinas River tributary)|Arroyo Seco]]. The organized water canal system and ideal growing conditions attracted people of Danish, Swiss and other nationalities from surrounding areas to settle in this new colony. Originally, the town was going to be named "Clark City", but that was nixed by the U.S. Postal Service which informed the city there were too many "Clark Cities" in the state. Instead, the community named the town after one of its early founders and president of the Association, Edward Greenfield.

In the 1930, wells were dug to supplement water being drawn from the river, which created a year-round water supply.

The Clark Colony Water Company still holds 1916 Prior Rights guaranteeing delivery to its members a certain amount of water from the Arroyo Seco before any other agencies. The early canals are still viable and visible throughout the original land acreage.

Greenfield was recognized as a municipality by the state legislature and incorporated on January 7, 1947. Greenfield's first mayor was Tom Rogers. Greenfield’s first directly elected mayor and first Hispanic/ Latino mayor was Elias de Leon, Jr. in 1986.