MORGAN COUNTY, CO HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Morgan County, Colorado: A Genealogical Overview

Located on the high plains of northeastern Colorado, Morgan county is a testament to the transformative power of irrigation, which turned arid prairie into a rich agricultural heartland. Its history is deeply tied to the Overland Trail, the U.S. Army forts that protected it, the railroads that brought settlers, and the sugar beet industry that fueled its growth.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding Morgan county’s creation from the vast Weld county is the first step for researchers tracing families in this area, as all pre-1889 records are held elsewhere.

  • 1889: County Formed: Morgan county was officially established on February 19, 1889.
  • Parent County: It was created entirely from the southern portion of Weld county.
  • Name Origin: The county was named for the U.S. Army post of Fort Morgan, which had been established in the area in 1864. The fort itself was named in honor of Colonel Christopher A. Morgan.
  • County Seat History: After its formation, a competition for the county seat arose between the towns of Fort Morgan and Brush. Fort Morgan was chosen and has remained the county seat throughout its history.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: The South Platte River valley was a vital resource and hunting ground for numerous Plains tribes, including the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Pawnee, and Sioux.
  • Overland Trail and Fort Morgan: The area became a key corridor for westward migration along the Overland Trail. To protect travelers and communication lines from Native American raids, the U.S. Army established Fort Morgan in 1864 near a major crossing of the South Platte River.
  • Railroads and Irrigation: Settlement remained sparse until the arrival of the Union Pacific and Burlington Route railroads in the 1880s. The true catalyst for growth was the development of large-scale irrigation projects that diverted water from the South Platte River. This transformed the dry plains into fertile farmland, leading to a boom in agriculture, particularly the cultivation of sugar beets. The Great Western Sugar Company factory in Fort Morgan was the center of the county’s economy for decades.
  • Germans from Russia: The demanding labor of the sugar beet fields attracted a large population of ethnic Germans from Russia, whose culture and descendants remain a significant part of the county’s heritage.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Morgan county.

  • Courthouse and Government Center:
    • Morgan County Clerk and Recorder: Located at 231 Ensign Street, Fort Morgan, CO 80701. This office is the primary repository for land records (deeds) and marriage licenses from 1889 to the present. For records prior to February 1889, researchers must consult the records of Weld County.
    • Morgan County District Court: Located at the Morgan County Justice Center, 400 Warner Street, Fort Morgan, CO 80701. This court holds probate and other historical court records.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in Denver holds birth records from 1910 and death records from 1900. More recent certificates can often be obtained from the Northeast Colorado Health Department.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records from 1889 to the present are held by the Morgan County Clerk and Recorder. Earlier records would be in Weld county.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • Fort Morgan Public Library and Museum: Located at 414 Main Street, Fort Morgan, CO 80701. The museum is an excellent resource for local history, photographs, and artifacts. The library maintains local history files and newspapers.
    • East Morgan County Library: Located at 500 Clayton Street, Brush, CO 80723. This library also has resources for local historical research.
    • Genealogical Societies: Due to the large historic population, the Centennial State Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia is a key resource for researchers with that ancestry.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Adams county
    • Logan county
    • Washington county
    • Weld county

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks