Welcome to the COGenWeb Project

The COGenWeb Project is a volunteer-driven effort committed to providing free, accessible genealogical resources for anyone researching Colorado’s past. As one of the earliest contributors to the online genealogy movement, we continue to honor that legacy by preserving history, supporting researchers, and connecting families with their Colorado roots.

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Formation of Colorado: Territory to State

Early Governance and the Jefferson Territory

In 1859, local residents voted to establish the Jefferson Territory. Although it was never officially recognized by Congress, its influence remains visible today; several Colorado counties possess organizational records that predate the formal establishment of the federal territory.

On February 28, 1861, the Territory of Colorado was officially recognized. Later that year, in September, the first territorial assembly established the original seventeen counties.

Northern & Central: Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, Summit, Weld.

Southern & Western: Costilla, Fremont, Guadalupe (now Conejos), Huerfano, Lake, Pueblo.

Eastern & Plains: Arapahoe, Douglas, El Paso, Park.

Statehood and Nicknames

Colorado officially joined the Union as the 38th state on August 1, 1876. Because this occurred just 28 days after the United States' 100th anniversary, Colorado is proudly known as the "Centennial State." It is also affectionately referred to as "Colorful Colorado" and "The Heart of the Rockies."

Geography and Dimensions

Colorado is the eighth-largest state in the U.S., covering 104,247 square miles (including 450 square miles of water). Its borders form a near-perfect rectangle, stretching approximately 387 miles from east to west and 276 miles from north to south.