Land & Property Records

Abstracts of Title

Series 149

This collection consists of real estate abstracts for various properties in Jefferson County, Colorado. An abstract of title is a summary of the various activities affecting ownership of a parcel of land. It contains the original grant and all subsequent conveyances and encumbrances affecting the property and a certification by the abstractor that the history is complete and accurate. All abstracts were received from private donors.

Collection contains abstracts of title to the properties listed below:

• Sec 10, T4S, R70W, N½SE¼, 1867-1897
• Secs 15, 22, 23, 24, 25 & 26, T3S, R71W, 1884-1924
  S½ SE¼ SE¼ SE¼ Sec. 15;
  E½ NE¼ & SE¼ Sec. 22;
  W½ NE¼ & NW¼ & S½ Sec. 23;
  W½ SE¼ and E½ SW¼ Sec. 24;
  E½ NE¼ and NW¼ NE¼ & NE¼ NW¼ and W½ NW¼ Sec. 25;
  N½ Section 26
  Lower Horning - The original location of Guy Hill School was located on the north side of this property near the only entrance from Golden Gate Canyon Road.
• Berkeley in Jefferson Sub, Block 2, Lots 14, 15 &16, 1865-1958
• Golden City, South Side Clear Creek, Block 31, Lot 1 and E 40 ft. of Lot 2, 1866-1899 
• McKenzie & Martensen Add, Block D, Lot 10, 1965-1949
  Includes warranty deed dated 1945, deed of trust dated 1949, birth certificate for Anita J. Henderson, 1914 and marriage certificate Daniel Gruber to Anita Henderson, 1929
• Olinger Gardens Sub, Block 11, Lot 7, 1869-1950
• Ostranders Sub, Lots 8, 9, & E 10 ft. of Lot 10, 1872-1927
  (Part NE¼ SW¼ Sec. 11, T3S, R69W)
• Reno Park, Block 3, Lots 24, 25, 26 & 27, 1869-1901
  Includes warranty deed dated 1919 for Lots 24 & 25

Assessor Tract Index Books, circa 1910 to 1987

Series 182 (64 Volumes)

The ownership of a specific parcel of land can be traced from about 1987 back to 1910 or earlier using these books. Arranged alphabetically by name of subdivision for subdivided land, or numerically by section, township, and range in the metes and bounds books. These index books list legal description of land; name of grantee; book, page, and date recorded; and sometimes the kind of deed.

Note: Ownership prior to 1910 or the earliest entry in the book can be traced backwards to the patentee using other records such as Grantor and Grantee Indexes, Abstract of Land Entries book, and Deed Books.

Board of Adjustment Lakewood Case Files, 1941-1989

Series 139 (12 Boxes)

Case Files for property annexed by Lakewood. The Board of Adjustment (BOA) is a seven member board, created by State Statute and appointed by Jefferson County Commissioners. It has the authority to grant variances and/or special exceptions to established zoning regulations if an adequate hardship or practical difficulty has been demonstrated. 

Variances (e.g., reduction of required setbacks or lot size, or increase in height, etc.) run with the land, while most Special Exceptions (e.g., temporary structures, home occupations, etc.) are granted for a specified length of time and require rehearing and renewal upon expiration. 

Numerical list of case numbers with name and address available.

Building Code of Jefferson County, 1948, 1962, 1970

Series 199 (3 Volumes)

In 1945, legislation was passed (Session Laws of Colorado 1945, Ch. 90 and Session Laws 1947, Ch. 163) permitting counties to adopt building codes in the zoned portions of unincorporated areas. The Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (Arapahoe, Adams & Jefferson Counties) prepared the first edition of the uniform building code, distributed by the State Planning Commission. 

The purpose of the code was to promote the public health, safety, morals and general welfare, and the safety, protection and sanitation of dwellings, buildings and structures within the zoned area; and to establish uniform requirements in all area building codes within the county. 

In May 1948, the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners instructed the County Attorney's office to establish a building code for Jefferson County. The code has been continuously revised over the years. 

This collection includes the 1948 edition of the Uniform Building Code of Colorado by the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (revised July 1, 1949); the 1962 Jefferson County Building Code (which includes a chapter on fallout shelters); and the 1970 Jeffco Building Code Volume I-A. 

Chattel Mortgage Index Books, 1886-1928

Name indexes listing mortgager, mortgagee, and book and page chattel mortgage recorded in. See Deed and Record Books. 

Unprocessed collection, but available for use. Contact Archivist for details.

Community Plan Books & Miscellaneous Publications, 1960-2007

Series 138 (9 Boxes)

Publications produced by Planning and Zoning containing policy recommendations developed to serve as a guide for land use and service decisions. Community Plan books cover plans for regions of Jefferson County as well as plans for specific communities. 

See Finding Aid (PDF) for complete inventory.

Deed & Record Books, 1860-1963

Unprocessed collections, but available for use; finding aids unavailable at this time. Contact Archivist for details.

Record Books A-T (1860-1883)

Record Books A-T contain recorded agreements, bills of sale, bonds, certificates of levy, chattel mortgages, contracts, deeds, land claims, land patents, leases, lode location certificates, some marriages, mechanics liens, powers of attorney, pre-emptions and more

Name Index available for books A-B (Indexed by Foothills Genealogical Society). Volume Indexes to books J-S. Record Book A2 is for Junction District (Evergreen/Conifer).

Recorded Document Books 2-227 (1872-1939)

Recorded Document Books 2-227 contain recordings of trust deeds and mortgages; warranty deeds; chattel mortgages; judgment records; official bonds; levy, sales and redemption; mechanics liens; patents; location records; location and mining deed records; treasurer's tax deeds; administrative and executive deeds and decrees of final settlement; and more. Most books include name indexes.

Real Estate Record Books P397-P1622         (1938-1963)

Real Estate Record Books P397 through P1622 contain photostat copies of deeds and other recorded documents dealing with real estate matters including court findings, agreements, decrees, etc.

Field Survey Books and Notes, 1875-1877 & 1915

Series 122 (1 Box)

Original field survey book, photocopy of same, and transcription of Jefferson County Surveyor Edward L. Berthoud containing surveys of county roads, mineral / mining claims, railroad rights-of-way and boundaries. This book of handwritten and drawn field surveys is labeled: "Private, Surveys of Roads, Mining Claims, and Land, 1875-1877."

Typewritten "Field Notes of Section 1, Township 5 South, Range 72 West" by County Surveyor Irving B. Williams, 1915.

Foreclosure Files, 1895-1937

Series 164 (18 Boxes)

Case files containing documents created and received in relation to the forced sale of a property pledged as security for a debt that is in default. 

Files may include: Deeds of Trust; Certificates of Sale; Notices of Election and Demand; correspondence; notices of sale; newspaper clipping and publisher affidavit and receipt; registered mail receipts; and undelivered notifications. Files may also include: abstracts of title; interest coupons; tax payment receipts; court papers; notes; and Certificates of Redemption. Arranged alphabetically by borrower name.  

Select Finding Aid link for complete inventory.

Foreclosure Registers, 1895 to 1978

Series 151 (11 Volumes)

Public Trustee's Register of Foreclosures includes: 

• Grantor name
• Date of deed
• Date "Demand for Sale" filed with Trustee
• Where "Notice of Sale" was published
• Date property sold
• Name of purchaser
• Dollar amount property sold for
• Description of property
• "Public Trustee's Certificate of Purchase"

Arranged by foreclosure number with index.

Grantor-Grantee Index Books, 1862-1900

Series 185 (12 Volumes & 1 Envelope)

This set of books lists all recorded transfers of title by deed or other document affecting title. They are lists of real property transfers maintained in alphabetical order by the last name of the party transferring the property. 

The Grantor Index is an alphabetical list by seller (grantor) while the Grantee Index is an alphabetical list by purchaser (grantee). Transfers are not listed in strict alphabetical order, but are placed chronologically in a letter index corresponding to the first letter of the party's last name. 

In addition to seller and buyer names, each entry lists the location of the property and the volume and page number where the full text of the deed or other recorded instrument describing the transfer may be found.

Ken-Caryl Ranch History File

Series 190 (1 Envelope)

Historical information gathered on the Ken-Caryl Ranch by descendants of the original owners. Photocopies only of manuscripts, photographs, and newspaper and newsletter articles about the ranch and its former land owners. 

Includes:

• "Ken-Caryl Ranch History" by Jo McCormick
• "Memories of the Ranch" by Virginia Shaffer Devlin
• "John Charles Shaffer, Manor Mogul" by Carolyn Allers.  

Contents dated from 1940-1971. Donated to the Archives by former Commissioner Dave Auburn in 2005.