Mineral County Death Records Search

Mineral County obituary records preserve the history of one of Colorado's least populated counties. Creede is the county seat. The county is named for its mineral deposits. Death records date to the 1890s. San Luis Valley Health provides vital records services. State archives hold older documents. Mining heritage fills these records. This guide shows where to look.

Mineral County Vital Records Services

The Mineral County Clerk and Recorder maintains local records. Their office is at 1201 N. Main Street, Creede, CO 81130. Call 719-658-2440 for information. Staff can guide you to vital records. Death certificates come through San Luis Valley Health.

San Luis Valley Health serves Mineral County. This regional approach helps small populations. You do not need to travel far. The health district has multiple locations. They issue death certificates for the region.

Fees follow state guidelines. First copies cost $25. Additional copies are $20 each. These rates apply to all Colorado counties. Mineral County residents pay the same. Payment methods vary by office.

Under C.R.S. § 25-2-118, access is limited. Immediate family may request. Spouses, parents, and children qualify. Siblings need proof of relationship. Legal representatives with court orders can obtain copies.

Note: Mineral County is one of Colorado's least populous counties. Creede is the only incorporated municipality.

Colorado State Archives Mineral County Records

The Colorado State Archives holds historic Mineral County records. Creede was a silver boom town. The last great Colorado mineral strike occurred here in 1890. Thousands rushed in. Many died young. Violence and accidents were common.

Before 1908, Mineral County records are incomplete. The State Archives gathered what survived. Coroner's inquests reveal mining deaths. Some files describe gunfights. The town was rough. Records tell these stories.

Bat Masterson and Soapy Smith spent time in Creede. Famous figures of the West. Their associates died there. Some death records survive. Newspapers covered these events. The State Archives preserves accounts.

Visit the State Archives at 1313 Sherman St., Denver. Call 303-866-2358. Staff help with Mineral County research. Online indexes are searchable. Appointments required.

Finding Mineral County Obituaries

The Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection may include Mineral County papers. Creede had newspapers during the boom. They covered deaths extensively. Mining accidents made headlines. You can search online.

Mineral County's small population means limited archives. Local historical societies may help. They preserve what exists. Family collections hold obituaries. Oral history fills gaps.

Mining community obituaries were dramatic. They described accidents. They named survivors. Sometimes they assigned blame. These notices told harsh truths. Life in Creede was dangerous.

Find A Grave lists Mineral County cemeteries. Creede's graveyard is historic. Mining camp burials appear. Some are unmarked. Users document what they find. Research continues.

Who Can Request Mineral County Death Certificates

C.R.S. § 25-2-117 protects death record privacy. Mineral County follows this law. Records under 75 years are restricted. Only eligible people obtain copies. This protects families.

Spouses may request. Parents listed on certificates qualify. Children need proof. Siblings can request with evidence. Funeral homes on records have access. Legal representatives with court orders qualify.

Bring valid photo ID when requesting. Show your connection. Staff verify eligibility. They prevent fraud. Documentation must be official.

Genealogists access older records. Deaths over 25 years old are available. These are marked for research. Records over 75 years are public. Mineral County's mining history is accessible.

Historical Death Records in Mineral County

Mineral County's mining history created unique records. The silver boom was brief but intense. Thousands came. Hundreds died. Cave-ins were common. Explosions killed. Disease spread in crowded camps.

Gun violence claimed lives. Creede was a wild town. Gambling and drinking were common. Disputes turned deadly. Coroner's reports describe shootings. Some victims were unidentified.

The boom ended quickly. Silver prices fell. People left. Death records from this era are precious. They document a brief, intense time. Families trace ancestors here.

Note: Creede was the last major silver boom town in Colorado. Its heyday lasted only a few years.

Online Resources for Mineral County Obituary Records

FamilySearch.org offers research help. Their wiki lists Mineral County resources. Some records are digitized. Access is free. Mining history draws interest. Researchers seek ancestors from the boom.

Find A Grave contains memorials. Mineral County cemeteries appear. Creede's historic graveyard is listed. Mining camp burials too. Users add photos. Some markers are weathered.

Ancestry.com includes Colorado collections. Death certificates are indexed. Census records help. Mining claims add context. Subscription required. Western history researchers subscribe.

The Colorado Department of Public Health takes online orders. VitalChek processes them. Extra fees apply. Processing takes about 30 days.