La Plata County, Colorado Genealogy

United StatesColorado La Plata County

Guide to La Plata 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 records from 1878 and land records from 1876; Clerk District Court has divorce and probate records; County Court has court records; San Juan Basin Health Department has birth, death and burial records

County Seat
Durango

Parent County
1874--La Plata County was created 10 February 1874 from Conejos and Lake Counties.

Neighboring Counties

 * Archuleta
 * Dolores
 * Hinsdale
 * Montezuma
 * San Juan
 * San Juan County, New Mexico

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

Cemeteries

 * Allison Tiffany
 * Animas
 * Bayfield
 * Crestview Memorial Garden
 * Elco
 * Florida
 * Greenmount
 * Hay Gulch
 * Hermosa
 * Hesperus
 * Ignacio East
 * Ignacio West
 * Kline
 * La Boca
 * La Posta
 * Marvel
 * Ouray Memorial
 * Oxford
 * Redmesa
 * Shreck
 * Thompson
 * Tiffany

Census

 * 1860-1940 Colorado Census Records from 1860 to 1940 at FamilySearch.org — index/images

Church Records
LDS Ward and Branch Records


 * Allison
 * Durango
 * Kline
 * Pine River
 * Redmesa

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.

1935-1942 An Index of the WPA Employment Case Files between 1935 and 1942 was compiled from the official record of the Colorado Department of Public Welfare, La Plata County Office. The information contained in the record generally shows:


 * Name of the applicant
 * Date of the filing
 * Case number
 * Name(s) and location of next of kin
 * Date applicant accepted for employment
 * Military service dates
 * General work experience record and qualifications

Probate Records
Online Records
 * 1875–1974 Colorado Wills and Probate Records 1875-1974 at Ancestry.com — index and images $

Archives
1935-1942 La Plata County WPA Enrollments

Family History Centers

 * Durango Colorado Family History Center
 * Redmesa Colorado Family History Center

Libraries

 * Pine River Public Library District/Bayfield 395 Center Drive Bayfield, CO 81122 Phone: (970) 884-2222 Pine River Library website


 * Durango Public Library 1188 E Second Ave Durango, CO 81301 Phone: (970) 375-3380 Durango Public Library website


 * Ignacio Library District 470 Goddard Ave Ignacio, CO 81137 Phone: (970) 563-9287 Ignacio Community Library website

Societies
La Plata County Historical Society 3065 W 2nd Ave. Durango 81301-4209

La Plata County Historical Society & The Animas Museum PO Box 3384 3065 West 2nd Ave. Durango, CO 81301-4209 Telephone: 970-259-2402 E-mail:[mailto:animasmuseum@frontier.net animasmuseum@frontier.net] Website

Four Corners Genealogy Society PO Box 2636 Durango CO 81302

Genealogical Research Society Of Durango 2720 Delwood Durango CO 81301

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.

Populated Places
Cities and Towns (* incorporated)

• Allison

• Bayfield * • Bondad • Breen • Carbon • Junction • Cascade • Columbus • Durango* (county seat) • Falfa • Florida • Gem-Village • Grandview • Hermosa [2]• Hesperus • Ignacio* [2]• Kline • La Boca • La Plata • La Posta • Loma Linda • Marvel • Mayday • Oxford • Pinon Acres • Redmesa • Rockwood • Tacoma • Tiffany • Trimble • Vallecito

Web Sites



 * La Plata County, Colorado Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)