Ouray County, Colorado Genealogy

United StatesColorado Ouray County

Guide to Ouray 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 1881 County Treasurer has birth records from 1877 and death records from 1894; Court Clerk has divorce, probate and Court records

County Seat
Ouray

Parent County

 * 18 January 1877 - Ouray county (original, renamed) was created from San Juan County. This is not quite the same county as the present day county of Ouray.
 * 19 Feb 1881 - OURAY county lost land to creation of DOLORES county.
 * 27 Feb 1883 - OURAY county lost land to creation of UNCOMPAHGRE County (extinct); OURAY County regained the lost portion three days later.
 * 2 Mar 1883 - OURAY County was renamed SAN MIGUEL County and UNCOMPAHGRE County (extinct) was renamed OURAY County. OURAY County in effect regained the area it lost three days earlier to the creation of UNCOMPAHGRE County and lost all the territory that became SAN MIGUEL County.

Neighboring Counties



 * Gunnison, Colorado
 * Hinsdale, Colorado
 * Montrose, Colorado
 * San Juan, Colorado
 * San Miguel, Colorado

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

Census

 * 1885 at FamilySearch.org — index/images

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.

Maps
Family Maps of (land patent maps) at HistoryGeo.com ($). Free surname search.

Probate Records
Online Records
 * 1875–1974 Colorado Wills and Probate Records 1875-1974 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1878-1919 Colorado State Archives has put the Ouray County Probate Index for the years 1878-1919 online.

Archives
Ouray County Births 1891 - 1902 Ouray County Probate Cases 1878 - 1919

Family History Centers

 * Silverton Colorado Family History Center
 * Montrose Colorado Family History Center

Libraries

 * Ouray Library District 320 6th Ave Ouray, CO 81427 Telephone 970-325-4616 Website http://ouray.ipac.dynixasp.com/#focus
 * Ridgway Library District 300 Charles Ridgway, CO 81432 Telephone 970-626-5252 Website http://www.youseemore.com/RIDGWAYPL/DEFAULT.ASP

Societies
Ouray County Historical Society P. O. Box 151 Ouray, CO 81427 Telephone 970-325-4576 Website http://www.ouraycountyhistoricalsociety.org/

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

 * 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

 * Ouray County, Colorado Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Ouray County, Colorado Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)