Gilpin County, Colorado Genealogy

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

County Facts
County seat: Central City
Organized: November 1, 1861
Parent County(s): Arapahoe (old) Kansas Territory[1]
Neighboring Counties
Boulder • Clear Creek • Grand • Jefferson
See County Maps
Courthouse
ColoradoGilpinCourthouse.jpg
Location Map
Colorado Gilpin County.png

County Information[edit | edit source]

Description[edit | edit source]

Gilpin County was created 1 Nov 1861[2] and was named after Colonel William Gilpin, the first territorial governor. Its county seat is Central City. It is located in the northwest area of the state.[3]

County Courthouse[edit | edit source]

Gilpin County Courthouse
203 Eureka Street
PO Box 366
Central City, CO 80427-0366
Phone: 303-582-5321
Gilpin County Website

Gilpin and Jefferson County Vital Records
800 Jefferson County Parkway
Golden, CO 80419
303-271-6450
Fax 303-271-6451
Website

County Clerk has marriage records from 1881 and land records from 1861;
Clerk District Court had divorce and probate records[4]

Gilpin 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 Government County Records[5]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1863 1881 1863 1861 1861 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:[7]

Cities
Unincorporated communities
Census-designated places
  • Coal Creek (also in Boulder and Jefferson counties)
Ghost towns

The following are places and other links to locations in Gilpin County, Colorado:

History Timeline[edit | edit source]

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 Gilpin, 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.[8] See links listed below.

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1870 5,490 —
1880 6,489 18.2%
1890 5,867 −9.6%
1900 6,690 14.0%
1910 4,131 −38.3%
1920 1,364 −67.0%
1930 1,212 −11.1%
1940 1,625 34.1%
1950 850 −47.7%
1960 685 −19.4%
1970 1,272 85.7%
1980 2,441 91.9%
1990 3,070 25.8%
2000 4,757 55.0%
2010 5,441 14.4%
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.[9] 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


List of Churches and Church Parishes

Court Records[edit | edit source]

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.

  • 1861-1882 Gilpin County District Court Filings at Colorado State Archives - index, select record type for search
  • 1862-1878 Chancery Court Cases documenting legal decisions rendered by the territorial and district court of Gilpin County for the years 1862 - 1878. Chancery cases are those types of cases where justice was applied in circumstances not specifically covered by law during these years. Names appearing on this index most likely include some of the early gold seekers that came west in search of fortune and fame.
  • 1867-1876 Gilpin County Bankruptcy Docket at Colorado State Archives - index, select record type for search

Directories[edit | edit source]

Emigration and Immigration[edit | edit source]

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

Funeral Homes[edit | edit source]

Genealogies[edit | edit source]

Genealogy Trails - Gilpin County Genealogy and History website

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 Indexes and Records


For more information see Colorado Land and Property

Local Histories[edit | edit source]

Online County Histories

Maps and Gazetteers[edit | edit source]

Grand CountyBoulder CountyJefferson County,Clear Creek CountyCO GILPIN.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 Historic Newspapers Collection has searchable digital copies of newspapers from all over the state of Colorado. The list of newspapers available for Gilpin county includes the Daily Mining Journal (Nov 1863 - Dec 1866) from Black Hawk, and the Daily Register Call (March 1868 - Feb 1879) and Evening Call (Feb 1878 - June 1878) from Central City. Newspapers that are available on this site date from 1859-1923 and are searchable.

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 FamilySearch 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 Probate Indexes and Records

School Records[edit | edit source]

Social Security 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.


.

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.

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. [10]

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 Gilpin 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 303 582-5321.

Online Records

Death[edit | edit source]

Death records may become public records when 75 years have elapsed after the date of death. [10]

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 Colorado Judicial District 1, County Combined Courts. 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]

{{CO Archives}}

1861-1882 Gilpin County District Court Filings
1862-1878 Gilpin County Chancery Cases
1864-1944 Gilpin County Marriages
1867-1876 Gilpin County Bankruptcy Docket
1874-1892 Gilpin County Probate Court Civil Case Filings
1910-1922 Gilpin County Inheritance Tax

FamilySearch Centers[edit | edit source]

FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries

  • FamilySearch 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 FamilySearch center.

Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries

Libraries[edit | edit source]

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

Gilpin County Public Library
15131 Highway 119
Black Hawk, CO 80422
303-582-5777
Email: gilpinlib@gilpincounty.org
Website
Facebook

Museums[edit | edit source]

Societies[edit | edit source]

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

Foothills Genealogical Society of Colorado, Inc.
PO Box 150382
Lakewood, CO 80215-0382
Email: info@foothillsgenealogy.com
Website

Gilpin Historical Society
228 E 1st High Street
PO Box 247
Central City, CO 80427-0247
303-582-5283
Email: gilpinhistory@live.com
Website
Facebook

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. ↑ https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/CO_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm
  3. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Gilpin County, Colorado," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gilpin_County,_Colorado&oldid=1220418472 (accessed June 3, 2024).
  4. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Gilpin County, Colorado. Page 98 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  5. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Gilpin County, Colorado. Page 98 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 92; Colorado Office of the State Registrat of Vital Statistics.
  6. ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
  7. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Gilpin County, Colorado," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilpin_County,_Colorado, accessed 22 May 2017.
  8. ↑ 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; FS Library Book 973 D27rb 2004; WorldCat entry.
  9. ↑ William Thorndale and William Dollarhide, Map Guide to the U.S. Federal Censuses (Bountiful, UT: American Genealogical Lending Library, 1985), page 54.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Letter from Colorado State Registrar, Dated September 1, 2011. Policy Number 2011- 08. http://www.colorado.gov
v • d• e
Links to Colorado-related articles
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