Pitkin County, Colorado Genealogy

Guide to Pitkin County, Colorado ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Courthouse
Pitkin County Courthouse 530 E Main St #101 Aspen, Co 81611-1993 Phone: 970.920.5180 Pitkin County Website County Clerk Recorder has birth, marriage and death records from 1890 &amp; land reords from 1883; Clerk of Courts has probate records

Populated Places
The following are locations in Pitkin County, Colorado:

State and Territory Census Records

 * 1860-1940 Colorado Census Records from 1860 to 1940 at FamilySearch.org — index/images
 * 1885 - Colorado State Census, 1885 at FamilySearch - Index and images
 * 1885 - Colorado State Census, 1885 at Ancestry - ($), Index and images

Federal Census Records
In 1860, present-day Colorado was enumerated in the Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Utah Territories. Colorado Territory was created in 1861 and was enumerated as such in the 1870 Census. The 1880 Census was the first federal census after Colorado became a state in 1876. For links to Federal census indexes, see Colorado Census

Court Records
Numerous records are available at Colorado Archives. To use this link scroll down the page to where it asks for Record Type. Click there and scroll down the list to the records you want and select. The next field asks for county. Select the county you want and then click on Search. You can narrow the search by adding the additional information it asks for.

Land and Property Records
Online Land Records

For more information see Colorado Land and Property
 * Colorado DPA Land Records - Index only; Choose Record Type, and search either "Land Patents" or "Land Records."
 * Land Patent Search - index to federal patents and homesteads on the Bureau of Land Management website, some images available
 * 1796-1907 - U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 at Ancestry - index, info taken from Bureau of Land Management website
 * 1861-1936 - U.S. Homestead Records 1861-1936 at Ancestry.com - ($), index and images
 * 1862-1908 - Denver Land Office Records, 1862-1908 at Ancestry.com - ($), index only

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Interactive Formation Boundary Map of Colorado - shows boundary changes for Colorado Counties
 * Colorado Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Records
 * 1868-1990 - Colorado, State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1868-1990 at Ancestry ($); Index and images
 * 1876-1990 - at FamilySearch - Browseable images only; District Court records

Newspapers
Colorado Newspapers Online
 * Colorado Online Historical Newspapers online - in the Colorado Historic Newspaper Collection by the Colorado State Library
 * Colorado Newspapers at Ancestry.com - ($)
 * GenealogyBank - ($), contains images of Colorado newspapers
 * Newspaper Archive - ($), contains images of Colorado newspapers
 * Chronicling America - contains images of some Colorado newspapers; searching tips
 * Elephind - Free; search engine that retrieves newspaper images from other free newspaper websites

Colorado Newspaper Catalogs
 * U.S. Newspaper Directory, 1690-Present on Chronicling America - contains a list of all known newspapers and the dates they cover; once you locate a newspaper name, contact the local library to see if they have copies of the newspaper

Probate Records
'''Online Records
 * 1875–1974 Colorado Wills and Probate Records 1875-1974 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1881-1953 Colorado State Archives has put the Pitkin County Probate Index for the years 1881-1953 online.

Tax Records
1938-1956 Colorado State Archives has put the Pitkin County Inheritance Tax Records Index for the years 1938-1956 on-line.

Vital Records
'''Colorado Vital Records Search

Birth
Birth records may become public records when 100 years have elapsed after the date of birth. EXCEPTION: The birth record of any individual who is known to be currently alive will remain confidential even if they are 100 years of age or greater.

Marriage
Online Records
 * 1809-2011 - Western States Marriage Index, 1809-2011 - Index, incomplete, list of counties included
 * 1853-2006 - at FamilySearch.org - Index and images
 * 1862-2006 - Colorado, County Marriages and State Indexes, 1862-2006 at Ancestry ($), Index and images
 * 1864-1995 - at FamilySearch - Index and images
 * 1900-1939 - Colorado, Statewide Marriage Index, 1900-1939 at Ancestry.com - ($); Browseable images of original index

Death
Death records may become public records when 75 years have elapsed after the date of death.

Divorce
Online Records
 * 1851-1985 Colorado, Divorce Index, 1851-1985 at Ancestry - ($); Index only
 * 1900-1939 - at FamilySearch - Browseable images of original index
 * 1931-1964 Colorado State Archives has put a name only Index to the Pitkin County Divorce Records for the period 5/7/1931 to 10/23/1964 on-line.

Archives
1881-1883 Pitkin County Quit Claim Deeds 1881-1953 Pitkin County Probate 1896, 1898 Pitkin County School Census #16 1931-1964 Pitkin County Divorce Record 1938-1956 Pitkin County Inheritance

Family History Centers

 * Aspen Colorado Family History Center
 * Eagle Valley Colorado Family History Center
 * Glenwood Springs Colorado Family History Center

Libraries
Pitkin County Library 120 N Mill Street Aspen, CO 81611 Telephone 970-429-1900 Website

Societies
Aspen Historical Society 620 West Bleeker St. Aspen, Colorado 81611 Telephone: 970-925-3721 Fax: 970-925-5347 Website

Websites

 * - The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records
 * Pitkin County, Colorado Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)