Bent County, Colorado Genealogy

United States Colorado  Bent County

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

County Courthouse
County Clerk Recorder has marriage and land records from 1888 and military discharge records; Nursing Service has birth and death records; Combined Court has divorce, probate and records

County Seat
Las Animas

Parent County

 * Before 1861 the southwestern quarter of this modern Colorado county was in New Mexico.


 * 9 January 1852 it was created part of Taos County in New Mexico Territory.
 * 1 February 1860 it became part of Mora County.
 * 28 February 1861 it was transferred to Colorado (1 Nov 1861 Huerfano County).
 * Look for pre-1861 records in New Mexico. For further explanation see Taos County.


 * 11 February 1870: Bent County was created from Pueblo and Greenwood Counties. Greenwood County was abolished 1874.

Neighboring Counties



 * Baca
 * Kiowa
 * Las Animas
 * Otero
 * Prowers

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.

Newspapers
Online Newspapers


 * 1873-1875 - Las Animas Leader online at Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection - free.
 * 1887 - Water Valley Clarion online at Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection - free.
 * 1888-1889 - Stuart Chronicle online at Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection - free.


 * Bent County Democrat 516 Carson Avenue Las Animas, CO 81054

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

Archives
Bent County Divorce 1907 - 1921

Family History Centers

 * La Junta Colorado Family History Center

Libraries

 * Las Animas-Bent County Library District 306 5th Street Las Animas, CO 81054 Phone: (719) 456-0111

Societies

 * Bent County Historical Society 305 St. Vrain Avenue Las Animas, CO 81054 Telephone: (719) 456-2005
 * Pioneer Historical Society of Bent County PO Box 68 Las Animas, Colorado 81054 Phone: 719-456-6066

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

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

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

Divorce
The Colorado State Archives has put a name only Index to the Bent County Divorce Records for the period 1907 to 1919 on-line.

Websites

 * Bent County CO Trails to the Past
 * Linkpendium
 * Bent County COGenWeb
 * USGenWeb Archives
 * USGenWeb Archives backup site