Arapahoe County, Colorado Genealogy

United StatesColorado Arapahoe County

Guide to Arapahoe County Colorado genealogy. Birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.

County Courthouse and Recorder
First formed in 1855 as Territorial County. See Kansas 1860 for census records. County Clerk has marriage and land records from 1902 burial records to 1941; County Court has divorce, probate and court records

Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder's Office 5334 S. Prince St. Littleton, CO 80120

Ph: 303-795-4520 TDD: 303-738-7890

Vital Records
For early vital records check Colorado State Archives, Historical Records Index

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.

To obtain a recent birth certificate for yourself or a near relative, contact the Tri-County Health Department by calling 303-220-9200 or visiting: 6162 S. Willow Drive #100 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Marriage
The Arapahoe 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 303-795-4520 and press 0 to speak to a clerk.


 * 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.

To obtain a recent death certificate for yourself or a near relative, contact the Tri-County Health Department by calling 303-220-9200 or visiting: 6162 S. Willow Drive #100 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Divorce
Arapahoe County is part of the Colorado 18th Judicial District. To contact them for divorce information prior to 1992 or after 2009, call 303-649-6355 or write to Arapahoe Combined Courts at 7325 S. Potomac Street, Centennial CO 80112. In this letter include the names of the parties at the time of the divorce, the approximate year of the divorce, and your phone number. Do not forget to include your phone number! There is a fee for a search ($5 in 2014), and a small fee for each page copied.

For the years 1992 to 2009, the divorce records are in the state archives https://www.colorado.gov/archives/arapahoedivorce. Follow the directions on that site to obtain the record.

County Seat
Littleton

Parent County
1855: Arapahoe County was created as an original county in Kansas Territory. 1 November 1861: Arapahoe County was created as an original county in Colorado Territory.

Neighboring Counties

 * Adams
 * Denver
 * Douglas
 * Elbert
 * Jefferson
 * Lincoln
 * Washington

Repositories
Arapahoe County Civil Docket Book 1867 - 1869 Arapahoe County Old Age Pension 1933 - 1936 Arapahoe County Hospital 1891 - 1899 Arapahoe County Poor Hospital 1895 - 1899 Arapahoe County Probate Cases 1902 - 1937 Arapahoe County Teachers Cards Dist 1 &amp; 6 1953 Arapahoe County Voter Registrations 1893 - 1905

Cemeteries

 * Evergreen Cemetery, Deer Trail, Arapahoe county, Colorado - transcription at town web site.
 * Littleton Cemetery, Littleton BillionGraves

Census
The Colorado Genealogical Society's 1885 Colorado State Census - Arapahoe County   PDF File with every name indexed.


 * 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.


 * 1933-1936. Colorado Archives An Index compiled from the official record of the applications granted by the Arapahoe County Commissioners during these years. Record may show the following:


 * Name of Applicant
 * Date and Amount of pension payment
 * Any adjustments to the pension
 * Person's age
 * Town nearest to where they lived
 * Other Actions done by the County

Local History and Biographies

 * Biographies of Prominent Families of Littleton, Arapahoe, Colorado.


 * Early History of Littleton, Arapahoe, Colorado.

Online Newspapers

 * 1888-1923 - Littleton Independent aka Littleton Gazette online at Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection - free.

Poor Records

 * 1895-1988 Colorado State Archives has put an Index to the Arapahoe County Poor Hospital Records for 1895-1899 on-line.

Probate Records
Online Records
 * 1875 – 1974 Colorado Wills and Probate Records 1875-1974 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1902-1959 Colorado State Archives web site has Arapahoe county Probate cases 1902-1959.

Voting Registers

 * 1893-1905 Arapahoe County Voter Registrations index (1893-1905) is one of many On-Line Indexes of the Colorado State Archives.

Family History Centers

 * Aurora Colorado Family History Center
 * Littleton Colorado Family History Center

Libraries and Museums

 * Arapahoe Library District 12855 E. Adam Aircraft Circle Englewood, CO 80112 Telephone: 303-798-2444 Arapahoe Library District


 * Englewood Public Library 1000 Englewood Parkway Englewood, CO 80110 Telehone: 303-762-2572 Englewood Public Library


 * Aurora Public Library 14949 E Alameda Parkway Aurora, CO 80012 Telephone: 303-739-6640 Aurora Public Library


 * Littleton/Bemis Public Library 6014 S. Datura St. Littleton, CO 80120 Telephone: 303-795-3961 Bemis Public Library

Societies

 * Columbine Genealogical and Historical Society P.O. Box 2074 Centennial, CO 80161-2074 http://www.columbinegenealogy.com/


 * Sheridan Historical Society 4101 S. Federal Blvd. Sheridan, CO 80110-5399 http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~coshs/index.html


 * Aurora Genealogical Society P.O. Box 31732 Aurora, CO 80041-0732 303-739-6886 http://www.freewebs.com/auroragenealogysociety/


 * Mount Rosa Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution http://mountrosa.coloradodar.org/

Places
Aurora Established &amp; incorporated in 1891 - Originally called Fletcher, name changed in 1907 Bennett Established 1870, Incorporated in 1930, mostly in Adams County Bow Mar Incorporated in 1958 Centennial (created mostly from Southglenn and Castlewood CDPs) Cherry Hills Village  Incorporated in 1945 Columbine Valley  Incorporated in 1959 Deer Trail  Incorporated in 1920 Englewood  Established and Incorporated in 1903 Foxfield  Incorporated in 1994 Glendale  Incorporated in 1952 Greenwood Village  Incorporated in 1950 Littleton  Established in 1872, Incorporated in 1890 Sheridan  Incorporated in 1891, Also called "Petersburg"

Unicorporated Places Aetna Estates Brick Center Byers Also called “Bijou” Castlewood (now part of Centennial) Cherry Creek Columbine Comanche Creek Dove Valley Holly Hills Inverness Peoria Southglenn (now part of Centennial) Strasburg Watkins

Websites

 * Arapahoe County COGenWeb]
 * Arapahoe County, Colorado Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Arapahoe County GenWeb
 * Arapahoe County GenWeb