Colorado State Census, 1885 - FamilySearch Historical Records

What Is in This Collection?
The Colorado State Census, 1885 collection consists of a name index for the population schedules listing the inhabitants of the state of Colorado and images for the population, mortality, manufactures and agriculture schedules. The 1885 census was taken at the request of the United States Federal Government and with their assistance. The records are handwritten on pre-printed pages with rows and columns. 40 Colorado counties had been formed in 1885, all but Fremont and Garfield are represented in this collection.

The collection was taken from National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm number M158, Schedules of the Colorado State Census of 1885, which is part of Record Group 29 Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007. The microfilm pamphlet is available for download from the National Archives Microfilm Resources for Research: A Comprehensive Catalog.

General Information about the 1885 Census
In March of 1879, Congress passed an act authorizing the tenth and following censuses. In addition to the regular censuses taken every ten years, this act also made authorized a census to be taken in the middle of the decade. On 1 June 1885, a special federal census of Colorado was taken following the guidelines outlined in the March 1879 census act. The 1885 census included four general schedules: population, agriculture, manufactures, and mortality. These schedules are organized alphabetically by county and then by the number assigned to each type of schedule. Within each type of schedule, the records are arranged by enumeration district. The 1885 population schedule resembles a typical census schedule and can provide valuable information that can be used to fill the gap caused by the loss of the 1890 federal census in the 1921 Department of Commerce fire.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The Population schedule includes the following information:
 * Name of every member of the household
 * Relationship to the head of household
 * Gender
 * Age
 * If born within the last year age in months
 * Race
 * Single, married, widowed, or divorced
 * Profession or occupation
 * Number of months unemployed in the previous year
 * If disabled and nature of the disability
 * If attended school within the past year
 * Whether can read, write, or speak English
 * Birthplace
 * Father's birthplace
 * Mother's birthplace

The Agriculture schedule includes:
 * Name
 * Tenure
 * Acreage
 * Value
 * Production

The Manufacture schedule includes:
 * Name
 * Nature of the business
 * Capital invested
 * Employee and wage information
 * Value of materials and product

The Mortality schedule includes:
 * Name of the deceased
 * Gender, race, and marital status
 * Birthplace
 * Month and cause of death
 * Length of time as a Colorado resident

Sample Image
Click on the image for a larger view.

Coverage Map
Below is a map of the county boundaries in Colorado in 1885. No data for the 1885 Colorado Census is available for the counties which are shaded red.

How Do I Search the Collection?
You can search the index or view the images or both. Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor.
 * The age of your ancestor.
 * The names of other members in the household.

Search the Index
View images in this collection by visiting the 


 * 1) Select County
 * 2) Select Town or Enumeration District Number
 * 3) Select Schedule to view the images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images.

For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line article FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.

What Do I Do Next?

 * Whenever possible, view the original records to verify the information and to find additional information that might not be reported. These pieces of information can lead you to additional records and family members.
 * In case you need to find this record again later, copy the citation below in the Citing This Collection section. It's always a good idea to keep your citation on a Research Log. This is an important tool to help keep track of what you have and have not found.  Family search wiki has a  Example Research Log that you can download and use.
 * Print or download a copy of the record, or extract the genealogical information needed.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the age listed to determine an approximate birth date to find other records such as birth, christening, marriage, death, land and probate records.
 * Do the same for additional family members.
 * Find more generations of the family.
 * Church Records often were kept years before government records were required and are a good source for finding ancestors before 1900.

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?

 * Try viewing the original record to see if there were errors in the transcription of the name, age, residence, etc. Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name.
 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relations that can be verified by records.
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality in an area search.
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images.
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well.
 * Search the indexes and records of Colorado, United States Genealogy.
 * Search in the Colorado Archives and Libraries.

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Collection Citation:

Record Citation (or citation for the index entry): Image Citation

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