Plainsfield was located just south of the Grand-San Juan County line in the “Poverty Flats” area of southern Spanish Valley, somewhere near or in between the Old Airport hanger and Ken’s Lake. Virtually no evidence remains of the town’s existence. One of its earliest residents was noted pioneer John Henry Shafer, who settled the Plainsfield area in 1878 along with fellow rancher C.M. Van Buren. A petition for a post office was granted in 1879, but was discontinued the following year. Problems with hostile Native Americans caused the first Plainsfield settlers to close the fort and move closer to town. However, in 1883, four other families (Somerville, McConkie, Newell, and Johnson) moved from elsewhere in San Juan County to the Plainsfield area. Jennie Somerville, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Somerville, was reportedly the first baby ever born in the fledgling community. Throughout the 1880s, school was taught and LDS church meetings were held at the McConkie home in Plainsfield. Because water was scarce, Plainsfield residents had to go down the valley three or four miles to the Boren Ranch (now the George White Ranch) to obtain drinking water from the springs. By the early 1900s, however, Plainsfield was nothing more than a memory.(Thanks for moabhappenings)