Clear Creek County, Colorado Genealogy

Guide to Clear Creek 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 for Clerk Creek. The County has Georgetown as its seat and the County was created November 1, 1861. The County is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse
Clear Creek County Courthouse Clear Creek County Clerk / Recorder P.O. Box 2000 405 Argentine Street Georgetown, CO 80444-2000 Telephone: 303.679.2339 Fax: 303-679-2416 Clear Creek County Website Clear Creek County Clerk and Recorder E-mail: [mailto:clerk@co.clear-creek.co.us clerk@co.clear-creek.co.us] County Clerk has marriage and land records from 1862 Clear Creek and Jefferson County Vital Records 800 Jefferson County Parkway-Dakota Building Golden, CO 80419 Telephone: 303.271.6450 Fax: 303.271.6451

Populated Places
The following are locations in the county

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.

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
 * 1861-1936 - U.S. Homestead Records 1861-1936 at Ancestry.com - ($), index and images
 * 1862-1908 - Denver Land Office Records, 1862-1908 at Ancestry.com - ($), index only

Local Histories

 * Every Name Index to History of Clear Creek and Boulder Valleys, Colorado. Every Name Index compiled by Cathy L. O'Connor, 2011, original text by O. L. Baskin, 1880, reproduction by Unigraphic, Inc., 1971.

Online County Histories
 * 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 Newspaper Catalogs
 * 1872-1874 - Daily Colorado Miner, Georgetown, online at Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection - free.
 * 1876-1880 - Colorado Miner, Georgetown, online at Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection - free.
 * 1877-1881 - Georgetown Courier, online at Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection - free.
 * 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

Other Records
Public Records

For an excellent summary of the genealogical records available in Clear Creek County, see their website here.

Probate Records
'''Online Records
 * 1875–1974 Colorado Wills and Probate Records 1875-1974 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1881-1964 Colorado State Archives has provided an Index to the Clear Creek County Will Records for the years 1881 to 1964 on-line.

School Records
Colorado State Archives has provided an index to the official records of the Clear Creek County Superintendent of Schools that are in the custody of the State Archives. This record is a hand written document identifying the students who were enrolled in School District #5 in 1874. This district generally encompasses what today is the Idaho Springs area. The information contained in the record generally shows the name of the student, date of the record, and where in the school district the child resided.

Vital Records
See also 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 earliest county marriage records are in the Clear Creek County Archives. *

The Clear Creek County Recorder's office will search their indexes if you call or visit the office.

Online Records


 * 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 ($), Index and images
 * 1864-1995 - at FamilySearch - Index and images
 * 1882-1905 Marriage Licenses, 1882-1905 - an index of early marriage licenses
 * 1900-1939 - Colorado, Statewide Marriage Index, 1900-1939 at Ancestry.com - ($); 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 Clear Creek County Courts, Colorado Judicial District 5. Please contact their office directly at 303-679-2339.

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

Archives
1867-1906 Clear Creek County Naturalization Records 1874     Clear Creek County School Census 1881-1947 Clear Creek County Will Record 1933-1935 Clear Creek County Old Age Pensions 1950-1964 Clear Creek County Wills

Family History Centers

 * Frisco Colorado Family History Center
 * Golden Colorado Family History Center
 * Arvada Colorado Family History Center

Libraries

 * Clear Creek Library District
 * John Tomay Memorial Library 605 Sixth Street Georgetown, CO 80444 Telephone: (303) 569-2620 John Tomay Memorial Library
 * Idaho Springs Public Library 219 14th Avenue P.O. Box 1509 Idaho Springs, CO 80452 Telephone: 303-567-2020 http://clearcreek.colibraries.org/IdahoSprings

Societies
Foothills Genealogical Society of Colorado, Inc. P.O. Box 150382 Lakewood, CO 80215-0382 Telephone Number:303-935-9192 Website

Websites

 * Clear Creek County COGenWeb
 * - 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
 * Clear Creek County, Colorado Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * EveryNameIndex.com  Free online genealogy indexes for those big old county histories.