Rio Grande County, Colorado Genealogy

United States Colorado  Rio Grande County

Guide to Rio Grande 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 records from 1876 and land records from 1874; Clerk County Court has divorce, probate and court records.

County Seat
Del Norte

Parent County

 * Before 1861 this modern Colorado county was in New Mexico.


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


 * 1874  Rio Grande County was created 10 February 1874 from Conejos and Costilla Counties.

Neighboring Counties



 * Alamosa
 * Archuleta
 * Conejos
 * Mineral
 * Saguache

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 $

School Records
1874-1893 Colorado State Archives put has an Index of Rio Grande County teacher certificate applications for the years 1874-1893 on-line. Index gives only the name and the date.

Archives
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1874-1893 Rio Grande County Teacher Certificate Applications 1874-1921 Rio Grande Probate Cases 1917-1918 Rio Grande School Census #22

Family History Centers

 * Alamosa Colorado Family History Center
 * Manassa Colorado Family History Center

Libraries
Carnegie Public Library 120 Jefferson Street Monte Vista, CO 81144 Telephone 719-852-3931 Carnegie Public Library website

Societies
Rio Grande County Historical Society 580 Oak St. Del Norte 81132-2210 Website

Monte Vista Historical Society Museum 110 Jefferson St Monte Vista, CO 81144 Telephone: 719-849-0974

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.