Weld County, Colorado Genealogy

Guide to Weld 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 Lewis Ledyard Weld, a lawyer and territorial secretary. He died while serving in the Union Army during the Civil War. The County has Greeley as its seat and the County was created November 1, 1861. The County is located in the north central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Weld County Courthouse 1402 17th Street Greeley, CO 80631-1123 Phone: 970.353.3840 Weld County Website Weld County Clerk and Recorder  1402 North 17th Avenue Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: (970) 353-3840 Weld Co. Clerk and Recorder Website Department of Public Health and Environment 1555 North 17th Avenue Greeley, CO 80631 Phone: 970 304-6410 Website

County Clerk has marriage and land records; Clerk District Court has divorce, probate and court records Weld County Birth and Death Information at Department of Public Heath and Environment.

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:

‡ means a populated place has portions in an adjacent county or counties according to Wikipedia.org.

Cemeteries
The following web site may be of help:
 * Cemetery Project Centennial State Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution

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
 * 1870 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; Colorado Territory Census
 * 1885 - Colorado State Census, 1885 at FamilySearch - Index and images
 * 1885 - Colorado State Census, 1885 at Ancestry - ($), Index and images

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

Lutheran Church 1909-1913 - U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Membership Records, 1856-1970 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Kuner Christian Reformed Church in Kuner, 1909-1913
 * 1927-1976 - U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Our Savior in Greeley, 1927-1976

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.

Directories
Online Directories
 * 1902 and 1911 For 1902 medical directories and 1911 business directories click on UsGenWeb Weld County Directories.
 * 1906-1946 - U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 at Ancestry - ($), Index and images, Greeley City Directories, various dates
 * Various dates - Weld County Directories from the Weld County Genealogical Society

African Americans
There was a small colony between Greeley and Fort Morgan. To learn more, see Dearfield, a Weld County Genealogical Society project.

1909-1946 The Colorado State Archives has school records available in this online database Archives Search. Dearfield and surrounding area School Census 1909 - 1946

Genealogies
For some Weld County names and sources, see Weld County Master Index courtesy of the Weld County Genealogical Society.

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
 * 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

Local Histories
Online County Histories
 * Experiments in Colorado Colonization, 1869-1872. c1926. Edited by James Field Willard and Colin B. Goodykoontz. Boulder, Colorado : University of Colorado. Online at: Hathitrust;.
 * The Last Roundup; a History of the Early Cattle Roundups in Northern Weld County, Colorado. c1991. By Wilbur P. Ball. Eaton, Colorado : W.P. Ball. Online at: ;.
 * Under Ten Flags : a History of Weld County, Colorado. 1938. By Mary L. Geffs. Greeley, Colorado : n.p. Online at: ;.

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

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

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 - 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

List of Weld County Newspapers

Other Records
Poor Records

1902-1913 Colorado State Archives has put an Index to the Weld County Poor Records for 1902-1913 on-line.

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

Vital Records
See Colorado Vital Records.

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.

For in-state births from 1900 to present, certificates can be obtained from Weld County Department of Public Health office. For birth certificates before 1900 contact the County where the birth occurred or the State Health Department at (303) 756-4464.

If you are obtaining a birth certificate for a sibling, parent, grandparent, etc., you will need to show chain of relationship. Examples are: A sibling could provide their birth certificate to show same parents. If you are trying to get a grandparent's birth certificate you will need to show your birth certificate, plus your parent's birth certificate to show chain of relationship. If you have questions on this please call our office at 970 304-6410.

Marriage
The Weld 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 970 353-3840.

Online Records
 * 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
 * 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.

To obtain a recent death certificate, you must show a direct and tangible interest to the deceased. Relatives include wife, mother, father, child (if they are listed on the death certificate). If they are not listed on the death certificate they must show proof of relationship. This would include maternal grandparents, paternal grandparents, siblings if they can prove chain of relationship. If you have questions on this please call the Weld County Department of Public Health office at 970 304-6410.

Divorce
Weld County divorces take place in Colorado’s 19th Judicial District. To obtain copies of divorce records there are fees for searching and for copies.

Weld County Combined Courts 970 475-2400.

Online Records
 * 1851-1985 Colorado, Divorce Index, 1851-1985 at Ancestry - ($); Index only
 * 1900-1939 - at FamilySearch - Browseable images of original index

Archives
(1876-1981) Weld County Probate Cases 1902-1913 Weld County Poor Record 1931 Weld County Old Age Pensions Weld County WW1 Vets

Family History Centers

 * Greeley Colorado Family History Center
 * Loveland Colorado Family History Center

Libraries

 * Dacono Public Library 512 Cherry Street Dacono, CO 80514 Telephone: 303-833-2317 Website
 * Windsor-Severance Library - Clearview Library District 720 Third Street Windsor, CO 80550 Telephone: 970-686-5603 Website
 * High Plains Library District 1939 61st Avenue Greeley, CO 80634 Telephone: 970-506-8550 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
 * Weld County, Colorado Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Weld County Genealogical Society
 * Weld County Master Index