San Juan County, Colorado Genealogy

United States Colorado  San Juan County

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

County Courthouse
County Treasurer has birth records from 1880 and death records from 1901; County Clerk has marriage records from 1880, military records from 1941 and land records; Clerk District court has divorce, probate and court records.

County Seat
Silverton

Parent County

 * Before 1861 the extreme east-central edge of this modern Colorado county on the east side of the was in New Mexico.


 * 9 January 1852 it was created part of Taos County in New Mexico Territory.
 * 28 February 1861 it was transferred to Colorado (1 Nov 1861 Guadalupe County).
 * 7 November 1861 the name was changed from Guadalupe County to Conejos County.
 * Look for pre-1861 records in New Mexico. For further explanation see Taos County.


 * 1876  San Juan County was created 31 January 1876 from La Plata County.

Neighboring Counties



 * Dolores
 * Hinsdale
 * La Plata
 * Montezuma
 * Ouray
 * San Miguel

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

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 $

Family History Centers

 * Silverton Colorado Family History Center

Libraries
Silverton Public Library 1117 Reese Silverton, CO 81433 Telephone: 970-387-5770 Website: Silverton Public Library

Societies
San Juan County Historical Society 1569 Greene Street Silverton, CO 81433 Telephone: 970-387-5838 Website

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.