Costilla County, Colorado Genealogy

United States Colorado  Costilla County

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

County Courthouse
County Clerk has marriage and land records from 1853; Clerk of the District Court has divorce, probate and court records.

County Seat
San Luis

Parent County

 * Before 1861 this modern Colorado county was in New Mexico.


 * 1852 January 9 it was created part of Taos County in New Mexico Territory.
 * 1861 February 28 it was transferred to Colorado (1 Nov 1861 Costilla County).
 * Look for pre-1861 records in New Mexico. For further explanation see Taos County.


 * 1861 November 1: Costilla County was created as an original county.

Neighboring Counties



 * Alamosa
 * Colfax County, New Mexico
 * Conejos
 * Huerfano
 * Las Animas
 * Taos County, New Mexico

Record Loss
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Cemeteries
The History of Costilla County as Revealed by its Cemeteries

By Hazel Bean Petty, August 1971

'''70 pages on different settlements and cemeteries. A Thesis presented to Graduate School Adams State College '''

Available at Family History Center, Alamosa, CO

Census

 * 1860-1940 Colorado Census Records from 1860 to 1940 at FamilySearch.org — index/images

Church Records
LDS Ward and Branch Records


 * Barnum
 * Crestmoor (Denver)
 * Dale E.
 * Denver
 * Denver 1
 * Denver 2
 * Denver N.
 * East Dale

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.

Poor Records
1890-1932 The Colorado State Archives has put an Index to the Costilla County Poor Records, 1890-1932 on-line.

Probate Records
Online Records
 * 1875–1974 Colorado Wills and Probate Records 1875-1974 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Archives
1876-1914 Costilla County Probate Record 1890-1932 Costilla County Poor Record 1917-1932 Costilla County Teacher Exams

Family History Centers

 * Manassa Colorado Family History Center
 * Alamosa Colorado Family History Center
 * Tres Piedras New Mexico Family History Center

Libraries
Costilla County Public Library PO Box 351 418 Gasper Street San Luis, CO 81152 Phone: (719) 672-3309 Costilla Co. Library

Societies
Ft. Garland Heritage Association 29477 Hwy. 159 Fort Garland, CO 81133 Telephone: 719-379-3512

San Luis Valley Historical Society PO Box 982 Alamosa, CO 81101 Telephone: 719-589-9217

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


 * 1853-2006 at FamilySearch.org — index/images
 * 1859-1900 Colorado Marriages, 1859-1900 at Ancestry.com — index $
 * 1864-1995 at FamilySearch — index and images
 * 1900-1939 Colorado, Statewide Marriage Index, 1900-1939 at Ancestry.com — index $

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

Web Sites

 * Costilla County COGenWeb
 * Colorado State Archives
 * Costilla County, Colorado Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Costilla County, Colorado Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)