Denver County, Colorado Genealogy

United States

Colorado

Denver County

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

Colorado Online Genealogy Records

County Facts County seat: Denver Organized: March 18, 1901 Parent County(s): Arapahoe Neighboring Counties Adams  • Arapahoe  • Jefferson See County Maps Courthouse Location Map Adoption This page is available for adoption

County Information

Description

The County was named for James W. Denver. The County is located in the central area of the state.

County Courthouse

Denver County Courthouse
1437 Bannock Street Ste 200
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: 303-630-3012
Denver County Website

The county clerk has marriage records from 1902 and land records from 1859.
The clerk of the district court has divorce records from 1967, probate and court records from 1858.

Clerk and Recorder's Office
City and County Building
1437 Bannock Street, Rm 391
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: 720-865-8400

City of Denver Vital Records
605 Bannock Street, Rm 302
Denver, CO 80204
Phone: 303-436-7351

Denver County, Colorado Record Dates

Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.

Known Beginning Dates for Major Records
Birth*	Marriage	Death*	Court	Land	Probate	Census
1872	1902	1887	1858	1859	1858	1860
Statewide registration for births in 1910 and deaths in 1910. General compliance by 1920.

Record Loss

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

Boundary Changes

Parent County: Denver County was created 18 March 1901 from Arapahoe County. Denver County has annexed territory from Arapahoe, Adams and Jefferson Counties on several occasions. County seat: Denver

Populated Places

Denver is the state capital of Colorado, as well as a consolidated city-county. This means that the City of Denver and the County of Denver have the same government and jurisdictions. The only city in Denver County is Denver. There are, however, several neighborhoods within the City of Denver.

Cities
Denver

Resources

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Denver County, Colorado online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online	COGenWeb COGenWeb Archives Tombstone Project Colorado Gravestones Billion Graves Index at FamilySearch CO Internment
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)	WorldCat
List of Cemeteries in the County	Findagrave.com Billion Graves Colorado Cemeteries by County FamilySearch Places
See Colorado Cemeteries for more information

 

Census Records

In 1860, present-day Colorado was enumerated in the Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Utah Territories. Colorado Territory was created in 1861 and was enumerated as such in the 1870 Census. A state census was taken in 1885 for Colorado. See links listed below.

Historical populations
Census	Pop.	%±
1860	4,749	—
1870	4,759	0.2%
1880	35,629	648.7%
1890	106,713	199.5%
1900	133,859	25.4%
1910	213,381	59.4%
1920	256,491	20.2%
1930	287,861	12.2%
1940	322,412	12.0%
1950	415,765	29.0%
1960	493,887	18.8%
1970	514,678	4.2%
1980	492,686	−4.3%
1990	467,610	−5.1%
2000	554,636	18.6%
2010	600,158	8.2%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

State and Territory Census Records

• 1860 - United States Census, 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 - United States Census, 1870 at FamilySearch Historical Records — index and images; Colorado Territory Census - How to Use this Collection
• 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

Church records vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Colorado denominations, view the Colorado Church Records wiki page.

Online Church Records

• 1692-1942 - Colorado, 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
  

'Dutch Reformed Church
1955-1974 - U.S., Selected States Dutch Reformed Church Membership Records, 1701-1995 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Montclair Reformed Church in Denver, 1955-1974
Lutheran Church

• Various Dates - U.S., Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Records, 1875-1940 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Various churches for various dates in Denver
  

List of Churches and Church Parishes

• 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.

1933-1936 Numerous records are available at Colorado Archives. Denver County Old Age Pension Records 1933-1936. An Index compiled from the offical record of the applications granted by the Denver County Commissioners during these years. Record may show the following:

• Name of Applicant
• Date and Amount of pension payment
• Any adjustments to the pension
• Person's age
• Town nearest to where they lived
• Other Actions done by the County

Directories

Online Directories

• 1862-1923 - Denver, Colorado, City Directories at Fold3 - ($), Images only, various dates
  
• 1866-1979 - U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 at Ancestry - ($), Index and images, Denver City Directories, various dates
  

Land and Property Records

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.

See Colorado Land and Property for additional information about early Colorado land grants.

After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse, where current records are also housed.

Online Land Records

• 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
  

For more information see Colorado Land and Property

Local Histories

Online County Histories

• History of Denver, with Outlines of the Earlier History of the Rocky Mountain Country. 1971, digitized 2013. Evansville, Indiana : Unigraphic. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library-Vol. 1., FamilySearch Digital Library-Vol. 2., Hathitrust, Google Books; At various libraries (WorldCat).

Maps and Gazetteers

Click a neighboring county
for more resources

• 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:Cities and Towns- How to Use FS Places

Military Records

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 - Colorado, World War II Draft Registration Cards,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 - Colorado Naturalization Records, 1876-1990 at FamilySearch — index and images; District Court records - How to Use this Collection
  

Newspapers

For more information, see Colorado 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

• 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

Probate records have been kept by the county courts. Colorado probate records include bonds, affidavits, letters, claims, appraisals, fee accounts, minutes, judgments, dockets, calendars, case files, and wills. The Family History Library does not have copies of probate records from Colorado.

You may obtain copies of documents from the clerk's office in the county courthouse.

Online Records

• 1875–1974 Colorado Wills and Probate Records 1875-1974 at Ancestry.com — ($); Index and images
• 1900-1925 Denver County, Colorado Probate Case Files, 1900-1925 at FamilySearch - Browseable images only - How to Use this Collection
  

Social Security Records

• 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index 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.

Tax Records

Colorado tax records complement land records and can be used as supplements to censuses. There may be gaps of several years in the records. To find tax records in the FamilySearch Catalog, do a Place Search for the county.

1909-1912 Colorado State Archives has put the Denver County Inheritance Tax Records Index for the years 1909-1912 on-line.

Vital Records

Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Vital Records Section Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred.

For some online statewide indexes, see the FamilySearch Historical Record Collections for Colorado.

Colorado State Archives, Historical Records Index

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

1858-1939 The Colorado Genealogical Society and the Denver Library have compiled a free Marriage Index in a scanned PDF format listing 456,000+ marriages conducted between 1858 and 1939, cross listing the names of both bride and groom, with the date and place of marriage and the license number. Accessible free online at: Colorado Marriages

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 - Colorado Statewide Marriage Index, 1853-2006 at FamilySearch.org - Index and images
  
• 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 and images, ($)
• 1864-1995 - Colorado, County Marriages, 1864-1995 at FamilySearch - Index and images - How to Use this Collection
  
• 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.

Divorce

All divorces and divorce records are handled by the Denver County Courts, Colorado Judicial District 2. Please contact their office directly at 720-865-8301.

Online Records

• 1851-1985 Colorado, Divorce Index, 1851-1985 at Ancestry - ($); Index only
  
• 1900-1939 - Colorado Statewide Divorce Index, 1900-1939 at FamilySearch - Browseable images of original index - How to Use this Collection
  

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Denver County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Colorado Archives and Libraries.

The Colorado State Archives has the following records available for Denver County, Colorado Genealogy in this online database Archives Search. For a full list of online holdings, click here.
(Statewide)
1880-1939 Divorce Index
1883-1900 Mine Accidents, Non - fatal
1897-1920 Horseshoers
1936-1942 Civilian Conservation Corps Enrollments
1966-1968 Vietnam Deaths

1862-1917 Denver Lot and Block Index
1870-1909 Denver Death Index
1875-1909 Denver Birth Index
1909-1912 Denver Inheritance Tax
1914-1917 Denver War Risk Insurance Applications
1933-1936 Denver Old Age Pension

Family History Centers

Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a family history center.

• Family History Center and Affiliate Library Locator

Local Centers and Libraries

• Denver Colorado Family History Center
• Denver Colorado North Family History Center

Libraries

Listed below are libraries in Denver County. For state-wide library facilities, see Colorado Archives and Libraries.

Denver Public Library
10 W 14th Avenue
Parkway Denver, CO 80204
Telephone: 720-865-1111
Denver Public Library website

History Colorado Center
Hart Research Library
1200 North Broadway
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 303-HISTORY (303-447-8679)
Website

Museums

History Colorado Center
1200 North Broadway
Denver, CO
Phone: 303-447-8679
Website

Black American West Museum
3091 California St.
Denver, CO 80205
Phone: (720) 242-7428
Call for hours and admission information.
Website

Lakewood Heritage Center
801 S. Yarrow St.
Lakewood, CO 80226
Direct: 303-987-7850
Email: hca@lakewood.org
Find your roots in Lakewood at Lakewood Heritage Center...
Website

Societies

Listed below are societies in {{{1}}} County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Colorado Societies.

Denver, South Park & Pacific Historical Society PO Box 26 Buena Vista, CO 81211-0026 E-mail:dspphs@gmail.com Website Swedish Genealogical Society of Colorado PO Box 746255 Arvada, CO 80006 Website WISE Family History Society (Wales, Ireland, Scotland, England) PO Box 40658 Denver, CO 80204-0658 Website

Colorado Society of Hispanic Genealogy 2300 South Patton Court Denver, CO 80219-5212 Website Genealogical Society Of Hispanic America PO Box 3040 Pueblo, CO 81005-3040 Website

Websites

• FamilySearch Catalog - 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
• Denver City and County, Colorado Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
• Denver County Genealogy (Colorado Genealogy)
• Denver Public Library (Genealogy & Obituaries Database)

This website requires a paid subscription for full access.