El Paso County, Colorado Genealogy

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

Description
The County was named of "the pass," referring to the Ute Pass west of Colorado Springs. The county is located in the central area of the state on the Front Range.

County Courthouse
El Paso County Courthouse 270 S. Tejon Street Colorado Springs, CO 80901 Phone:719-452-5000 El Paso County Website County Clerk has marriage and land records from 1861 and military discharge records from 1919; Clerk District Court has divorce and probate records; County Court has court 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:

Bible Records

 * Bible Records at Pikes Peak Library District

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 - How to Use this Collection
 * 1870 at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; Colorado Territory Census - How to Use this Collection
 * 1885 at FamilySearch - Index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 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
 * 1692-1942 at FamilySearch — index - How to Use this Collection

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

Lutheran Church List of Churches and Church Parishes
 * 1937-1986 U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Our Savior in Colorado Springs, 1937-1986
 * FamilySearch Places

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.


 * 1946-1961 El Paso County Civil District Court at Colorado State Archives - index, select record type for search

Directories
Online Directories
 * 1897-1988 U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 at Ancestry - ($), Index and images, Colorado Springs City Directory, various dates
 * 1940 Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs, Cripple Creek and Victor, Drennan, Fountain, Cascade, Chipita Park, Green Mountain Falls, Woodland Park, and Yoder, 1940 Telephone Directory - Residential listings only

Funeral Homes

 * 1897-1940 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * 1922-1937 (*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
 * All-States Cremation in Colorado Springs
 * All Veterans Funeraland Cremation in Colorado Springs
 * Angelus Funeral Directors and Crematory in Colorado Springs
 * Blunt Mortuary in Colorado Springs (Facebook)
 * Cappadona Funeral Home in Colorado Springs
 * Evergreen Funeral Home in Colorado Springs (Facebook)
 * Garcia Family Funeral Homes in Colorado Springs
 * Shrine of Remembrance in Colorado Springs
 * Simply Cremation in Colorado Springs
 * The Springs Funeral Services in Colorado Springs

Land and Property Records
Current El Paso County, Colorado, property owners may be searched by name or address at the El Paso County Assessor's website.

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 - ($), index and images
 * 1862-1908 Denver Land Office Records, 1862-1908 at Ancestry - ($), index only

Local Histories
Online County Histories
 * History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado. (Includes History of El Paso County, by A. Z. Sheldon.) 1881. Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co. Online at: 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
 * FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

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

World War II
 * 1940-1945 at FamilySearch — index and images - How to Use this Collection

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 — index and images; District Court records - How to Use this Collection

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


 * Pikes Peak NewsFinder, provided by Pikes Peak Library District's Special Collections, contains citations to local news articles and obituaries from the Colorado Springs Gazette and Gazette-Telegraph from January 1872 to the present and other local newspapers. Free copies of articles are available online from PPLD. Ongoing project with additional sources being indexed.

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


 * 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)

Obituaries
Pikes Peak NewsFinder contains citations to obituaries from the Colorado Springs Gazette and Gazette-Telegraph from January 1872 to the present and other local newspapers, including the Colorado Springs Sun and the Free Press. Free copies of articles are available from PPLD.

Other Records
Pension Records
 * 1933-1936 El Paso County Old Age Pension at Colorado State Archives - index, select record type for search

Mining Records
 * 1892-1942 El Paso County Placer Mine Location Certificates at Colorado State Archives - index, select record type for search

Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
 * 1875–1974 Colorado Wills and Probate Records 1875-1974 at Ancestry.com — index & images, ($).
 * 1880-1969 El Paso County Probates at Colorado State Archives - index, select record type for search.

School Records

 * 1911 El Paso County School Census Dist. 3 at Colorado State Archives - index, select record type for search
 * 1910, 1920 El Paso County School Census Dist.11 (Colo. Spgs.) at Colorado State Archives - index, select record type for search

Social Security Records

 * 1935-2014 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
 * 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index

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.

Marriage
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 - How to Use this Collection
 * 1858-1939 Colorado Marriages 1858-1939 at Denver Public Library - index
 * 1862-2006 Colorado, County Marriages and State Indexes, 1862-2006 at Ancestry ($), Index and images
 * 1863-2018 Colorado, Select County Marriages, 1863-2018 at Ancestry.com - index & images ($)
 * 1864-1995 at FamilySearch - Index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 1900-1939 Colorado, Statewide Marriage Index, 1900-1939 at Ancestry - ($); Browseable images of original index
 * 1984-1991 El Paso County Official Public Records Search, 1 January 1984 to present (includes marriages for 1984 to 1991 period not covered in database below)
 * 1991-Present El Paso County Marriage/Civil Union Records Search, 1 May 1991 to present
 * 1975 - 2004 Colorado, Marriages, 1975 - 2004 at MyHeritage - index & images, ($)

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

Divorce
Online Records
 * 1851-1985 Colorado, Divorce Index, 1851-1985 at Ancestry - ($); Index only
 * 1861-1941 Denver Public Library Colorado Divorce Index 1861-1941 at Denver Public Library - index
 * 1878 - 2004 Colorado, Divorces, 1878 - 2004 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * 1900-1939 at FamilySearch - Browseable images of original index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1903-1941 El Paso County Divorce at Colorado State Archives - index, select record type for search

The Colorado State Archives has put a name only Index to the El Paso County Divorce Records for the period 1903 to 1941 on-line.

All divorces and divorce records are handled by the El Paso County Courts, Colorado Judicial District 4. Please contact their office directly at 719 452-5000.

Voter Records

 * 1935-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection — index and images

Archives
1880-1969 El Paso County Probates 1892-1942 El Paso County Placer Mine Location Certificates 1903-1941 El Paso County Divorce 1910, 1920 El Paso County School Census Dist.11 (Colo. Spgs.) 1911 El Paso County School Census Dist. 3 1933-1936 El Paso County Old Age Pension 1946-1961 El Paso County Civil District Court

FamilySearch Centers

 * Arvada Colorado FamilySearch Center
 * Aurora Colorado FamilySearch Center
 * Boulder Colorado FamilySearch Center
 * Brighton Colorado FamilySearch Center
 * Colorado Springs Colorado East FamilySearch Center
 * Columbine Colorado FamilySearch Center
 * Denver Colorado FamilySearch Center
 * Denver Colorado North FamilySearch Center
 * Fountain Colorado FamilySearch Center
 * Front Range Colorado FamilySearch Center
 * Highlands Ranch Colorado FamilySearch Center
 * Littleton Colorado FamilySearch Center
 * Zuni Colorado FamilySearch Center


 * Douglas County Libraries - Highlands Ranch - an affiliate library
 * Douglas County Libraries - Lone Tree - an affiliate library
 * Douglas County Libraries - Parker - an affiliate library
 * Douglas County Libraries - Rampart Range - an affiliate library
 * Napier Public Library - an affiliate library
 * Pikes Peak Library District - Penrose Library - an affiliate library
 * Grand Canyon Community Library - an affiliate library

Libraries
Calhan Library 600 Bank Street Calhan CO 80808 719-531-6333 x7013 Website Charles L Tutt Library 1021 N Cascade Ave Colorado Springs, CO 80903 719-389-6668 Email: [mailto:tuttspec@coloradocollege.edu tuttspec@coloradocollege.edu] Website Cheyenne Mountain Library 1785 S 8th St, Suite 100 Colorado Springs, CO 80905 719-531-6333, x7001 Website East Library 5550 N Union Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80918 719-531-6333, x7014 Website Fountain Library 230 S Main St Fountain, CO 80817 719-531-6333, x7002 Website High Prairie Library 7035 Old Meridian Rd Peyton, CO 80831 719-531-6333, x7003 Website Manitou Springs Library 515 Manitou Ave Manitou Springs, CO 80829 719-531-6333, x7004 Website Monument Library 1706 Lake Woodmoor Dr Monument, CO 80132 719-531-6333, x7005 Website Old Colorado City Library 2418 W Pikes Peak Ave Colorado Springs, CO 80904 719-531-6333, x7006 Website Palmer Lake Library 66 Lower Glenway Palmer Lake, CO 80133 719-531-6333, x7007 Website Penrose Library 20 North Cascade Avenue Colorado Springs, CO 80903 719-531-6333 x7015 Website Pikes Peak Library District 1175 Chapel Hills Drive PO Box 63901 Colorado Springs, CO 80962 719-531-6333 Website
 * Special Collections contains extensive resources for research into the history of the Pikes Peak region, including books, maps, manuscripts and archives, photographs, oral histories, films, government documents, periodicals and much more.

Rockrimmon Library 832 Village Center Dr Colorado Springs, CO 80919 719-531-6333, x7008 Website Ruth Holley Library 685 N Murray Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80915 719-531-6333, x7009 Website Sand Creek Library 1821 S Academy Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80916 719-531-6333, x7018 Website Security Public Library 715 Aspen Drive Security, CO 80911 719-391-3191 Email: [mailto:spl@wsd3.org spl@wsd3.org] Website Ute Pass Library 8010 Severy Cascade, CO 80809 719-531-6333, x7011 Website

Museums
Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum 215 S Tejon St Colorado Springs, CO 80903 719-385-5990 Website
 * "The only institution researching, collecting and interpreting the robust history of Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region."

Societies
African-American Historical & Genealogical Society of Colorado Springs 1620 W Bijou St Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904 (719) 385-7920 Ext 202 Email: [mailto:aahgscs@gmail.com aahgscs@gmail.com] Website Manitou Springs Historical Society 517 Manitou Ave. Manitou Springs, CO 80829 719-685-1454 Email: [mailto:ManitouHeritage@gmail.com ManitouHeritage@gmail.com] Website Facebook Negro Historical Association of Colorado Springs, (NHACS) 5180 Mountain Villa Grove Colorado Springs, CO 80917 719-574-8332 Old Colorado City Historical Society and History Center 1 South 24th Street Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904 719-636-1225 Email: [mailto:info@occhs.org info@occhs.org] Website Facebook Palmer Lake Historical Society 66 Lower Glenway PO Box 662 Palmer Lake, CO 80133 719-559-0837 Email: [mailto:PLHSPresident@gmail.com PLHSPresident@gmail.com] Website Facebook Pikes Peak Genealogical Society PO Box 63901 Colorado Springs, CO 80962 E-mail:[mailto:info@ppgs.org info@ppgs.org] Website Facebook

Websites

 * USGenWeb Archives
 * El Paso County, Colorado Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
 * Pikes Peak Genealogical Society
 * - 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