Arapahoe County, Colorado Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named for The Arapaho Nation. The County is located in the north central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Arapahoe County Courthouse 5334 S Prince Street Littleton, CO 80166-0001 Phone: 303-795-4200 Arapahoe County Website Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder's Office 5334 S. Prince St. Littleton, CO 80120 Ph: 303-795-4520 TDD: 303-738-7890 County Clerk has marriage and land records from 1902 burial records to 1941; County Court has divorce, probate and court records

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

State and Territory Census Records

 * 1860 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; Colorado was included in the 1860 Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Utah Territories Censuses - How to Use this Collection
 * 1870 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; Colorado Territory Census - How to Use this Collection
 * 1885 - at FamilySearch - Index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 1885 - Colorado State Census, 1885 at Ancestry - ($), Index and images

The Colorado Genealogical Society's 1885 Colorado State Census - Arapahoe County   PDF File with every name indexed.

Federal Census Records
The 1880 Census was the first Federal Census for Colorado after it became a state in 1876. For links to Federal Census indexes, see Colorado Census.


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

Church Records
Online Church Records


 * 1692-1942 - at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

Presbyterian Church


 * 1743-1970 - U.S., Presbyterian Records, 1743-1970 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Dates vary for each county

List of Churches and Church Parishes


 * FamilySearch Places

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.


 * 1933-1936. Colorado Archives An Index compiled from the official record of the applications granted by the Arapahoe County Commissioners during these years. Record may show the following:
 * Name of Applicant
 * Date and Amount of pension payment
 * Any adjustments to the pension
 * Person's age
 * Town nearest to where they lived
 * Other Actions done by the County

Land and Property Records
Online Land Records


 * 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
 * 1863-1908 - U.S. Homestead Records 1863-1908 at Ancestry.com - ($), index and images
 * 1862-1908 - Denver Land Office Records, 1862-1908 at Ancestry.com - ($), index only
 * 1979 - Present Arapahoe County Vital Records at Arapahoe County — index and some images (choose category "Deed" or "Deed of Trust")

For more information see Colorado Land and Property

Local Histories

 * Biographies of Prominent Families of Littleton, Arapahoe, Colorado.
 * Early History of Littleton, Arapahoe, Colorado.

Online County Histories


 * History of the City of Denver, Arapahoe County and Colorado. 1977. Evansville, Indiana : Unigraphic. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive;.

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
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Online Collections
These collections are unique to Colorado. You will find nationwide databases for military records on U.S. Military Online Genealogy Records and Colorado Military Records.

All Veterans


 * Colorado State Archives Veterans Grave Registration Index at the Colorado State Archives website - Index only; In the Record Type field, select, Military - Grave

Civil War


 * Colorado Civil War Casualties Index at the Colorado State Archives website - Index only; In the Record Type field, select, Civil War Casualty
 * 1861-1865 - Colorado State Archives Volunteers Transcript of Record Index (1861-1865) at the Colorado State Archives website - Index only; In the Record Type field, select, Transcript of Record

Spanish-American War (1898)


 * 1898 - Colorado Volunteers in the Spanish American War, 1898 - at the Colorado State Archives website - Index only; In the Record Type field, select, Span-Am War Soldiers

World War I


 * 1916-1919 - Colorado State Archives Denver War Risk Insurance Applicants, 1916-1919 - at the Colorado State Archives website - Index only; In the Record Type field, select, War Risk Insurance
 * 1917-1922 - Colorado State Archives World War I Civilian Service Questionnaires, 1917-1922 - at the Colorado State Archives website - Index only; In the Record Type field, select, WWI Questionnaire
 * 1917-1918 - Colorado Soldiers in WWI, 1917-1918 at Ancestry.com — ($), index

World War II


 * 1940-1945 - at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

Vietnam War


 * 1966 & 1968 - Colorado State Archives Vietnam War Casualties - June-December 1966 & January-December 1968 - at the Colorado State Archives website - Index only; In the Record Type field, select, Vietnam Deaths

For further information see Colorado Military Records.

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Records


 * 1868-1990 - Colorado, State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1868-1990 at Ancestry ($); Index and images
 * 1876-1990 - at FamilySearch — index and images; District Court records - How to Use this Collection

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


 * 1888-1923 - Littleton Independent aka Littleton Gazette online at Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection - free.

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


 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

Other Records
''Pension Records' Hospital Records Voting Registers
 * 1933-1936 Arapahoe County Old Age Pension 1933-1936 at Colorado State Archives - index, select record type for search
 * 1891-1899 Arapahoe County Hospital 1891-1899 at Colorado State Archives - index, select record type for search
 * 1895-1899 Arapahoe County Poor Hospital 1895-1899 at Colorado State Archives - index, select record type for search


 * 1893-1905 Arapahoe County Voter Registrations 1893-1905 at Colorado State Archives - index, select record type for search
 * Denver, Colorado Territory Wagon Sales & Repair Ledger 1867-1870: An Annotated Index
 * Arapahoe County, Colorado Territory Criminal Court Index, 1862-1879: An Annotated Index
 * Denver, Colorado Police Force Record, 1879-1903: An Annotated Index

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1867-1869 Arapahoe County Civil Docket Book at  Colorado State Archives - index, select record type for search
 * 1873-1986 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * 1875–1974 Colorado Wills and Probate Records 1875-1974 at Ancestry.com - index and images $
 * 1876-1903 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images.
 * 1902-1959 Arapahoe County Civil Docket Book 1867-1869 at Colorado State Archives - index, select record type for search
 * 1902-1937 Arapahoe County Probate Cases 1902-1937 at Colorado State Archives - index, select record type for search

School Records

 * 1953 Arapahoe County Teachers Cards Dist 1 & 6 1953 at Colorado State Archives - index, select record type for search

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to use this collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.

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.

To obtain a recent birth certificate for yourself or a near relative, contact the Tri-County Health Department by calling 303-220-9200 or visiting: 6162 S. Willow Drive #100 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Marriage
The Arapahoe County Recorder's office will search their indexes if you call or come in to the office. If a record is found, a copy can be purchased in person or by mail. Call 303-795-4520 and press 0 to speak to a clerk.


 * 1784-2007 - Colorado, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1809-2011 - Western States Marriage Index, 1809-2011 - Index, incomplete, list of counties included
 * 1853-2006 - at FamilySearch.org - Index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 1858-1939 Colorado Marriages 1858-1939 at Denver Public Library - index
 * 1859-1900 - Colorado Marriages, 1859-1900 at Ancestry.com - ($); Index only
 * 1862-2006 - Colorado, County Marriages and State Indexes, 1862-2006 at Ancestry ($), Index and images
 * 1864-1995 - at FamilySearch - Index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 1900-1939 - Colorado, Statewide Marriage Index, 1900-1939 at Ancestry.com - ($); Browseable images of original index
 * 1979 - Present Arapahoe County Vital Records at Arapahoe County — index and images (choose category "Marriage License")
 * 1975 - 2004 Colorado, Marriages, 1975 - 2004 at MyHeritage - index and images ($)

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

To obtain a recent death certificate for yourself or a near relative, contact the Tri-County Health Department by calling 303-220-9200 or visiting: 6162 S. Willow Drive #100 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Divorce
Arapahoe County is part of the Colorado 18th Judicial District. To contact them for divorce information prior to 1992 or after 2009, call 303-649-6355 or write to Arapahoe Combined Courts at 7325 S. Potomac Street, Centennial CO 80112. In this letter include the names of the parties at the time of the divorce, the approximate year of the divorce, and your phone number. Do not forget to include your phone number! There is a fee for a search ($5 in 2014), and a small fee for each page copied.

Online Records


 * 1851-1985 Colorado, Divorce Index, 1851-1985 at Ancestry - ($); Index only
 * 1861-1941 Denver Public Library Colorado Divorce Index 1861-1941 at Denver Public Library - index
 * 1878 - 2004 Colorado, Divorces, 1878 - 2004 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * 1900-1939 - at FamilySearch - Browseable images of original index - How to Use this Collection

For the years 1992 to 2009, the divorce records are in the state archives https://www.colorado.gov/archives/arapahoedivorce. Follow the directions on that site to obtain the record.

Research Facilities
Arapahoe County Civil Docket Book 1867 - 1869 Arapahoe County Old Age Pension 1933 - 1936 Arapahoe County Hospital 1891 - 1899 Arapahoe County Poor Hospital 1895 - 1899 Arapahoe County Probate Cases 1902 - 1937 Arapahoe County Teachers Cards Dist 1 &amp; 6 1953 Arapahoe County Voter Registrations 1893 - 1905

Family History Centers

 * Aurora Colorado Family History Center
 * Columbine Colorado Family History Center (Littleton)
 * Littleton Colorado Family History Center (Centennial)

Libraries
Arapahoe Library District 12855 E. Adam Aircraft Circle Englewood, CO 80112 Telephone: 303-798-2444 Website Englewood Public Library 1000 Englewood Parkway Englewood, CO 80110 Telehone: 303-762-2572 Website Aurora Public Library 14949 E Alameda Parkway Aurora, CO 80012 Telephone: 303-739-6640 Website Littleton/Bemis Public Library 6014 S. Datura St. Littleton, CO 80120 Telephone: 303-795-3961 Website

Societies
Columbine Genealogical and Historical Society PO Box 2074 Centennial, CO 80161-2074 Website

Sheridan Historical Society 4101 S. Federal Blvd. Sheridan, CO 80110-5399 Website

Aurora Genealogical Society PO Box 31732 Aurora, CO 80041-0732 Telephone Number: 303-739-6886 E-mail:[mailto:aurgs1981@yahoo.com aurgs1981@yahoo.com] Website

Mount Rosa Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Website

Websites

 * Arapahoe County COGenWeb]
 * - 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
 * Arapahoe County, Colorado Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Arapahoe County GenWeb