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United States 
New Mexico Colfax County
| Colfax County, New mexico | |
| Map | |
 Location of New mexico in the U.S. | |
| Facts | |
| Founded | January 25, 1869 |
|---|---|
| County Seat | Hettinger |
| Courthouse | |
| Address | Colfax County Courthouse Colfax County Website] |
Colfax County Courthouse
230 N 3rd St; PO Box 1498
Raton, NM 87740-1498
Phone: 505.445.5551
County Clerk has marriage records from 1890, probate records from 1903 and land records, and land records from 1864; District Court Clerk has divorce and court records.[1]
Historical Facts
History
- The Santa Fe Trail's Raton Pass offshoot brought settlers from the Eastern United States to join the existing Mexican and Native American populations. Colfax County was named for Schuyler Colfax (1823-1885), the seventeenth Vice President of the United States. Detailed Historic and Cultural Overview. History and Historic Trail Maps (Dept.Interior).
Parent County
- Up until 1821 - New Spain controlled land that later would become New Mexico and Arizona. Some records of early settlers may have been sent to an archives in Seville, Spain, or to archives in Mexico City.
- From 1821 until 1846 - Mexico had jurisdiction over the land that later would become New Mexico and Arizona. Some records of this period may have been sent to archives in Mexico City. Starting in 1846 United States forces occupied New Mexico during the Mexican-American War.
- 1848 - Land that became Colfax County formally became a part of the United States when the Mexican War ended with ratification of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
25 January 1869: Eastern part of Taos County was set off to form Colfax County.[1]
Boundary Changes
Record Loss
List of Historic Places of Colfax County, National Register
Towns or Places with Name Changes
An Alphabetical List of Colfax County Towns and Place Names that have undergone a name change. The Older name will be listed first and generally followed by the more current name.
Neighboring Counties
Mora · Harding · Taos · Union
Colorado Counties: Costilla · Las Animas
Resources
New Mexico Genealogy Research Outline
Click Here.
Archives and Repositories
Seton Memorial Library
Center for Southwest Research
New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
National Hispanic Cultural Center
Hispanic Genealogical Research Center of NM
Rio Grande Historical Collections
Cemeteries
Search by Cemetery Name
Click on Cemetery Name to see details.
Abbott Cemetery , Abreu Cemetery, Agua Dulce Cemetery, Black Lake Cemetery,
Caliente Canyon Cemetery, Catholic Cemetery, Catskill Cemetery, Cimarron Canyon Cemetery,
Cimarron Cemetery, Cimarron Mountain View Cemetery, Clifton Cemetery p.206,
Colmor Cemetery, Dawson Cemetery, Eagle Nest Cemetery, Elizabethtown Cemetery,
Espinoza Cemetery, Fairmont Cemetery, Fairview Presbyterian Cemetery, Gallagher Cemetery,
Hecht Family Cemetery, Herrera Cemetery, Hollenbeck Cemetery,
J.B. Dawson Family Cemetery, Jackson Cemetery, Johnson Cemetery, Johnson Mesa
Cemetery, Kaplan Cemetery, Kelleher Cemetery, Livingston Cemetery, Maxwell Cemetery,
Maxwell Family Cemetery, Miami Cemetery, Mountain View Angel Fire Cemetery,
Mountain View Cimarron Cemetery, Mountain View Kiowa Cemetery, Mountainview Kiowa
Cemetery, Mount Calvary Cemetery, North Abbott Cemetery, Otero Cemetery, Palo Blanco
Mountain Cemetery, Pine Buttes Cemetery, Point of Rocks Mesa Cemetery,
Ponil Park Cemetery, Rayado Cemetery, Ring Place Cemetery, Saint John's Methodist Church
Cemetery, Pacheco Cemetery, San Antonio Cemetery, St. Anthony Church Cemetery,
Saus Creek Cemetery, Seeley Cemetery, Soldier Hill p.207, Springer Cemetery,
Sweet Water Cemetery, Tinaja Cemetery, Touch Me Not Mountain Cemetery,
United Church of Angel Fire Cemetery, Valdez Cemetery, Vermejo Cemetery, Wilson Cemetery,
Census Records and other Free Online Records
For tips on accessing Colfax County, New Mexico census records online, see: New Mexico Census.
Colfax County
1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 Free Census Search
1870 US Census, Colfax County: (A-Free), (Fren-Midd), (Mila-Truj), (Truj-Z), Index, transcription and index,
1880 US Census Free Search
1912 - Business Directory:
County Officials, Baldy, Bell, Black Lake, Blossburg, Bonito, Brackett, Brilliant, Capulin, Carlsbrook, Cerrososo. Chico, Chicorica, Cimarron, Clifton House, Colfax, Colmor, Cunningham, Dawson, Dean, Dillon, Dorsey, Elizabeth, French, Gardiner, Gato, Harlan, Hebron, Hunt, Keota, Koehler, Koehler Junction, Lloyd, Lynn, Maxwell, Meloche, Metcalf, Miami, Nash, Otero.
1930 - Federal Census Index: A-C, C-G, G-L, L-P, P-S, S-Z.
Kiowa
1920 - Partial Federal Census Record
Raton
1910 and 1920 Partial Federal Census Records
Other
New Mexico Death Records 1889-1945 Search. More information at New Mexico Death Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)
New Mexico Death Records US GenWeb Index Project
Social Security Death Index Search
Guide to1788 and 1790 Census of El Paso del Norte
Colfax County Residents (60) who received Patents
Go to Google Search Patents. Type in "New Mexico" "county of Colfax" OR "Colfax County"
Church
Court
Land Records
Bureau of Land Management
General Land Office Records Search
Mining
Colfax County was, historically, a mining area. Most of the mines have closed. See, List of Mines.
Libraries
Local Public Libraries
Angel Fire Community Library
Eagle Nest Public Library
Arthur Johnson Memorial Library
Springer - Fred Macaron Library
Local Research Libraries
Family History Library
Seton Memorial Library
Local Histories
Lists of Settlers, 1860
1. Rayado (356)
2. Rio Colorado (707)
Lists of Settlers, 1870
1. Precinct 1 (800): A-E , F-M, N-Z.
Post Office: Elizabeth City. Location: Elizabethtown and environs.
2. Precinct 2 (132): A-Z
Post Office: Elizabeth City. Location: Cimarron.
3. Precinct 3 (1,060): A-E, F-M, N-Z.
Post Office: Elizabeth City. Location: Rayado and outskirts.
Lists of Settlers, 1880
1. Upper and Lower Dry Cimarron (470)
2. Chico (113)
3. Cimarron (1,247)
4. Elizabethtown (287)
5. Otero (50)
6. Rayado (270)
7. Springer (34)
8. Ute Creek (133)
Lists of Settlers, 1900
1. Baldy (111) 2. Black Lakes (205); 3. Blossburg (191); 4.Catskill (976);
5. Chico Springs (398)
6. Cimarron (3363)
7. Cimilario (105)
8. Colmor (1,343)
9. Dorsey (226)
10.Elizabethtown (580); 11. Elkins (61)
12. Gardiner (1,195) A-F, G-L, M-R, S-Z
13. Johnson Park (793)
14. Martines (365)
15. Maxwell (276)
16. Mesa (505)
17.Pena Flor(156)
18.Ponil (50)
19. Ponil Park (100)
20. Raton (3,863)
21. Rayado (135)
22. Springer (589)
23. Trinchera (191).
Pioneer or Settler Biographies, A-Z
Pioneers, Others
Published Online Information
Listed by surname
1.A-F,
2.G-O,
3.P-Z
Family Histories or Genealogical Information
Online Surname Links
1860
See census enumeration in Mora and or Taos counties. For free census search, click here.
1870
See census enumeration precincts: Elizabeth City Precinct 1, Elizabeth City Precinct 2, or Elizabeth City Precinct 3. Or, For free census search, click here.
1880
See census enumeration precincts: 1. Upper and Lower Dry Cimarron, 2. Chico, 3. Cimarron, 4. Elizabethtown, 5. Otero, 6. Rayado, 7. Springer, 8. Ute Creek. Or, For free census search, click here.
1900
See census enumeration precincts: 1. Baldy, 2. Black Lakes, 3. Blossburg, 4.Catskill, 5. Chico Springs, 6. Cimarron, 7. Cimilario, 8. Colmor, 9. Dorsey, 10. Elizabethtown, 11. Elkins, 12. Gardiner, 13. Johnson Park, 14. Martines, 15. Maxwell, 16. Mesa, 17. Pena Flor, 18. Ponel, 19. Ponil Park, 20. Raton, 21. Rayado, 22. Springer, 23. Trinchera. Or, For free census search, click here.
Immigrant Information
1. List of immigrants from Nanno and Portolo, Italy
Colfax County Family Photo Album
1. Photos taken 1860 to 1879.
2. Photos taken 1880 to 1899.
3. Photos taken 1900 to 1919.
4. Photos taken 1920 to 1939.
Resources
1. List of Online Resources
2. List of Offline Resources
Maps
1895 Colfax County Map , 1895 new Mexico State Map
1895 Map of Taos, Mora, and Colfax Counties
Colfax County Interactive Map of Minerals and Mines
Cornelio Vigil Map of the Beaubien Miranda Land Grant. US Dept. Justice. Map 3, page 34.
.....
note: The book "Translating Property - The Maxwell Land Grant and the Conflict Over Land in the American West, 1840-1900" by Maria E. Montoya, provides a limited preview through the page 7 link. You may inquire at your local library for an inter-library loan. The ISBN number for this book is ISBN 0-520-22744-1. Some places of interest in this book are as follows:
.....
Maxwell Land Grant, Map 1, page 7.
Map of the Property Claims on the Ponil River, ca. 1885: page 106.
Map of Cimarron, New Mexico, 1865: Figure 20, Page 14 in the insert between pages 77 and 78.
Surveyor's sectional map of Colfax and Mora Counties, 1889. Figure 21, Page 15 in the insert between pages 77-8.
Sites of the Maxwell and White Incidents on the SantaFe Trail, Map 4, page 42.[[]]
Military
Pre - Statehood (6 Jan 1912)
Muster Roll - Coronado Expedition - 1540
Soldier List - Onate Expedition 1598-1608
Partial List of New Mexico Settlers - 1600
Civil War Pension Index Card Search More information at Union Pension Records
List of Pensioners 1883
Post - Statehood
WWI Civilian Draft Registrations free online
Vietnam War - Angel Fire Memorial
Mining
The mountains of Colfax County were rich in gold, silver, copper, iron, and coal. page 64; p.90-107;
30 miles to the west of Lucien Maxwell's ranch, Elizabethtown and Virginia City were established in the Moreno Valley close to the extensive placers and mines. Resulting in 5 million dollars of gold output between 1867 and 1872. Near these mines, "one of the richest copper mines of the world" had been established before the discovery of gold in 1867. page 65.
The existence of coal deposits were first officially noticed by Wislezenus, Tour of Northern New Mexico in 1848. p.63 , and by Lt. Colonel Emory, Notes of Military Reconnoissance of 1848, page 19. Although, travellers of The Santa Fe Trail, knew of its existence, many years prior. In 1865, Prof. Richard Dale Owen, noted that a five foot coal bed was clearly visible from Lucien Maxwell's hacienda and was close to the stage road. The survey estimated coal deposits to measure 870, 000 acres with contents of 30 billion, 805 million tons. Coal was mined in large scale.1907, the year of greatest production, output of 1,844,550 tons was reached.
Early Mining
Early coal mining operations. page 64.
Early Places
Early places prospected for gold page 67.
Mining Claims
List of Mining Claims for Colfax County.
Mining Camps
List of Mining Camps.
Museums
Eagles Nest
Elizabethtown Museum
Cimarron
Kit Carson Museum of Rayado
Philmont Museum
Villa Philmonte
Raton
Raton Museum
Springer
Dorsey Mansion history Ranch
Santa Fe Trail Interpretative Center and Museum
Santa Fe Trail Museum and Historical Society
Newspapers
Current local newspaper addresses and phones
Historic Periodicals and Newspapers
Digital Collections for Colfax County Newspapers
Search Historic Newspapers Library of Congress.
Probate
Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe Trail went through Colfax County in two places.
1. The Mountain Route went south from Trinidad, Colorado, through Raton Pass, down the slope toward the town of Cimarron. There was a stop on the Canadian River at the Clifton House. About nine miles to the southwest the trail splits, one going to the town of rayado and the other to Cimarron. The Road travels on to Springer.
2. The Santa Fe Trail crosses Colfax County from the eastern border of the Kiowa Grasslands near Clayton, New Mexico, and travels through the Gaine's Cattle Ranch, then beneath the Point of Rocks Mesa, and then travels through the Gillespie Ranch, east of Springer.
More information on the Santa Fe Trail
Santa Fe National Historic Trail
Santa Fe Trail Family History Project
Santa Fe Trail Scenic Byway
Santa Fe Trail Aerial Photos
Santa Fe Trail Museum and Historical Society
Schools
Taxation
Societies
Local
Angel Fire
Genealogy Club of Angel Fire, PO Box 503, Angel Fire, NM 87710
Cimarron
Cimarron Historical Society, Les Davis, Cimarron, New Mexico, 87714.
Raton
Raton Historical Society
Raton Family History Center, 2136 La Mesa Drive, Raton, New Mexico, 87740. Phone 505-445-9226.
Raton Museum, Roger Sanchez, 218 S. First, Raton, New Mexico, 87740. Phone 505-445-8979.
Springer
Springer Santa Fe Trail Museum and Historical Society., Mike Taylor, 606 Maxwell Ave., Springer, New Mexico, 87747. Phone: 505-483-5554 or 505-483-0474.
State
- Colfax County Genealogy Trails
- Hispanic Genealogical Research Center of New Mexico
- Historical Society of New Mexico
- Los Alamos Historical Society
- New Mexico Civil War Ladies League
- New Mexico Daughters of the American Revolution
- New Mexico Genealogical Society
- The New Mexico Genealogist
- New Mexico Jewish Historical Society
- New Mexico State Historian
- Route 66 Association of New Mexico
- Southern New Mexico Genealogy Society
- Taos County Historical Society
Vital Records
Birth and death certificates are NOT issued at the Colfax County Clerk's Office. They may be obtained from one of the following locations: They CANNOT copy birth and death certificates under any circumstances.
Births
- Local Office: New Mexico Public Health Office
226 East 4th Street
Raton, NM 87740
Phone: (575)445-3601
- State Office: Office of NM Vital Records and Health Statistics
1105 S. St. Francis Drive
P.O. Box 26110
Santa Fe, NM 87502-6110
Phone:(505) 827-0121
Credit Card Orders: 877-284-0963
List of Early Colfax County Birth Records For online birth records, refer to Vital Records below.
List of Colfax County Birth Records 1893-1895, A-W.
Marriages
Marriage Index 1871-1900 (Grooms name Ab to Lo) , (Grooms name Lo to Zw)
Marriages 1889-1893, and 1897-1901 - Justice of the Peace Records, Precinct #20 - NMGS
Deaths
- Local Office: New Mexico Public Health Office
226 East 4th Street
Raton, NM 87740
Phone: (575)445-3601 - State Office: Office of NM Vital Records and Health Statistics
1105 S. St. Francis Drive
P.O. Box 26110
Santa Fe, NM 87502-6110
Phone:(505)827-0121
Credit Card Orders: 877-284-0963
- Albuquerque Journal online obituaries search
- Worldcat, Library Books regarding Colfax County
- Colfax County Online Genealogy Message Boards: Cousin Connect, GenForum, Rootsweb,
Places
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References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Colfax County, New Mexico page 473, At various libraries (WorldCat); FHL Book 973 D27e 2002.
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