La Plata County Death Records Search

La Plata County obituary records document the history of southwestern Colorado. The county seat is Durango. Death records date back to the 1870s. San Juan Basin Public Health provides current vital records. The Center of Southwest Studies holds historical resources. Finding obituaries in La Plata County requires checking both offices. This page guides your search for these important records.

La Plata County Vital Records Services

San Juan Basin Public Health serves La Plata County residents. Their office issues death certificates for Colorado. You can reach them at 970-247-5702. The office is at 281 Sawyer Drive, Suite 300, Durango, CO 81303. Staff help families get the vital records they need.

San Juan Basin Public Health covers multiple counties in the region. This regional approach helps rural areas. La Plata County residents benefit from local access. You can get same-day service in many cases. Bring proper ID and proof of relationship to the deceased.

Fees for La Plata County death certificates follow state rates. The first copy costs $25. Each additional copy is $20. These fees are set by Colorado law. They apply statewide. Payment methods vary by office.

The La Plata County Clerk and Recorder maintains other records. Their office handles property and marriage records. They do not issue death certificates. For vital records, contact San Juan Basin Public Health. The clerk's office can guide you to the right place.

Note: La Plata County offers both in-person and mail options for death certificate requests through the regional health office.

Center of Southwest Studies Obituary Archives

The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College preserves La Plata County history. Their archives include obituaries and death records. The collection covers Durango and surrounding areas. Researchers can access these materials by appointment. The center serves scholars and family historians alike.

Center staff maintain indexes to local newspapers. Durango newspapers published obituaries for over a century. These notices document La Plata County lives. The archives hold clipping files. Some records are digitized. Others require in-person review.

The Center of Southwest Studies is at 1000 Rim Dr., Durango, CO 81301. Call 970-247-7456 for research help. Staff can guide you to La Plata County obituary resources. They specialize in regional history. Their collections complement state vital records.

La Plata County historical societies also maintain records. Local museums may have family papers. These include obituaries and funeral programs. Genealogical societies in Durango can help. They know sources not found online.

Colorado State Archives La Plata County Records

The Colorado State Archives holds pre-1908 death records. La Plata County formed in 1874. Early records are sparse. The archives gathered what survived from county offices. These include coroner's records and burial permits.

Durango became the county seat early. The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad arrived in 1881. Growth brought more formal record keeping. La Plata County death registration improved after 1900. State law required uniform certificates after 1908.

Visit the State Archives in Denver for La Plata County research. Their database is searchable online. Indexes help you find specific records. Staff provide guidance on requesting copies. Historical death records reveal family stories.

Under C.R.S. § 25-2-110, funeral homes must file death certificates within 72 hours. This law ensures timely La Plata County records. Doctors must certify causes of death. These rules create accurate vital records.

La Plata County Newspaper Obituaries

The Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection includes La Plata County papers. Search for obituaries from Durango newspapers. The database is free. It contains millions of pages. New issues are added regularly.

Durango Herald obituaries appear in recent archives. The paper serves La Plata County today. Their website may have recent obituaries. Local libraries keep back issues. Microfilm readers are available for old papers.

La Plata County's mining history appears in obituaries. The Silverton Standard covered northern towns. Bayfield and Ignacio had local papers too. These sources document worker deaths. They tell stories of early La Plata County life.

Find A Grave lists many La Plata County cemeteries. Greenmount Cemetery in Durango is well documented. Small town burial grounds appear too. Users add photos and family links. Cemetery records help confirm death dates.

Requesting La Plata County Death Certificates

C.R.S. § 25-2-118 defines who can obtain death certificates. La Plata County follows these state rules. Immediate family members qualify. This includes spouses, parents, and children. Siblings need extra proof.

To request a La Plata County death record, bring valid photo ID. You must show your relationship to the deceased. Birth certificates work for children. Marriage certificates prove spousal status. The office checks these carefully.

Legal representatives may order with court orders. Insurance companies need proof of claim status. Government agencies request for official business. Genealogists access records over 25 years old. These rules protect La Plata County families.

Note: La Plata County death certificates become public after 75 years. Records from 1949 and earlier are open to all researchers.

Historical Death Records in La Plata County

Before state registration, La Plata County kept some death records. Churches documented burials. Catholic parishes in Durango and Bayfield recorded deaths. Protestant churches did too. These records survive in church archives. They supplement official vital records.

Mining accidents killed many early residents. La Plata County coroners investigated these deaths. Their reports detailed causes. Some files survive at the State Archives. They offer glimpses into dangerous working conditions. Family historians value these accounts.

The 1918 influenza pandemic hit La Plata County hard. Death records from this period spike. Obituaries mention the illness. Cemetery records show cluster burials. These documents tell a sad chapter of local history.

Native American deaths appear in Bureau of Indian Affairs records. The Southern Ute tribe has reservation land in La Plata County. Some tribal members appear in county records. Others are documented federally. Researching these families requires checking multiple sources.