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Jefferson County, Colorado Genealogy

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

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County Facts
County seat: Golden
Organized: November 1, 1861
Parent County(s): Original county[1]
Neighboring Counties
Adams  • Arapahoe  • Boulder  • Broomfield  • Clear Creek  • Denver  • Douglas  • Gilpin  • Park  • Teller
See County Maps
Courthouse
ColoradoJeffersonCourthouse.jpg
Location Map
Colorado Jefferson County.png
Adoption

County Information[edit | edit source]

Description[edit | edit source]

The County was named for Thomas Jefferson. The County is located in the north central area of the state.[2]

County Courthouse[edit | edit source]

Jefferson County Courthouse
100 Jefferson County Pkwy #2530
Golden, CO 80419-2530
Phone: 303.271.8168
Jefferson County website

Jefferson County Vital Records
800 Jefferson County Parkway
Golden, CO 80419
303-271-6450
Fax 303-271-6451
Jefferson Co. website
Has Birth and Death Certificates

County Clerk has marriage records from 1868 and land records from 1860;
County Health Department has birth, death and burial records;
Clerk District Court has divorce records;
County Court has probate and court records[3]

Jefferson County, Colorado Record Dates[edit | edit source]

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[4]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1893 1868 1893 1861 1860 1861 1860
Statewide registration for births in 1910 and deaths in 1910. General compliance by 1920.

Record Loss[edit | edit source]

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

Boundary Changes[edit | edit source]

Populated Places[edit | edit source]

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:[6]

Cities
Towns
Unincorporated communities
Census-designated places
Ghost towns


History Timeline[edit | edit source]

A chronological history timeline for Jefferson County can be found on the county website.

Resources[edit | edit source]

Bible Records[edit | edit source]

Biographies[edit | edit source]

Business, Commerce, and Occupations[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries[edit | edit source]

Cemeteries of Jefferson County, Colorado online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See Colorado Cemeteries for more information

 

Census Records[edit | edit source]

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.[7] See links listed below.

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1870 2,390 —
1880 6,804 184.7%
1890 8,450 24.2%
1900 9,306 10.1%
1910 14,231 52.9%
1920 14,400 1.2%
1930 21,810 51.5%
1940 30,725 40.9%
1950 55,687 81.2%
1960 127,520 129.0%
1970 233,031 82.7%
1980 371,753 59.5%
1990 438,430 17.9%
2000 527,056 20.2%
2010 534,543 1.4%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

State and Territory Census Records[edit | edit source]

Federal Census Records[edit | edit source]

The 1880 Census was the first Federal Census for Colorado after it became a state in 1876.[8] 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[edit | edit source]

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

Presbyterian Church

Court Records[edit | edit source]

Directories[edit | edit source]

Online Directories

Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups[edit | edit source]

Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]

Genealogies[edit | edit source]

Guardianship[edit | edit source]

Land and Property Records[edit | edit source]

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

For more information see Colorado Land and Property

Local Histories[edit | edit source]

Online County Histories

Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]

Boulder CountyAdams CountyDenver CountyArapahoe CountyDouglas CountyPark CountyClear Creek CountyGilpin CountyCO JEFFERSON.JPG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources


Migration[edit | edit source]

Military Records[edit | edit source]

Online Collections[edit | edit source]

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

Civil War

Spanish-American War (1898)

World War I

World War II

Vietnam War

For further information see Colorado Military Records.

Naturalization and Citizenship[edit | edit source]

Online Records

Newspapers[edit | edit source]

For more information, see Colorado Newspapers.

Colorado Newspapers Online

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


Obituaries[edit | edit source]

Other Records[edit | edit source]

Periodicals[edit | edit source]

Probate Records[edit | edit source]

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

School Records[edit | edit source]

Tax Records[edit | edit source]

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.


1913-1945 Colorado State Archives has put the Jefferson County Inheritance Tax Records Index for 1913-1945 on-line.

Vital Records[edit | edit source]

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.

See also the Colorado Vital Records.

Birth[edit | edit source]

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. [9]

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[edit | edit source]

The Jefferson 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 303-271-8121.

Online Records

Death[edit | edit source]

Death records may become public records when 75 years have elapsed after the date of death. [9]

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[edit | edit source]

All divorces and divorce records are handled by the Jefferson County Combined Courts, Colorado Judicial District 1. 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

Research Facilities[edit | edit source]

Archives[edit | edit source]

The Colorado State Archives has the following records available for Jefferson 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

1862-1977 Jefferson County Probates
1864-1886 Jefferson County Civil Cases
1868-1930 Jefferson County Coroner Reports
1913-1945 Jefferson County Inheritance

Family History Centers[edit | edit source]

Family History Centers provide one-on-one assistance and free access to premium genealogical websites. In addition, many centers have free how-to genealogy classes.

Libraries[edit | edit source]

Jefferson County Public Library
10200 W 20th Ave
Lakewood, CO 80215
Phone: (303) 235-5275
Jefferson Co. Public Lib. website

Museums[edit | edit source]

Societies[edit | edit source]

List of all societies for Jefferson County can be found on their County website.

Foothills Genealogical Society of Colorado, Inc.
PO Box 150382
Lakewood, CO 80215-0382
Telephone: 303-935-9192
E-mail: foothillsgensoc@yahoo.com
website

Golden Landmarks Association
14th and Washington St.
PO Box 1136
Golden, Colorado 80402-1136
Telephone: 303-279-1236
website

Websites[edit | edit source]

Research Guides[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
  2. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Jefferson, Colorado," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_County,_Colorado 6/29/2017.
  3. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Jefferson County, Colorado. Page 99 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
  4. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Jefferson County, Colorado. Page 99 At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 93.
  5. ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
  6. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Jefferson County, Colorado," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_County,_Colorado, accessed 28 May 2017.
  7. ↑ William Thorndale and William Dollarhide, Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses (Bountiful, UT: American Genealogical Lending Library, 1985), page 51-54; Alice Eichholz, ‘’Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County and Town Sources,’’ 3rd ed. (Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 2004), 86. Free online version; FHL Book 973 D27rb 2004; WorldCat entry.
  8. ↑ William Thorndale and William Dollarhide, Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses (Bountiful, UT: American Genealogical Lending Library, 1985), page 54.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Letter from Colorado State Registrar, Dated September 1, 2011. Policy Number 2011- 08. http://www.colorado.gov
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