Custer County, Colorado Genealogy

United States Colorado  Custer County

Guide to Custer 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 burial records

County Seat
Westcliffe

Parent County

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


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


 * 1877 Custer County was created 9 March 1877 from Fremont County.

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

Neighboring Counties

 * Fremont
 * Huerfano
 * Pueblo
 * Saguache

Census

 * 1860-1940 Colorado Census Records from 1860 to 1940 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.

Probate Records
Online Records
 * 1875–1974 Colorado Wills and Probate Records 1875-1974 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1887-1966 Colorado State Archives has put an Index to the Custer County Will Records for the years 1887-1966 on-line.

School Records
1891-1896 Colorado State Archives has put an Index to the Pupil Register for District #3 for the years 1891-1896 on-line. The index gives the name of the pupil, date, and birth place.

Archives
1879-1989 Custer County Probates 1880-1896 Custer County Teachers Registers of Students 1887-1966 Custer County Wills 1907-1946 Custer County Inheritance Tax

Family History Centers

 * West Cliffe Colorado Family History Center (Silvercliff)

Libraries

 * West Custer County Library District 209 Main Street Westcliffe, CO 81252 Phone: (719) 783-9138 West Custer County Library Dist.
 * Wetmore Community Library 95 County Road 393 Wetmore, CO 81253 Phone: (719) 784-6669 Westmore Community Library

Taxation
1907-1946 Colorado State Archives has put the Custer County Inheritance Tax Records Index for the years 1907-1946 on-line.

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.

Websites

 * Custer County COGenWeb
 * Custer County, Colorado Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Custer County, Colorado Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)