TELLER COUNTY, CO HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

*None Listed

Teller County, Colorado: A Genealogical Overview

Born from one of the last and greatest gold rushes in the American West, Teller county’s history is synonymous with the “World’s Greatest Gold Camp” of Cripple Creek and Victor. Its genealogical records reflect a boom-and-bust cycle, attracting a diverse population of miners, merchants, and entrepreneurs from around the globe in a very short period.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding Teller county’s creation at the peak of the gold rush is essential, as all records for individuals in the area before 1899 are held by its parent counties.

  • 1899: County Formed: Teller county was officially established on March 23, 1899, carved out of two larger counties to provide local governance for the booming mining district.
  • Parent Counties: It was formed from the western portion of El Paso county and the northern portion of Fremont county.
  • Name Origin: The county was named for Henry M. Teller, a highly influential Colorado politician who served as a U.S. Senator and as the U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
  • County Seat History: The county seat was established in Cripple Creek upon the county’s formation and has remained there ever since.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: Before the gold rush, the high-altitude parks and mountains of the area were used as summer hunting grounds by the Ute people.
  • The Cripple Creek Gold Rush: The county’s history began abruptly with the discovery of gold ore by Robert “Bob” Womack in 1890. This sparked a massive rush that, by the late 1890s, had swelled the district’s population to nearly 50,000 people. The towns of Cripple Creek and Victor were established and quickly became major urban centers with modern amenities.
  • Economy and Labor Wars: The economy was entirely dependent on hard rock gold mining. Railroads, including the Midland Terminal and the Florence and Cripple Creek, were built to serve the mines and transport ore. The district was also the site of major, violent labor conflicts, most notably the Colorado Labor Wars of 1903-1904, which pitted the Western Federation of Miners against the mine owners. After the gold boom declined, the county’s population shrank dramatically, with the economy later shifting to tourism and legalized gambling.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

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

  • Courthouse and Government Center:
    • Teller County Clerk and Recorder: Located at the Teller County Courthouse, 101 W. Bennett Avenue, Cripple Creek, CO 80813. This office is the primary repository for land records and marriage licenses from 1899 to the present. For records prior to March 1899, researchers must consult the records of El Paso and Fremont counties.
    • Teller County Combined Courts: Also located at the Courthouse in Cripple Creek. This court holds probate, divorce, and other court records. There is a branch courthouse in Woodland Park for more recent matters.
  • 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. Local vital records can also be obtained from Teller County Public Health.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records from 1899 to the present are held by the Teller County Clerk and Recorder.
  • Libraries and Museums with Genealogy Collections:
    • Cripple Creek District Museum: Located in Cripple Creek, this museum is an essential resource, holding extensive photograph collections, newspapers, and records specific to the mining district and its residents.
    • Rampart Library District: This is the county’s public library system, with branches in Woodland Park, Cripple Creek, and Florissant offering access to genealogical databases.
    • Pikes Peak Library District: For comprehensive regional research, the Special Collections at the Pikes Peak Library District in neighboring Colorado Springs (El Paso county) is an invaluable resource.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Douglas county
    • El Paso county
    • Fremont county
    • Jefferson county
    • Park county

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