Fort Collins Colorado Genealogy Records

Fort Collins is the county seat of Larimer County. It is home to Colorado State University. The city was founded in 1864. Over 170,000 people live here today. It began as a military camp. The town grew into an agricultural center. Genealogy research here offers rich resources. Records span from the frontier days to today.

The city sits along the Cache la Poudre River. Early settlers came for the fertile land. The railroad arrived in 1877. This brought more growth. Many families have deep roots here. The university attracts people from across the state. Your ancestors may have studied or worked here.

Larimer County Records

Fort Collins is the county seat of Larimer County. The Clerk and Recorder office is downtown. They maintain marriage and land records. These are key for genealogy research. Staff can help you search their indexes. The office follows state rules under C.R.S. 24-80.

Marriage records in Larimer County go back to the 1860s. Land records can show property owned by your ancestors. These records often list family members. The Clerk and Recorder can search their database. Call before you visit to check hours and fees.

Records Available in Fort Collins

Larimer County maintains many record types for genealogy. Marriage licenses start from the 1860s. Land records go back to the county's founding. These can help you find family connections. Birth and death records are at the state level. Older ones may be at the State Archives.

The Colorado State Archives holds historical records. These include documents from the 8th Judicial District. You can search their database online. C.R.S. 24-80 guides how these records are kept. Some records are on microfilm. Others are original documents.

• Marriage licenses from 1860s to present
• Land deeds and property records
• Military discharge records
• Court records at the District Court
• Probate records
• Naturalization records

Newspapers are a great resource. The Coloradoan has been published since 1873. Old issues are on microfilm. The library has many papers from the area. Obituaries can be found there. They often list family members. This helps build your family tree.

Local Genealogy Resources

The Poudre River Public Library District is excellent. They have a special local history archive. The archive is online at history.poudrelibraries.org. You can search photos and documents there. Call 970-221-6688 for help. The library also has genealogy databases.

The Colorado State Archives is in Denver. They hold older Larimer County records. You can search their database first. Then visit to view original documents. Bring a photo ID for entry. The archives are free to use.

Colorado State University has special collections. The University Archives holds historical materials. They focus on northern Colorado history. Some collections are open to the public. Call ahead to check access policies.

Colorado State Resources

The Colorado State Archives holds many Larimer County records. These include historical documents. Births before 1908 are often found there. Deaths before 1900 may also be available. The Archives Search database lets you check online. Call 303-866-2358 for help.

The CDPHE Vital Records office has certificates from 1900 onward. They are at 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South, Denver. Call 303-692-2200. Under C.R.S. 25-2-117, some records are confidential. Birth certificates are private for 100 years. Death certificates are private for 75 years.

Other helpful resources include:

• Colorado State Archives: archives.colorado.gov
• Archives Search: Online database
• Poudre History: history.poudrelibraries.org
• FamilySearch: familysearch.org
• VitalChek: vitalchek.com
• Colorado Historic Newspapers: coloradohistoricnewspapers.org

Nearby Cities

Fort Collins is near several other cities. Your ancestors may have lived in these areas. Check nearby jurisdictions for complete research. Larimer County has many smaller towns too.