State of Colorado
Genealogy, Facts and Records Resources
The Best Way to Look for Colorado Genealogy Research
Though known for its amazing natural beauty, the state of Colorado is just as well known for its unique history. It is a land of native peoples, great explorations, a huge amount of migration and relocation, and a tremendous amount of diversity.
Neighborhoods in almost any town in the state could contain a huge mix of people from different backgrounds and cultures, and this means that anyone looking for Colorado genealogy data will have a lot of resources too.
Most Common Tactics for Colorado Genealogy
If you are seeking details for a Colorado genealogy project, you can do so from home or within a large number of archives and other locations. This is because there is no single route to research, and because there are resources available in both the online and "offline" formats.
In the current era it is exciting to learn that many things once only archived in private locations have been digitized and put on the Internet. We must also accept, however, that some still have yet to be made available to the public. This means that an effective first step in research for Colorado genealogy is to find out which records are available, and how to get them.
Modern Approaches for Colorado Genealogy
It is very helpful to become familiar with the tactics that all researchers for Colorado genealogy will use, and which require accessing online and offline records that can include:
- State Records – from probate information to land records, maps, marriage details, military or veterans information, newspapers, private manuscripts, state census information, birth certificates, cemetery information, death records, deeds, estate information, genealogical folders, surname lists and more. These are available as online and offline resources for Colorado genealogy.
- Vital Records – the valuable birth, marriage, divorce and death records from county, state, and national archives. Here you will find newspaper items, military records, immigration and naturalization details, cemetery or obituary information, census records, passenger lists and records as well. These are available as online and offline resources for Colorado genealogy.
- Local Records –start with the county clerk's office or website, and then move on to the local genealogical societies, small local libraries, historical societies, and school or college libraries for Colorado genealogy data. These are things that are usually offline and viewable by appointment or special arrangement.
Easy and Convenient Tools for Colorado Genealogy
Once you begin using sources for Colorado genealogy work, you learn which have the most information for your needs. For instance, we believe these are some of the best for Colorado genealogy, and can be found in person or online at:
- Vital Records Section,
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment,
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South,
HSVRD-VS-A1,
Denver, CO 80246-1530;
Website: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w/colorado.htm .
This is where anyone can order birth, death, marriage and divorce records via a written request or even online.
Additional state and local records can be found at the:
- Colorado State Archives,
Family History Page,
Website: http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/geneal.htm .
Here you can find everything from census details, veterans grave information, Civil War registries, all kinds of vital records, jail records, WWI and WWII registrations, Civilian Conservation Corps information, court records, old city directory listings, and more.
Finally, these websites provide a tremendous amount of state-specific details to those in search of facts for Colorado genealogy projects.
- The USGenWeb Project - http://cogenweb.com/;
- State census records at Genealogy Research Guides - http://www.researchguides.net/census/state.htm; and
- Genealogy Today - http://www.genealogytoday.com/genealogy/states/colorado.html
List of Colorado Counties
Select a Colorado county below to view genealogical information & records pertaining to each county.
Each Colorado County Page includes genealogy and Family History information and addresses for County Court Records , Probate Records, Land Records, Tax Records, County Census Records, History
County, Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records, Death Records, Cemeteries, Graveyards, Church & Bible Records. Colorado has 64 counties.
Colorado State Historical & Genealogical Societies, Archives, Museums and Libraries
Colorado Archives
- Colorado State Archives, Centenniel Building, 1313 Sherman Street, Rm. 1B-20, Denver, Colorado 80203; Tel: 303-866-2358, 303-866-2390, 800-305-3442 (Toll-free in Colorado only)
- National Archives-Rocky Mountain Region, Denver Federal Center, Building 48, West 6th Avenue and Kipling Street, Denver, Colorado 80225-0307. States covered are Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 25307, Denver, Colorado 80225-0307; Tel: 303-236-0817, E-mail: denver.archives@nara.gov, Fax: 303-236-9297
- Chautauqua Association, Archive and History Room, Administration Building, 900 Baseline Road, Boulder, Colorado 80302; Tel: 303-442-3282, Fax: 303-449-0790
- Colorado State University, Special Collections & Archives, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523; Tel: 970-491-3977 Information, 970-491-1841
- University of Colorado at Boulder Archives, Campus Box 184, Basement, Norlin Library, Boulder, Colorado 80309
Colorado Museums
Colorado Libraries
- Colorado Historical Society, Stephen H. Hart Library, 1300 Broadway, Denver, Colorado 80203; Tel: 303-866-3682
- Colorado State Library, 201 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, Colorado 80203; Tel: 303-866-6900, Fax: 303-866-6940
- Denver Public Library, 10 West 14th Avenue Pkwy., Denver, Colorado 80204; Tel: 720-865-1111, Western History Genealogy Department: 720-865-1821