Colorado Census

Federal

Many federal census records are found at the Family History Library, the National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The United States Research Outline provides more detailed information regarding these records.

The Family History Library has the federal censuses for the state of Colorado for 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 and a special federal census taken in 1885. The 1890 census was destroyed.

Soundex (phonetic) indexes are available on microfilm for part of the 1880 census and all of the 1900 and 1920 censuses. The Family History Library also has a published index for the 1880 census and a Denver street index (FHL fiche 6331481) for use with the 1910 census.

Mortality schedules (lists of deaths in the year before a census) exist for the 1860 (Kansas Territory), 1870, 1870, and 1880. The schedules and indexes are at the Family History Library.

Territorial

An 1860 federal territorial census was taken in the four territories from which Colorado was created. For the northeastern part of the state, see the Nebraska 1860 census schedules designated "unorganized territory." The central eastern section was enumerated with Arapahoe County, Kansas Territory. The southeast portion was enumerated in parts of Taos and Mora counties of New Mexico Territory. Since the half of the state included in the Utah Territory was not settled, no census was taken in that area.

The Colorado Historical Society has a card index to the 1860 census. Separate indexes for the Nebraska and New Mexico portions are included in the 1860 indexes for those territories. An index to Arapahoe County, Kansas (where most of Colorado's 1860 population lived) is found in search 7A on the AIS census index on microfiche.

An 1870 Colorado Territory census and index are also at the Family History Library. Both the 1860 and 1870 censuses include mortality schedules.

Online Resources

http://www.census-online.com/links/CO/

http://www.censusfinder.com/colorado.htm

http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tx/colorado/census/1930/

http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tx/colorado/census/1870/ use with: http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/1870/index.htm

www.ancestry.com  ($)

www.heritagequestonline.com  ($) only available at public libraries