Boulder County, Colorado Genealogy

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

Description
The early settlers mostly came for the Colorado gold rush in 1858. The County was named after Boulder City and Boulder Creek, so named because of the abundance of boulders in the area. The County is located in the southeast area of the state.

County Courthouse
Boulder County Courthouse 2020 13th st PO Box 471 Boulder, CO 80302 Phone 303-441-7770 Boulder County Website Boulder Clerk Recorder's Office 1750 33rd Street, Suite 201 Boulder, CO 80301 Telephone: (303) 413-7770 County recorder has marriage records from 1863, land records from 1864 and military discharge records from 1917; County Health Department has birth and death records records from 1872. County Court has probate, divorce and 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:


 * Caribou, Colorado was an important silver mining town. Famed at the time for being the coldest, snowiest, windiest town, at 10,000 feet elevation it was not an easy place to live. The Silver Crash of 1893 meant that it was less profitable. Incorporated as a town in 1871, Caribou had peak population of 549 in the 1880 census, and became a ghost town by the 1920s.

Biographies
Separate Lives: The Story of Mary Rippon. The Book Lode, LLC, 1999

Someone’s Daughter: In Search of Justice for Jane Doe. Taylor Trade Publishing, 2009

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 The first U.S. federal census that included the Boulder county area was part of the 1860 Nebraska territorial census. Transcribed records from that census are available here: Census
 * 1870 U. S. federal census records began for Colorado in 1870 and continue every ten years to the present.
 * 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

Lutheran Church


 * Records of the American Lutheran Church, Broomfield, in Evangelical Lutheran Church in America database at Archives.com ($).

Presbyterian Church


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

Additional Churches


 * Lafayette Churches
 * Longmont Churches
 * Louisville Churches

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.

1914-1934 Boulder County Mothers' Compensation Records 1914-1934. An Index compiled from the official]] record of the applications granted by the Boulder County Commissioners during these years. Record may show the following:


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

1933-1936 Boulder County Old Age Pension Records 1933-1936. An Index compiled from the official record of the applications granted by the Boulder 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


 * 1896-1949 - U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 at Ancestry - ($), Index and images, Boulder City Directories
 * 1912-1943 - U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 at Ancestry - ($), Index and images, Longmont City Directories

Land and Property Records
Boulder County Recording Division (303) 413-7770 and fax (303) 413-7775 email: recording@bouldercounty.org

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
Some local histories available are these:


 * Boulder County: an illustrated history / by Thomas J. Noel and Dan W. Corson. Carlsbad, Calif. ; Heritage Media Corp., c1999.
 * Ghosts of Boulder County: a guide to the ghost towns and mining camps of Boulder County, Colorado / written and photographed by John K. Aldrich. Lakewood, Colo. (5815 W. 6th St., Bldg. 2, Suite. A, Lakewood 80214): Centennial Graphics, c1986
 * A guide to the greater St. Vrain Valley. Compass Communications, 1975-
 * Boulder County (Colorado) area key : a study of the genealogical record sources of Boulder County, Colorado, including maps, history, addresses / compiled by Florence Runyan Clint. Denver, CO : Eden Press, c1969.
 * Behind the Badge: 125 Years of the Boulder Police Department. The Book Lode, LLC, 2003
 * Boulder: A Sense of Time and Place, The Book Lode, 2000
 * Boulder: A Sense of Time and Place Revisited. The History Press, 2010
 * Boulder: Evolution of a City. University Press of Colorado, 1994 (2nd edition, 2006)
 * Boulder’s Floods and Flood Management: Past & Present. City of Boulder, 2016
 * Boulder’s Wastewater: Past & Present. City of Boulder, 2015
 * Boulder’s Waterworks: Past & Present. City of Boulder, 2014
 * Broomfield: Changes Through Time. The Book Lode, LLC, 2001
 * Chautauqua Centennial, Boulder Colorado: A Hundred Years of Programs. The Book Lode, LLC, 1998
 * Excursions From Peak to Peak: Beginning in Boulder. The Book Lode, LLC, 1987
 * Excursions From Peak to Peak: Then and Now. The Book Lode, 1997
 * Inn and Around Nederland: Accommodating the Traveler, Then and Now. The Book Lode, 1998
 * Legend of a Landmark: A History of the Hotel Boulderado. The Book Lode, LLC, 1986 (second edition, Pictorial Histories, 1997; third edition, The Book Lode, LLC, 2009)
 * Only in Boulder: The County’s Colorful Characters. The History Press, 2010
 * Positively Pearl Street: A Chronicle of the Center of Boulder, Colorado, 1859 to Present. The Book Lode, LLC, 2007
 * Red Rocks to Riches: Gold Mining in Boulder County Then and Now. Stonehenge Books, 1980
 * State of the Heart: 1902 to 2002, The First 100 Years of the Humane Society of Boulder Valley. Human Society of Boulder Valley, 2002
 * The Peaceful Valley Story: Fulfillment of a Dream. The Book Lode, LLC, 1994
 * Western Boulder County: Guide to Historic Western Boulder County. Cordillera Press, Inc., 1989
 * Boulder Daily Camera Index to Obituaries, 1960-1969
 * Boulder Daily Camera Obituary Index, 1970-1974
 * Boulder Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vols 1-50 (1969-2018)
 * Boulder Genealogical Society Quarterly, Table of Contents and Names Index, Vols 1-3
 * Green Mountain Cemetery, Boulder, Colorado, Index to Interment Books, 1904-2016
 * Burials in Park (Columbia) Cemetery, Boulder, Colorado, 1910-1965
 * Deaths in Boulder and Longmont, Colorado, 1923-1943
 * Directory of Boulder, Colorado 1883
 * Boulder County, Colorado Marriage Records, 1860-1900
 * Boulder's First Newspaper
 * Hotels of Boulder, Colorado from 1860
 * Early Days of Boulder, Colorado, Vols 1-III
 * Improvements in Boulder, Colorado through 1900

Online County Histories


 * History of Clear Creek and Boulder Valley, Colorado. 1880. By Sanford Charles Gladden.  Chicago, Illinois : O.L. Baskin. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive;.

Maps and Gazetteers
Boulder County has numerous maps available online here: Maps


 * 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
 * Map: Boulder City Town Company 1859 Original Survey Map
 * Map: Boulder City Town Company, 11 Aug 1859 Land Lottery Map Showing Lot Purchases
 * Map: Boulder City Town Company 20 Sept 1859 Map Showing Stock Certificates Issued by Lot
 * FamilySearch Places:Cities and Towns- 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


 * 1869 - Boulder County Pioneer online at Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection - free.
 * 1869-1878 - Boulder County News online at Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection - free.
 * 1871 - Burlington Free Press online at Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection - free.
 * 1872-1882 - Longmont Press online at Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection - free.
 * 1875-1877 - Colorado Banner online at Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection - free.
 * 1878 - Boulder County Courier online at Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection - free.
 * 1879-1883 - Boulder News and Courier online at Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection - free.
 * 1888 - Longmont Times online at Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection - free.
 * 1891-1894 - Boulder Daily Camera online at Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection - free.
 * 1896 - Daily Times, Longmont, online at Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection - free.
 * 1897-1898 - Longmont Ledger online at Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection - free.
 * 1900-1901 - Lyons Recorder online at Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection - free.

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

Microfilm of old newspapers is available at the Boulder Public Library and at the Longmont Public Library. The Longmont collection includes issues from 1872 to the present. See Longmont Newspapers

Other Records
Digging Up Dirt: The Gold Hill Cemetery, Gold Hill, Colorado

Boulder County, Colorado Lodged Wills and Inheritance Tax Waivers, 1899-1975: An Annotated Index

Boulder County, Colorado School Census 1877: An Annotated Index

Boulder County, Colorado, District Court, Petit Jury Lists, 1883-1910: An Annotated Index

Boulder County, Colorado District Court, Grand Jury Records, 1867-1922: An Annotated Index

Boulder County, Colorado District Court, Petit Jury Records, 1867-1936: An Annotated Index

Boulder County, Colorado Clerk & Recorder, Loose Papers Volume 1, 1861-1878: An Annotated Index

Boulder County, Colorado Clerk & Recorder, Loose Papers Volume 2, 1861-1878: An Annotated Index

Boulder County, Colorado Surveys and Mineral Claims at the General Land Office, 1859-1876: An Annotated Index

Boulder County, Colorado District Court Judge's Docket, Vol 1, 1867-1871: An Annotated Index

Boulder County, Colorado District Court Record, June 1862 to March 1866: An Annotated Transcription

Boulder County, Colorado Treasurer, Register of Accounts, 1867-1880: An Annotated Index

Boulder County, Colorado County Court Index Book I, Plaintiffs and Defendants: An Annotated Index

Minutes of the Board of Trustees of the University of Colorado, 1870-1876: An Annotated Index

Boulder County, Colorado District Court Civil Appearance Docket, 1878-1882: An Annotated Index

Boulder County, Colorado County Court Will Record, Volume A, 1875-1889: An Annotated Index

Boulder County, Colorado, County Court Probate Record, Vol 1, 1875-1884: An Annotated Index

Early Land Owners Along the St. Vrain Creek, Colorado Territory, 1860-1861: An Annotated Index

Boulder County, Colorado District Court Widow's Relinquishment, Volumes 1 & 2, 1889–1937: An Annotated Index

Boulder County, Colorado, District Court Guardians Bonds, Vol. A, 1876-1902: An Annotated Index

Boulder County, Colorado Probate Court Fee Book, 1874-1890: An Annotated Index

Boulder City Town Company Lot Sales 1859-1864: An Annotated Map Guide

Brainard's Hotel Register, Boulder, Colorado, 1880: An Annotated Index

Boulder County Commissioners Journal, 1861-1871: An Annotated Transcription

Boulder County Commissioners Journal, 1871-1874: An Annotated Transcription

Boulder, Colorado Teachers, 1878-1900: An Annotated Index

Boulder County, Colorado District Court Execution Docket, 1875-1885: An Annotated Index

Boulder, Colorado Births 1892–1906: An Annotated Index

Boulder County Probate Court Appraisement Record A, 1875-1888: An Annotated Index

Boulder County Assessor’s Tax List, 1875: An Annotated Index

Boulder County Assessor’s Tax List, 1876: An Annotated Index

Boulder Valley Presbyterian Church Records, 1863-1900: An Annotated Index

Boulder’s Masonic Pioneers, 1867-1886: Members of Columbia Lodge No. 14, Boulder County, Colorado Territory

Probate Records

 * Estate Files from 1862 are in the Colorado State Archives

Online Records


 * 1852 to 2004 The probate holdings in the state archives for Boulder County include the years 1852 to 2004.
 * 1862–1900 The Colorado State Archives has a searchable database for county probate records. Boulder County records for the years 1862 to 1900 can be found in this index. Boulder County Records.
 * 1875–1974 Colorado Wills and Probate Records 1875-1974 at Ancestry.com — index and images $
 * 1900–2004 Boulder County probate records for the years 1900 to 2004 are currently being indexed (as of March 2018) at the Colorado State Archives by members of the Boulder Genealogical Society.

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.

Tax Records
1941-1943 Boulder County Inheritance Tax Records Index (1941-1943) is one of many On-Line Indexes available at the Colorado State Archives website.

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.

Boulder County Public Health can issue certified birth certificates for births occurring anywhere in Colorado from 1904 to present day. They only issue certified copies of birth certificates.

Only the person named on the record or members of the immediate family, legal representatives of those named above, or others demonstrating a direct and tangible interest in the record may request a copy if the birth occurred within the last 100 years as stated above. Proof of your relationship or direct and tangible interest is required.


 * 1892-1906 Boulder County Birth Index 1892-1906 at Colorado State Archives - index, select record type for search

Birth &amp; Death Certificates

Boulder: (303) 441-1100 Longmont: (303) 678-6166

Marriage
The Boulder 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) 413-7770 and press 0 to speak to a clerk.

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
 * 1859-1900 - Colorado Marriages, 1859-1900 at Ancestry.com - ($); Index only
 * 1862-2006 - Colorado, County Marriages and State Indexes, 1862-2006 at Ancestry ($), Index and images
 * 1864-1995 - at FamilySearch - Index and images - How to Use this Collection
 * 1900-1939 - Colorado, Statewide Marriage Index, 1900-1939 at Ancestry.com - ($); Browseable images of original index
 * 1975 - 2004 Colorado, Marriages, 1975 - 2004 at MyHeritage - index and images ($)

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

Certified copies of death certificates may be issued to: parents; grandparents; stepparents; siblings; spouse; adult children, stepchildren, or grandchildren of the deceased; legal representatives of any of the above; legal representatives of the deceased; probate researchers; genealogists representing family members with appropriate credentials; others who may demonstrate a direct and tangible interest when information is needed for determination or protection of a personal property right. Proof of your relationship or direct and tangible interest is required.

Divorce
Boulder County divorces take place in Colorado’s 20th Judicial District. To obtain copies of divorce records there are fees for searching and for copies.

Boulder County Combined Courts Research Department (303) 441-4860 Combined Courts Research Department

Online Records


 * 1851-1985 Colorado, Divorce Index, 1851-1985 at Ancestry - ($); Index only
 * 1878 - 2004 Colorado, Divorces, 1878 - 2004 at MyHeritage - index ($)
 * 1900-1939 - at FamilySearch - Browseable images of original index - How to Use this Collection
 * 1904-1912 The Colorado State Archives has put a name only index to the Boulder County Divorce Records for the period 5/14/1904 to 4/22/1912 on-line.
 * 1964-1995 The Colorado State Archives also has the divorce records for Boulder County from 1964 to 1995. To obtain these records, you need the case number and can get it from the Boulder County Combined Courts. Then go to Combined Courts Divorce Records

Archives
1862-1900 Boulder County Probates 1871-1872 Boulder County Rights of Way Cases 1892-1906 Boulder County Birth Index 1904-1918 Boulder County Divorce 1914-1934 Boulder County Mothers Compensations 1933-1936 Boulder County Old Age Pension 1941-1943 Boulder County Inheritance Tax Records

Family History Centers

 * Boulder Colorado Family History Center
 * Longmont Colorado Family History Center

Museums
Museum of Boulder

2205 Broadway

Boulder, CO 80302

(303) 449-3464

https://museumofboulder.org/

Websites

 * Boulder County COGenWeb
 * - 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
 * Boulder County, Colorado Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)