1901-1908

Barks was born on a farm in the vicinity of Merrill in the county of Klamath, Oregon. The small town (appr. 850 citizens) lies in a rural community just 5 kilometres north of the Californian border.

NB: In the years until 1929 Barks made several journeys back to Merrill to work for his parents.

1908-1911

The family moved to Midland which is situated 24 kilometres northwest of Merrill. It was also in Klamath County in Oregon which is somewhat important to keep in mind as USA has no less than 49 cities by that name!

1918-1923

Barks had earned good money as a farmhand during WW1 and he now seeked his fortune in the metropolis of San Francisco, California. He worked in a printshop while he tried to sell some of his drawings. The living quarter was a small furnished room in a hotel at 13 dollars per week and he was able to afford eating his meals at nearby restaurants. But after one year and a half he returned discouraged to Merrill. No one had been interested in his drawings.

1923

Barks had married in 1921 and the couple's first daughter was born so he tried to find a more substantial job. He had heard of the good money to be earned in the upcoming oil industry and the small family settled in Coalinga, Fresno County, California. The adventure was shortlived. Barks was not cut out for the oil business.

1923-1931

As a family man - he had two daughters now - Barks was forced to earn a living and an aquaintance provided him with a job at the train assembly plant in Roseville, Placer County, California. Barks was working in the repair shop and he hated every minute of it, but at least he sustained his family. But after 6 gruelling years he gave up and returned once again to Merrill.

1931-1935

After three years of free-lancing for the Calgary EyeOpener, Barks finally took the plunge and moved to Minneapolis in the prairie state of Minnesota where the magazine had its office. He had been living as a single for a year but met his next wife-to-be in 1931.

1935-1942

After obtaining a new job at Disney's in Los Angeles, California, Barks and his new wife - they married in 1938 - lived in various apartments within walking distance of the studio most of the time he worked there. When Disney's moved to Burbank in 1940, they moved as well.

1942-1969

In San Jacinto, 120 kilometres east of Los Angeles the couple found themselves a house to live in, and they stayed in it until 1951 when they broke up. After that Barks - once again single - lived in various places in San Jacinto. Most of the time was spend in a remodeled sub-divided warehouse but in 1952 he moved to a chicken ranch in the outskirts of San Jacinto with his new girlfriend. Barks had actually bought the ranch a couple of years earlier.

1969-1977

Goleta in Santa Barbara County, California, is situated 120 kilometres northeast of Los Angeles and Barks and his third wife - they married in 1954 - moved to more serene surroundings following his retirement.

1977-1983

An even more tranquil dwelling was found as the couple moved to Temecula in Riverside County, California. The very idyllic town, which lies 60 kilometres southeast of Los Angeles, contains no less than 26 parks and recreation areas, and it is surrounded by mountain vistas and vineyards. The following years the couple spent in a mobil home close to nature.

1983-2000

Finally, Barks returned to his birthstate, and he settled with his wife in Grants Pass, the second largest city in Southern Oregon. The so-called Sun Belt town is situated along the Siskiyou Mountains and the Rogue River near the wild and scenic nature for which Oregon is known worldwide.

At first they lived in a house which later became known as The Carl Barks Studio but in 1993 they moved - technically around the corner - to a brand new residence to which Barks had provided much of the drawings. The reason being that his wife was very ill and required some special features which he provided. Regretably, she died just a few days after they moved in. The house became Carl Barks' last dwelling.