Gilpin County, Colorado Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named after after Colonel William Gilpin, the first Governor of the Territory of Colorado. The County has Central City as its seat and the County was created November 1, 1861. The County is located in the northwest area of the state.

County Courthouse
Gilpin County Courthouse 203 Eureka Street PO Box 366 Central City, CO 80427-0366 Phone: 303.582.5321 Gilpin County Website Gilpin and Jefferson County Vital Records 800 Jefferson County Parkway Golden, CO 80419 303-271-6450 Fax 303-271-6451 Website County Clerk has marriage records from 1881 and land records from 1861; Clerk District Court had divorce and probate records

Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:

The following are places and other links to locations in Gilpin County, Colorado: 
 * Black Hawk
 * Central City
 * Nevadaville
 * Rollinsville
 * Pinecliff

State and Territory Census Records

 * 1860 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; Colorado was included in the 1860 Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Utah Territories Censuses
 * 1870 - at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; Colorado Territory Census
 * 1885 - Colorado State Census, 1885 at FamilySearch - Index and images
 * 1885 - Colorado State Census, 1885 at Ancestry - ($), Index and images

Federal Census Records
The 1880 Census was the first Federal Census for Colorado after it became a state in 1876. For links to Federal Census indexes, see Colorado Census.
 * 1860-1940 Colorado Census Records from 1860 to 1940 at FamilySearch.org — index/images

Church Records
Online Church Records Presbyterian Church
 * 1743-1970 - U.S., Presbyterian Records, 1743-1970 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Dates vary for each county

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.

1862-1878 Chancery Court Cases documenting legal decisions rendered by the territorial and district court of Gilpin County for the years 1862 - 1878. Chancery cases are those types of cases where justice was applied in circumstances not specifically covered by law during these years. Names appearing on this index most likely include some of the early gold seekers that came west in search of fortune and fame.

Genealogies
Genealogy Trails - Gilpin County Genealogy and History website

Land and Property Records
Online Land Records

For more information see Colorado Land and Property
 * Colorado DPA Land Records - Index only; Choose Record Type, and search either "Land Patents" or "Land Records."
 * Land Patent Search - index to federal patents and homesteads on the Bureau of Land Management website, some images available
 * 1796-1907 - U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 at Ancestry - index, info taken from Bureau of Land Management website
 * 1863-1908 - U.S. Homestead Records 1863-1908 at Ancestry.com - ($), index and images
 * 1862-1908 - Denver Land Office Records, 1862-1908 at Ancestry.com - ($), index only

Local Histories
Online County Histories


 * Early Records of Gilpin County, Colorado, 1859-1861. c1920. Edited by Thomas Maitland Marshall. Boulder : University Of Colorado. Online at:, Internet Archive, Google Books, Ancestry ($);.
 * History of Clear Creek and Boulder Valley, Colorado. 1880. By Sanford Charles Gladden.  Chicago, Illinois : O.L. Baskin. Online at:, Hathitrust, Internet Archive;.

Maps and Gazetteers

 * Interactive Formation Boundary Map of Colorado - shows boundary changes for Colorado Counties
 * Colorado Historical Boundary Changes - list of all boundary changes by county provided by Newberry Library

Online Collections
These collections are unique to Colorado. You will find nationwide databases for military records on U.S. Military Online Genealogy Records and Colorado Military Records.

All Veterans
 * Colorado State Archives Veterans Grave Registration Index at the Colorado State Archives website - Index only; In the Record Type field, select, Military - Grave

Civil War
 * Colorado Civil War Casualties Index at the Colorado State Archives website - Index only; In the Record Type field, select, Civil War Casualty
 * 1861-1865 - Colorado State Archives Volunteers Transcript of Record Index (1861-1865) at the Colorado State Archives website - Index only; In the Record Type field, select, Transcript of Record

Spanish-American War (1898)
 * 1898 - Colorado Volunteers in the Spanish American War, 1898 - at the Colorado State Archives website - Index only; In the Record Type field, select, Span-Am War Soldiers

World War I
 * 1916-1919 - Colorado State Archives Denver War Risk Insurance Applicants, 1916-1919 - at the Colorado State Archives website - Index only; In the Record Type field, select, War Risk Insurance
 * 1917-1922 - Colorado State Archives World War I Civilian Service Questionnaires, 1917-1922 - at the Colorado State Archives website - Index only; In the Record Type field, select, WWI Questionnaire
 * 1917-1918 - Colorado Soldiers in WWI, 1917-1918 at Ancestry.com — ($), index

Vietnam War
 * 1966 & 1968 - Colorado State Archives Vietnam War Casualties - June-December 1966 & January-December 1968 - at the Colorado State Archives website - Index only; In the Record Type field, select, Vietnam Deaths

For further information see Colorado Military Records.

Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Records
 * 1868-1990 - Colorado, State and Federal Naturalization Records, 1868-1990 at Ancestry ($); Index and images
 * 1876-1990 - at FamilySearch - Browseable images only; District Court records

Newspapers
Colorado Newspapers Online
 * Colorado Online Historical Newspapers online - in the Colorado Historic Newspaper Collection by the Colorado State Library
 * Colorado Newspapers at Ancestry.com - ($)
 * GenealogyBank - ($), contains images of Colorado newspapers
 * Newspaper Archive - ($), contains images of Colorado newspapers
 * Chronicling America - contains images of some Colorado newspapers; searching tips
 * Elephind - Free; search engine that retrieves newspaper images from other free newspaper websites

Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection has searchable digital copies of newspapers from all over the state of Colorado. The list of newspapers available for Gilpin county includes the Daily Mining Journal (Nov 1863 - Dec 1866) from Black Hawk, and the Daily Register Call (March 1868 - Feb 1879) and Evening Call (Feb 1878 - June 1878) from Central City. Newspapers that are available on this site date from 1859-1923 and are searchable.

Colorado Newspaper Catalogs
 * U.S. Newspaper Directory, 1690-Present on Chronicling America - contains a list of all known newspapers and the dates they cover; once you locate a newspaper name, contact the local library to see if they have copies of the newspaper

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

Tax Records
Colorado State Archives has put the Gilpin County Inheritance Tax Records Index for the years 1910-1922 on-line.

Vital Records
'''Colorado Vital Records

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.

For in-state births from 1903 to present, certificates can be obtained from Jefferson County Vital Statistics office. For birth certificates before 1903 contact the county where the birth occurred or the State Health Department at (303) 756-4464.

If you are obtaining a birth certificate for a sibling, parent, grandparent, etc., you will need to show chain of relationship. Examples are: A sibling could provide their birth certificate to show same parents. If you are trying to get a grandparent's birth certificate you will need to show your birth certificate, plus your parent's birth certificate to show chain of relationship. If you have questions on this please call our office at 303-271-6450.

Marriage
The Gilpin 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 303 582-5321.

Online Records
 * 1784-2007 - Colorado, United States Marriages at FindMyPast — index $
 * 1809-2011 - Western States Marriage Index, 1809-2011 - Index, incomplete, list of counties included
 * 1853-2006 - at FamilySearch.org - Index and images
 * 1862-2006 - Colorado, County Marriages and State Indexes, 1862-2006 at Ancestry ($), Index and images
 * 1864-1995 - at FamilySearch - Index and images
 * 1900-1939 - Colorado, Statewide Marriage Index, 1900-1939 at Ancestry.com - ($); Browseable images of original index

Death
Death records may become public records when 75 years have elapsed after the date of death.

Certificates can be obtained from the Jefferson County Vital Statistics office.To obtain a recent death certificate, you must show a direct and tangible interest to the deceased. Relatives include wife, mother, father, child (if they are listed on the death certificate). If they are not listed on the death certificate they must show proof of relationship. This would include maternal grandparents, paternal grandparents, siblings if they can prove chain of relationship. If you have questions on this please call our office at 303-271-6450.

Divorce
All divorces and divorce records are handled by the Colorado Judicial District 1, County Combined Courts. Please contact their office directly at 303-271-6145 or Fax: 303-271-6188.

Jefferson County Combined Courts 100 Jefferson County Parkway Golden CO 80401

Online Records
 * 1851-1985 Colorado, Divorce Index, 1851-1985 at Ancestry - ($); Index only
 * 1900-1939 - at FamilySearch - Browseable images of original index

Archives
1861-1882 Gilpin County District Court Filings 1862-1878 Gilpin County Chancery Cases 1864-1944 Gilpin County Marriages 1867-1876 Gilpin County Bankruptcy Docket 1874-1892 Gilpin County Probate Court Civil Case Filings 1910-1922 Gilpin County Inheritance Tax

Family History Centers

 * Golden Colorado Family History Center
 * Arvada Colorado Family History Center
 * Boulder Colorado Family History Center

Libraries
Gilpin County Library District 15131 Highway 119 Golden, CO 80403 Phone: (303) 582-5777 Gilpin Co. Public Library Website

Societies
Gilpin Historical Society 228 High Street P O Box 247 Central City, Colorado 80427-0247 Telephone: 303-582-5283 E-mail:[mailto:gilpinhistory@live.com gilpinhistory@live.com] Website

Foothills Genealogical Society of Colorado, Inc. P.O. Box 150382 Lakewood, CO 80215-0382 Telephone: 303-935-9192 E-mail:[mailto:foothillsgensoc@yahoo.com foothillsgensoc@yahoo.com] Website

Websites

 * - The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection.  Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records
 * Gilpin County, Colorado Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Gilpin County COGENWEB