Colorado Genealogy

Colorado Genealogy Facts

Colorado fell under several governmental jurisdictions during its developmental history, being for a time part of the territories of Spain, Missouri, Mexico, Utah, the United States, New Mexico, unorganized Native American land, and finally Nebraska and Kansas. Records, however, exist only for the domains of Utah, New Mexico, Kansas, and Nebraska territories. The territory of Colorado, with its seventeen counties, was formed in 1861. Sixteen years later, on 1 August 1876, it was admitted as the thirty-eighth state in the Union.

  • Colorado was organized as territory: Feb. 28, 1861
  • Colorado entered the union as a state on August 1, 1876 as the 38st state.
  • Colorado has 64 Counties.
  • Colorado’s capital is Denver.
  • Colorado is bordered by Arizona (southwest), Kansas (east), Nebraska (northeast), New Mexico (south), Oklahoma (southeast), Utah (west), Wyoming (north).
  • Colorado has a land area of 104,100 square miles making it the 8th largest state.
  • Colorado’s 2010 population was 5,029,196.
  • Colorado  largest cities are Denver, 600,158; Colorado Springs, 416,427; Aurora, 325,078; Fort Collins, 143,986; Lakewood, 142,980; Thornton, 118,772; Westminster, 106,114; Arvada, 106,433 Pueblo, 106,595; Centennial, 100,377.
  • Colorado ,is Spanish for the “color red,” and refers to the muddy Colorado River, which originates in the state
  • Colorado State Nickname is “Centennial State, Colorful Colorado” (Colorado was admitted to statehood during the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and today its official nickname is the Centennial State).
  • Colorado State Motto is “Nil sine Numine” – Nothing Without Providence.

Colorado County Genealogy

It can be is presumed that county records exist from the date of county formation, but this has not been verified for all counties. The individual researcher will need to check the specific county of interest. Many of Colorado’s early county records have been deposited at the Colorado State Archives. Unless otherwise noted, in each county page listed below, marriage records are located at the clerk and recorder’s office in the county seat along with land records. Other vital records created before state recording began (see Vital Records) are located in the various County Vital Records offices. Court records are found in county and district courts, with probate records in the district. The researcher with early Colorado ancestors should watch for migration during the 1870s and follow the growth of the railroads.

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COUNTY PAGES UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Colorado contains some counties that no longer exist because they were discontinued, renamed or merged with another county. These are important for Colorado genealogy research purposes. Those Colorado counties are:

  • Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory, (1855-08-25 – 1861-01-29) was created but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union.
  • Broderick County, Kansas Territory, (1859-02-07 – 1861-01-29) was split from Arapahoe County, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union.
  • Carbonate County – was a county that existed for only two days in 1879. Carbonate County was created by renaming it to Lake County.
  • El Paso County, Kansas Territory, (1859-02-07 – 1861-01-29) was split from Arapahoe County, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union.
  • Fremont County, Kansas Territory, (1859-02-07 – 1861-01-29) was split from Arapahoe County, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union.
  • Montana County, Kansas Territory, (1859-02-07 – 1861-01-29) was split from Arapahoe County, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union.
  • Oro County, Kansas Territory, (1859-02-07 – 1861-01-29) was split from Arapahoe County, but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union.
  • Peketon County, Kansas Territory, (1859-02-07 – 1861-01-29) was created but never organized. Reverted to unorganized territory when Kansas joined the Union.
  • Arrappahoe County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 – 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
  • Cheyenne County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 – 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
  • El Paso County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 – 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
  • Fountain County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 – 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
  • Heele County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 – 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
  • Jackson County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 – 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
  • Jefferson County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 – 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
  • Montana County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 – 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
  • North County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 – 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
  • Park County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 – 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
  • Saratoga County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 – 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
  • St. Vrains County, Jefferson Territory, (November 1859 – 1861-02-28) was one of the 12 counties created by the extralegal Territory of Jefferson.
  • Guadalupe County, Colorado Territory, (1861-11-01 – 1861-11-07) was one of the 17 original counties created by the Territory of Colorado. The county was renamed Conejos County after only six days.
  • Greenwood County, Colorado Territory, (1870-02-11 – 1874-02-06) was created from former Cheyenne and Arapaho tribal land and the eastern portion of Huerfano County. The county was abolished four years later, and its territory split between Elbert County and Bent County.
  • Platte County, Colorado Territory, (1872-02-09 – 1874-02-09) was created from the eastern portion of Weld County. The county was abolished two years later after organizers failed to secure voter approval, and the territory of the county was returned to Weld County.
  • Carbonate County, Colorado, (1879-02-08 – 1879-02-10). Lake County was renamed Carbonate County in 1879. Only two days later, Carbonate County was split into the new Chaffee County and the re-renamed Lake County.
  • Uncompaghre County, Colorado, (1883-02-27 – 1883-03-02). Ouray County was renamed Uncompaghre County for only four days in 1883.
  • South Arapahoe County, Colorado, (1902-11-15 – 1903-04-11) was one of three counties created from Arapahoe County in 1902. The name was changed back to Arapahoe County after five months.

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Colorado Genealogy Links

See Colorado County Genealogy for County Links. These genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Personal Sites or Organization Sites. Some are have free access some require a payment. This is just a list that has been collected or submitted. I do not endorse or promote one genealogy site above another. Feel free to submit your own favorite genealogy or family history related sites.

Colorado State History

 

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