Colorado, United States Genealogy

United States Colorado

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

Most pre-statehood settlers of Colorado began arriving at the time of the gold rush of 1858. They came from the northeastern and midwestern states, especially New York, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Some came from the New Mexico Territory, and a few settlers came from the southern states, the Pacific Coast, and from other countries including England, Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Scotland, and Wales. Latter-day Saint settlements were made in the San Luis Valley in the 1870s and 1880s.

The Plains Indians of Colorado, including the Arapaho, the Cheyenne, the Kiowa, and the Comanche, had largely been removed to Indian Territory in Oklahoma by 1870. The Ute Indians living in western Colorado did not give up their lands to white settlement until after 1880, when most of them were moved to reservations in Utah.

Counties
Extinct or Renamed Counties:  Arapahoe (KS) | Broderick (KS) | Carbonate | El Paso (KS) | Fremont (KS) | Greenwood | Guadalupe | Montana (KS) | Mora (NM) | North Park | Oro (KS) | Peketon (KS) | Taos (NM) | Uncompahgre | Washington (KS old)

Major Repositories
Colorado State Archives | Colorado Historical Society | Denver Public Library | University of Colorado | National Archives Rocky Mountain Region (Denver) | Family History Library

Migration Routes
Arkansas River | Colorado River | Rio Grande | Chisholm Trail | Old Spanish Trail | Santa Fe Trail | Santa Fe Railway | Denver and Rio Grande Railroad | Union Pacific Railroad

Research Tools

 * Colorado State and County Genealogy Records Resources
 * Find which county a town is in, what town a cemetery is in, even where a postoffice or building is by using the United States Geographical Survey's Geographical Names Information System.
 * David Rumsey Map Collection is a large online collection of rare, old, antique historical atlases, globes, maps, charts plus other cartographic treasures.
 * The Colorado GenWeb Project has a wealth of information.
 * USGenWeb Archives Project for Colorado, collected genealogical information. Also has search page
 * Colorado Trails to the Past - free online genealogical &amp; historical information
 * USGenNet Index for Colorado, links to various genealogical sites/organization for Colorado.
 * Access Genealogy: Colorado Genealogy has a wealth of information.
 * Roots-L Colorado Resources - Colorado Genealogical and Historical Resources on the Net
 * Family History 101 - State of Genealogy, Family History, Ancestry and Records Resources
 * Family History 101 Colorado - State of Colorado Genealogy, Family History, Ancestry and Records Resources
 * Cyndi's List of Genealogical Sites on the Internet for Colorado
 * BYU Research Outline for Colorado - downloads PDF file.
 * FamilySearch Historical Record Collectionsfor Colorado

A wiki article describing this collection is found at:


 * Colorado 1885 State Census (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * Colorado, Statewide Marriage Index (FamilySearch Historical Records)

Obtain additional help

 * Call or chat with an experienced researcher
 * Join a Facebook Group
 * Consult a Professional Genealogist

Help with the Colorado Wiki pages
In order to make this wiki a better research tool, we need your help! Many tasks need willing volunteers. You can help:


 * Expand county articles
 * Check links on pages
 * ...and more

Find more opportunities to help with the Colorado pages. To add your knowledge and help expand the wiki click here: