Colorado Census

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Existing and lost censuses
For a list of available and missing Colorado censuses, click here.

Location
United States Censuses 1870-1920—Free Internet census indexes and images to the 1870, 1880 (index only), 1900, and 1920 (partial index only) can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search. These indexes show every name listed on the census, and except for 1880 and 1920, are also linked to census images including information about each person’s residence, age, birthplace, occupation, other family members, and neighbors.

Historical Background
1876--Colorado became a state. Prior to statehood, Colorado was part of divided among the territories of Kansas, Nebraska, Utah, and New Mexico.

Online Indexes
Use available online indexes to locate your Colorado ancestors. Online indexes are available at:

United States Census Indexes 1870-1920—Free Internet census indexes to the 1870, 1880, 1900, and 1920 (partial index only) can be viewed on the FamilySearch Record Search.

Ancestry: http://www.ancestry.com

Heritage Quest Online: http://www.heritagequestonline.com

Soundex (phonetic) Indexes
1880--partial Soundex index exists

1900--Soundex index available

1910--Use the Denver Street Index (Family History Library fiche 6331481) to help locate individuals in the census.

1920--Soundex index available

Special Indexes
Colorado Historical Society has a card index to the 1860 census. Separate indexes for the Nebraska and New Mexico portions are included in the 1860 indexes for those territories. An index to Arapahoe County, Kansas (where most of Colorado's 1860 population lived) is found in search 7A on the AIS census index on microfiche. An 1870 Colorado Territory census and index are also at the Family History Library.

Mortality Schedule
Both the 1860 and 1870 censuses include mortality schedules.


 * Mortality Schedules 1850-1880

State Censuses
1885--Colorado took a state census.

Family History Library Book 978.852 X2c

Territorial Censuses
An 1860 federal territorial census was taken in the four territories from which Colorado was created.

Northeastern Section-- enumerated with Nebraska 1860 census schedules designated "unorganized territory."

Central Eastern section-- enumerated with Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory.

Southeast section-- enumerated in parts of Taos and Mora Counties of New Mexico Territory.Since half of the state of Colorado, included in the Utah Territory was not settled, no census was taken in that area.

Web Sites
FamilySearch Record Search has free indexes and images for 1870, and 1900; but indexes only for 1880, and 1920.

Ancestry: http://www.ancestry.com

Heritage Quest Online: http://www.heritagequestonline.com

Census Online: http://www.census-online.com/links/CO/

Genealogy Today: http://dir.genealogytoday.com/usa/co/census.html

Access Genealogy: http://www.accessgenealogy.com/census/colorado.htm

Census Finder: http://www.censusfinder.com/colorado.htm

RootsWeb: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tx/colorado/census/1930/

RootsWeb: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tx/colorado/census/1870/ use with:

Colorado State Archives: http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/1870/index.htm

Colorado Historical Society: http://www.coloradohistory.org/chs_library/research_coll_files/rc_genealogy.htm

Mortality Schedules: http://mortalityschedules.com/