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Weld County, Colorado Genealogy

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

County Facts
County seat: Greeley
Organized: November 1, 1861
Parent County(s): Original county[1]
Neighboring Counties
Adams • Boulder • Broomfield • Kimball (NE) • Laramie (WY) • Larimer • Logan • Morgan
See County Maps
Courthouse
ColoradoWeldCourthouse.jpg
Location Map
Colorado Weld County.png

County Information

Description

Weld County was created 1 Nov 1861[2] and was named for Lewis Ledyard Weld, a lawyer and territorial secretary. Its county seat is Greeley. It is located in the north central area of the state.[3]

County Courthouse

Weld County Courthouse
1402 17th Street
Greeley, CO 80631-1123
Phone: 970-353-3840
Weld County Website

Weld County Clerk and Recorder
1402 North 17th Avenue
Greeley, CO 80631
Phone: 970-353-3840
Weld Co. Clerk and Recorder Website

Department of Public Health and Environment
1555 North 17th Avenue
Greeley, CO 80631
Phone: 970-304-6410
Website

County Clerk has marriage and land records;
Clerk District Court has divorce, probate and court records[4]
Weld County Birth and Death Information at Department of Public Heath and Environment.

Weld 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 Government County Records[5]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1872 1864 1872 1861 1865 1861 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

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: [7]

Cities
Towns
Unincorporated communities
Census-designated places
Ghost towns

‡ means a populated place has portions in an adjacent county or counties according to Wikipedia.org.

History Timeline

Resources

Bible Records

Biographies

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Weld, 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

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 1,636 —
1880 5,646 245.1%
1890 11,736 107.9%
1900 16,808 43.2%
1910 39,177 133.1%
1920 54,059 38.0%
1930 65,097 20.4%
1940 63,747 −2.1%
1950 67,504 5.9%
1960 72,344 7.2%
1970 89,297 23.4%
1980 123,438 38.2%
1990 131,821 6.8%
2000 180,936 37.3%
2010 252,825 39.7%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

State and Territory Census Records

Federal Census Records

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

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

Lutheran Church
1909-1913 U.S., Dutch Christian Reformed Church Membership Records, 1856-1970 at Ancestry — ($); Index and images; Kuner Christian Reformed Church in Kuner, 1909-1913


List of Churches and Church Parishes

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.

Directories

Emigration and Immigration

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

African Americans

There was a small colony between Greeley and Fort Morgan. To learn more, see Dearfield, a Weld County Genealogical Society project.

1909-1946 The Colorado State Archives has school records available in this online database Archives Search.
Dearfield and surrounding area School Census 1909 - 1946

Funeral Homes

Genealogies

For some Weld County names and sources, see Weld County Master Index courtesy of the Weld County Genealogical Society.

Guardianship

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 Indexes and Records

For more information see Colorado Land and Property

Local Histories

Online County Histories

Maps and Gazetteers

Kimball CountyMorgan CountyLaramie CountyBoulder CountyAdams CountyLogan CountyLarimer CountyWashington CountyCOWELD.JPG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Migration

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

Civil War

Spanish-American War (1898)

World War I

World War II

Vietnam War

For further information see Colorado Military Records.

Naturalization and Citizenship

Online Records

Newspapers

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

List of Weld County Newspapers

Obituaries

Other Records

Pension Records

Poor Records

Periodicals

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 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

Social Security Records

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.


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.

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. [10]

For in-state births from 1900 to present, certificates can be obtained from Weld County Department of Public Health office. For birth certificates before 1900 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 970 304-6410.

Marriage

The Weld 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 970 353-3840.

Online Records

Death

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

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 the Weld County Department of Public Health office at 970 304-6410.

Divorce

Weld County divorces take place in Colorado’s 19th Judicial District. To obtain copies of divorce records there are fees for searching and for copies.

Weld County Combined Courts 970 475-2400.

Online Records

Research Facilities

Archives

Colorado State Archives
1313 Sherman St., Room 1B-20
Denver, CO 80203
Request a Record
Telephone: 303-866-2358
Website

Contains online database Archives Search. See Colorado State Archives for a full list of online holdings
1880-1939 Divorce Index
1883-1900 Mine Accidents, Non - fatal
1897-1920 Horseshoers
1936-1942 Civilian Conservation Corps Enrollments
1966-1968 Vietnam Deaths

(1876-1981) Weld County Probate Cases
1902-1913 Weld County Poor Record
1931 Weld County Old Age Pensions
Weld County WW1 Vets

FamilySearch Centers

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

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

Clearview Library District
720 Third Street
Windsor, CO 80550
970-686-5603
Email: hello@clearviewlibrary.org
Website

Dacono Public Library
512 Cherry Street
Dacono, CO 80514
303-833-2317
Website

High Plains Library District
1939 61st Avenue
Greeley, CO 80634
888-861-7323
Website

Museums

Societies

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

Johnstown Historical Society
701 Charlotte St
Johnstown, Colorado 80534
970-587-0278
Email: jhscomuseum@gmail.com
Website

South Platte Valley Historical Society
PO Box 633
Fort Lupton, CO 80621
303-857-1710
Email: lancaster.lupton@spvhs.org
Website

Weld County Genealogical Society
PO Box 278
Greeley, CO 80632
Email: wcgs.gene@yahoo.com
Website

Websites

Research Guides

References

  1. ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
  2. ↑ Colorado: Individual Chronologies, Colorado Atlas of Historical County Boundaries, https://digital.newberry.org/ahcb/documents/CO_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm
  3. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Weld County, Colorado," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Weld_County,_Colorado&oldid=1220419294 (accessed June 16, 2024).
  4. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Weld County, Colorado. Page 101 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  5. ↑ Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 94.
  6. ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America,10th ed. (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002).
  7. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Weld County, Colorado," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weld_County,_Colorado, accessed 25 January 2018.
  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
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