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Colorado Census Records

See Also Researching in Census Records

Statewide Records that exist for Colorado are 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in Colorado are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1870 and 1880. Union Veterans Schedules were conducted in 1890.

The Colorado Historical Society has microfilmed copies of the Colorado decennial census with indexes for 1860, 1870, and 1880. The Colorado Historical Society does not currently own the Soundex to the 1900 census, although one is located at the National Archives-Rocky Mountain Region in Denver and the Denver Public Library, Genealogy Department. An “index” which can be used for the 1910 Colorado census is the Denver street guide. A location guide to the Boulder County 1910 federal census has been published in the Boulder Genealogical Society Quarterly 11 (November 1986): 151–54. Otherwise, no index exists. The Denver Public Library holds microfilmed copies of the 1860 Kansas territorial census (which includes parts of Colorado), the 1870, and the 1880 population census. The Colorado State Archives has the 1860 censuses on microfilm for Utah, New Mexico, Nebraska, and Kansas that cover the present geographic boundaries of Colorado. No survey of available state copies of the federal censuses exists; however, Clear Creek County holds theirs for 1880, and there may be others.

Microfilmed copies of the 1870 and 1880 mortality schedules are located at the National Archives-Rocky Mountain Region and the Denver Public Library. A printed index has been compiled. The original schedules are housed with the Daughters of the American Revolution in Washington, D.C.

Colorado Territorial and State Census

The first census of those who lived in what would become Colorado was taken in 1860 as part of several territorial censuses. Arapahoe County, which covered the central eastern section, was included in the Kansas territorial census for that year. The areas of Boulder City, Boulder Creek Settlement, Gold Hill Settlement, Miraville City, and the Platte River Settlement were enumerated with Nebraska Territory. Denver City was partly enumerated with Nebraska and partly with the Kansas territorial census. The southeast portion of Colorado was enumerated in parts of Taos and Mora counties of New Mexico Territory. Leadville, although a booming mining town at the time and located in what is now Lake County, was in Utah Territory and not enumerated.

The Colorado Territory was organized in 1861, and voters residing in the territory were listed at that time. The original poll books (which list only males) remain in the Colorado State Archives and have been microfilmed. An index by the Colorado Genealogical Society (see Archives, Libraries, and Societies for address) is currently in progress.

An 1866 enumeration was taken, but the only extant returns are for the northeastern section which included the counties of Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Weld, and parts of Washington and Yuma. Heads of household with number of males over and under twenty-one and females over and under eighteen are included in a document available at the Colorado State Archives.

The microfilmed copy of the 1885 special federal census, encompassing population, agricultural, manufacturing, and mortality returns is located at the Colorado State Archives, the National Archives/Rocky Mountain Region in Denver, Colorado Historical Society, and the Denver Public Library. Some counties have abridged copies which arranged residents alphabetically, making them seem to be indexes. However, researchers should be aware this “index” does not refer the reader to the page number of the original census, and it is an incomplete extraction with only partial data from the census. For complete information, the researcher will need to use the original and not the county copy. These microfilms are available on interlibrary loan. The Colorado Council of Genealogical Societies is currently preparing a state-wide index from the originals.

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