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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Leadville (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Leadville. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

A Few Details for Leadville ...

While it's still very early in our research, we found that:

  • Leadville was established in 1877.
  • It was incorporated on February 18, 1878.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Leadville is located in Lake County and is the County Seat.

To see how the shape of Colorado's counties have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Lake County: Chaffee, Eagle, Park, Pitkin & Summit.

Below are the counties that are near Leadville. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Leadville:

  • Lake County     (The home county of Leadville)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leadville, with the one closest to Leadville listed first.
    • Oro City ‑ Historic
      (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
    • Malta ‑ Historic
      (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Malta have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malta
      • Malta is located in Lake County
    • Climax ‑ Historic
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Twin Lakes
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
    • Low Pass ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Low Pass. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Low Pass
      • Low Pass is located in Lake County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Low Pass
      • From Leadville to Low Pass
  • Chaffee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leadville, with the one closest to Leadville listed first.
    • Hawkinsville ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the south)
    • Granite
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
    • Vicksburg ‑ Historic
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the south)
    • Banker Mine ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
    • Pine Creek
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Pine Creek. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Creek
      • Pine Creek is located in Chaffee County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Pine Creek
      • From Leadville to Pine Creek
    • Winfield ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Americus
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Americus have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Americus
      • Americus is located in Chaffee County
    • Buena Vista
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Buena Vista have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
      • Buena Vista is located in Chaffee County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 3,116 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Buena Vista <2>
  • Eagle County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leadville, with the one closest to Leadville listed first.
    • Mitchell
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mitchell have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
      • Mitchell is located in Eagle County
    • Camp Hale ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Pando ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
    • Holy Cross City ‑ Historic
      (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
    • Red Cliff
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Gilman ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
    • Astor City ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Astor City have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Astor City
      • Astor City is located in Eagle County
    • Troutville ‑ Historic
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Minturn
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Minturn have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Minturn
      • Minturn is located in Eagle County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,147 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Minturn <2>
    • Bighorn
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Bighorn have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bighorn
      • Bighorn is located in Eagle County
    • Vail
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Vail have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Vail
      • Vail is located in Eagle County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 5,489 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Vail <2>
    • Beaver Creek
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Gunnison County
    • Pieplant ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Pieplant. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pieplant
      • Pieplant is located in Gunnison County
      • Pieplant has also been known as:
      • Pie Plant
      • Pieplant Mill
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Pieplant
      • From Leadville to Pieplant
  • Park County
  • Pitkin County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leadville, with the one closest to Leadville listed first.
    • Independence ‑ Historic
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the southwest)
    • Norrie
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Biglow
      (21 miles [33.8 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Biglow have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Biglow
      • Biglow is located in Pitkin County
    • Ruby ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
    • Thomasville ‑ Historic
      (23 miles [37 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Thomasville have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Thomasville
      • Thomasville is located in Pitkin County
    • Meredith
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the west)
    • Lenado ‑ Historic
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the west)
    • Aspen
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
    • Ashcroft ‑ Historic
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the southwest)
  • Summit County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Leadville, with the one closest to Leadville listed first.
    • Kokomo ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Kokomo have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kokomo
      • Kokomo is located in Summit County
    • Mayflower Gulch ‑ Historic
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Blue River
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Blue River have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Blue River
      • Blue River is located in Summit County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 928 people
    • Copper Mountain
      (18 miles [29 km] to the northeast)
    • Breckenridge
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Dyersville ‑ Historic
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the northeast)
    • Wild Irishman ‑ Historic
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the northeast)
    • Frisco
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Frisco have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Frisco
      • Frisco is located in Summit County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,874 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Frisco <2>
    • Wildernest
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the north)
    • Swandyke ‑ Historic
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: We haven't been able to verify our GPS coordinates for Swandyke. Although the coordinates have been estimated, they should be in the vicinity.<3>
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Swandyke
      • Swandyke is located in Summit County
      • Google driving directions:
      • From your current location to Swandyke
      • From Leadville to Swandyke
    • Dillon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Dillon have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dillon
      • Dillon is located in Summit County
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 967 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Dillon <2>
    • Rexford ‑ Historic
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Rexford have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rexford
      • Rexford is located in Summit County

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Leadville, see our County-by-County Page for Leadville.

Cemeteries Near Leadville ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Leadville.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

If you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our selection of Genealogy Websites (see below).

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Leadville covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Leadville, with the one closest to Leadville listed first.

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<5>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Leadville had a population of 10,384 people in 1895 with a post office and railroad service. In 2020, Leadville had a population of 2,773 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Leadville, with the one closest to Leadville listed first.

  • Oro City ‑ Historic
    (2 miles [3.2 km] to the southeast)
  • Malta ‑ Historic
    (3 miles [4.8 km] to the southwest)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Malta have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Malta
    • Malta is located in Lake County
  • Birdseye
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Birdseye have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Birdseye
    • Birdseye is located in Lake County
  • Mitchell
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Mitchell have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mitchell
    • Mitchell is located in Eagle County
  • Climax ‑ Historic
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the northeast)
  • Twin Lakes
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the south)
  • Alma
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the east)
  • Kokomo ‑ Historic
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the northeast)
    • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Kokomo have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Kokomo
    • Kokomo is located in Summit County
  • Pando ‑ Historic
    (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
  • Granite
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
  • Fairplay
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the east)
  • Holy Cross City ‑ Historic
    (15 miles [24.1 km] to the northwest)
  • Continue List   (14 more) ...
    • Nast
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Nast have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Nast
      • Nast is located in Pitkin County
    • Red Cliff
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
    • Belden
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
      • Note: The GPS coordinates that we are using for Belden have been provided by the GNIS.<1> The coordinates still need to be verified.
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belden
      • Belden is located in Eagle County

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Leadville. See our List of 1890's Communities around Leadville.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Leadville ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 80 newspapers that have been published in the area around Leadville.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Leadville. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Leadville and those printed in the larger area surrounding Leadville.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 30 miles [48.3 km]<6> of Leadville.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we begin with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites either offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Leadville:

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for Leadville. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of Colorado: https://www.colorado.gov/

Footnotes ...

<1>The location has been supplied by the Geographic Names Information System - which is maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). While these values should be definitive, we found that accuracy can vary and you should double-check the location if accuracy is required.
<2>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<3>An 'estimated' location is one where we have been given GPS coordinates, but are unable to verify the accuracy of those coordinates. That said, we have some confidence that we have placed the marker near the actual location. A typical reason for being unable to verify a location is that it might be on private property or maybe historic and gone without an obvious trace.
<4>The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com.
<5>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Leadville, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<6>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores obstructions like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Leadville) to Point B.Our distance measurements begin at a specific point in Leadville. The point we use is located at these GPS coordinates - Latitude: 39.2512, Longitude: -106.2928    









 

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This page was last modified/updated: 28 Apr 2025