Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
What do you need to do?
Tell us your goal and we'll guide you step-by-step to the right office, forms, and official resources.
Office: Lake County OEM – (719) 486-5900 | lakecountyco.gov
Alert System: CO-WARN; CodeRED; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Lake County School facilities; Leadville Community Center; contact OEM
FEMA Region: Region 8
Notes: Central Colorado high mountain county; Leadville is county seat – the highest incorporated city in the United States at 10,152 ft; Colorado’s highest county (average elevation over 10,000 ft); wildfire risk (surrounding forests); extreme winter weather (one of Colorado’s harshest mountain climates; temperatures below -30°F); flooding (Arkansas River headwaters and Tennessee Creek); avalanche risk (surrounding mountains – Mount Elbert, Mount Massive); mine drainage and Superfund site (California Gulch – Leadville Mining District is one of Colorado’s most significant Superfund sites); Turquoise Lake
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: Lake County Roads – (719) 486-5900
Transit: Lake County Transit – (719) 486-5900; very limited; primarily auto-dependent
Notes: US-24 (north-south through Leadville – connects to I-70 at Minturn/Dowd Junction north and to Buena Vista south; the Tennessee Pass route over the Continental Divide at 10,424 ft – historically the highest railroad crossing in the US); SR-91 (connects to I-70 at Copper Mountain via Fremont Pass); SR-300 (to Turquoise Lake); Leadville is about 100 miles from Denver via I-70 and US-24; Aspen is about 50 miles via SR-82 and Independence Pass (closed in winter)
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Lake County Planning and Building – (719) 486-5900
Services: County permits; Leadville (separate) has permits
Notes: Limited development; mining-related infrastructure; tourism and recreation economy-driven construction; Leadville’s Victorian heritage district creates design review requirements; Superfund-constrained development in California Gulch area; Ski Cooper ski area facilities
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Lake County Veterans Services – (719) 486-5900
VA Medical: VA Pueblo; VA Denver; both require significant travel
Notes: Remote high mountain county; VA access challenging; telehealth important
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Lake County Public Library – (719) 486-0569 | lakecountylibrary.org
Address: Leadville
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, children’s programs; Leadville mining heritage (extensive and exceptional); Colorado Silver Boom history; Tennessee Pass railroad history
Notes: Single library in the “Two-Mile High City”; Leadville’s extraordinary mining history (silver capital of the world in the 1880s; home to H.A.W. Tabor and Baby Doe Tabor; Molly Brown grew up here; the Matchless Mine story is one of American history’s most poignant tales of boom and bust) is well-represented in library collections; the library serves a community with very deep historical roots and active heritage tourism
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Leadville 100 (the Leadville Trail 100 Run and the Leadville Trail 100 MTB – two of the most famous endurance events in the US; the 100-mile ultramarathon and 100-mile mountain bike race cross two 12,000+ ft passes and are the highest 100-mile races in the US; Leadville’s race series has become internationally famous; the town fills with athletes and spectators during race weekends in August); Ski Cooper (Tennessee Pass – small family ski area with excellent powder and historic significance as a WWII military ski training site for the 10th Mountain Division); Mount Elbert (14,440 ft – Colorado’s highest peak and highest in the Rocky Mountains; accessible via trails from the Leadville area; most-climbed 14er in Colorado); Mount Massive (14,428 ft – Colorado’s second-highest peak; trail accessible); Turquoise Lake (beautiful mountain reservoir west of Leadville; camping; fishing; recreation; views of the Sawatch Range); National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum (Leadville – excellent mining history museum; comprehensive collection of US mining history and equipment); Healy House and Dexter Cabin (State Historic Sites – two of Leadville’s finest Victorian residences); Leadville Colorado and Southern Railroad (historic narrow-gauge railroad excursions through the mountains); Tabor Opera House (Leadville – beautiful Victorian opera house funded by H.A.W. Tabor’s silver fortune; still hosting performances)
Notes: Leadville is one of Colorado’s most historically extraordinary communities; at 10,152 ft it is the highest incorporated city in the US; in the 1880s it was Colorado’s second-largest city and the silver capital of North America – H.A.W. “Silver Dollar” Tabor went from a bankrupt shopkeeper to the richest man in Colorado in a few years, built the Tabor Opera House, divorced his wife to marry the beautiful Baby Doe Tabor in a ceremony attended by President Chester Arthur, lost everything in the Silver Crash of 1893, and died penniless; Baby Doe Tabor lived alone in the Matchless Mine’s cabin for 35 years after Horace’s death, frozen to death in 1935 – one of American history’s most romantic and tragic tales; Molly Brown (the “Unsinkable” Molly Brown of Titanic fame) grew up in Leadville; the Leadville 100 has become one of the most famous ultra-endurance events in the world
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Lake County GIS – lakecountyco.gov; California Gulch Superfund site mapping; USGS Mount Elbert area topographic maps; Arkansas River headwaters hydrology; 10th Mountain Division Hut System maps
Notes: County GIS; California Gulch Superfund boundary and remediation progress mapping; Arkansas River headwaters flow monitoring; Mount Elbert and Mount Massive trail maps; Tennessee Pass railroad historical route mapping
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Lake County Animal Control – (719) 486-5900
Notes: Mountain county; elk, mule deer, mountain lions, black bears, bighorn sheep; very small county community; Leadville’s altitude and climate create challenging conditions for domestic animals; races and events bring thousands of visitors with dogs
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Lake County – transfer station; Leadville collection
Environmental: Colorado DPHE; EPA (California Gulch Superfund Site – one of the most significant mining Superfund sites in the US; the Leadville Mining District produced silver, lead, zinc, and copper from the 1870s through the 20th century; mine tailings, acid mine drainage, and heavy metal contamination affected groundwater, soils, and the headwaters of the Arkansas River; cleanup has been ongoing since the 1980s with over $200 million spent; the Arkansas River’s water quality has dramatically improved but monitoring continues); Arkansas River Water Conservancy District; USFS (San Isabel NF); 10th Mountain Division Hut System (a network of backcountry huts in the mountains surrounding Leadville)
Notes: California Gulch Superfund Site is one of Colorado’s most significant long-term environmental management challenges – the Leadville Mining District’s 150 years of hard rock mining produced millions of tons of mine waste containing lead, arsenic, cadmium, zinc, and copper; the acid mine drainage entering the Arkansas River severely impaired the river fishery for decades; EPA’s Superfund program has treated mine waste piles, constructed water treatment facilities (the Yak Tunnel Treatment Plant processes contaminated water from historic mine workings year-round), and restored stream channels; the Arkansas River fishery below Leadville has partially recovered; the 10th Mountain Division Hut System (over 30 backcountry huts in the mountains between Aspen and Vail/Leadville) is a remarkable recreation infrastructure that honors the WWII mountain warfare unit that trained at Camp Hale (in Eagle County, near Tennessee Pass); the huts provide winter ski touring and summer hiking routes through some of Colorado’s finest mountain terrain; the California Gulch cleanup has been one of the most complex and expensive Superfund cleanups in Colorado history; some contamination remains and long-term stewardship continues
About Lake County County
Lake County is America’s highest county – the highest incorporated city in the United States, the highest peak in Colorado, and a Victorian silver mining heritage of remarkable depth and beauty define a county where the altitude alone makes everything feel extraordinary, from the thin air on Leadville’s streets to the summit of Mount Elbert above the clouds.
Leadville (the county seat, population ~2,800) is Lake County’s governmental hub and America’s highest city, a Victorian silver mining town on US 24 whose opera house, mining heritage, and 14er access anchor one of Colorado’s most historically and geographically distinctive communities.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Lake County Assessor at 505 Harrison Avenue, Leadville, CO 80461, phone 719-486-1410. CO assessed at percentage of actual value.
Courts & Legal
Lake County District Court at 505 Harrison Avenue, Leadville, CO 80461, phone 719-486-0370, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK & RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Elections)
505 Harrison Ave., Leadville, CO 80461
(719) 486-1410
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Lake County District Court (marriage licenses, will and estate case files – see Probate section above)
Local societies
No dedicated Lake County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Lake County Combined Court – District Court (Probate Division) 505 Harrison Avenue, P.O. Box 55, Leadville, CO 80461 (719) 293-8100, ext. 9 Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Step 1: figure out which path applies
Colorado follows the Uniform Probate Code, one of the more streamlined, less court-intensive systems in the country.
Small Estate Affidavit (personal property) – for estates where personal property totals less than roughly $86,000 (twice the “exempt property” amount under C.R.S. § 15-11-403, which adjusts annually for inflation – always confirm the current year’s figure with the court). Available starting 10 days after the death. No court filing required; present the affidavit (Form JDF 999) directly to whoever holds the property.
Summary Administration for small real property – a separate, roughly parallel threshold applies to real property equity. This route does require a court filing.
Informal Probate – the standard path for most estates with a will or clear heirs and no disputes. Handled largely by the court Registrar with minimal hearings.
Formal Probate – required for contested wills, disputed appointments, or complicated estates.
If using the small estate affidavit (personal property)
Wait at least 10 days after the death.
Confirm the fair market value of the decedent’s property (less liens) doesn’t exceed the current statutory threshold, and that no probate has already been opened.
Complete Form JDF 999, Collection of Personal Property by Affidavit.
Present it, along with a certified death certificate, to the bank or institution holding the property – no court filing needed.
If filing for informal or formal probate
File the appropriate application with the Lake County District Court: Form JDF 910 (with a will) or JDF 908 (without one). For formal probate, file JDF 920 or the intestate equivalent. Filing fee is $199.
The court (or Registrar, for informal cases) appoints a personal representative and issues Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration.
In informal probate, the personal representative then manages the estate largely independently.
Creditors have 4 months from first publication of notice to file claims.
The estate closes once debts are paid and assets are distributed.
What it costs
Small estate affidavit: no court filing fee.
Informal or formal probate filing fee: $199.
Personal representative compensation: “reasonable compensation” – no fixed statutory percentage.
No Colorado state estate tax or inheritance tax.
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
Leadville, CO 80461
(719) 486-1249
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK & RECORDER (Deeds, Marriage Licenses, Elections)
505 Harrison Ave., Leadville, CO 80461
(719) 486-1410
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
Health Dept
(719) 486-0585
Human Services
(719) 486-0407
CO Benefits / PEAK
(800) 536-5298
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Lake County Public Health – (719) 486-0500
Services: Immunizations, WIC, STI testing, environmental health, vital records; behavioral health; altitude illness education (very important given 10,000+ ft elevation); mining legacy health (lead and arsenic exposure); Superfund health monitoring
Hospital: St. Vincent General Hospital (Leadville – small critical access hospital); Vail Health accessible; Pueblo and Denver for major care
Notes: St. Vincent General serves the county; altitude illness is a genuine public health priority – Leadville’s extreme elevation means visitors from sea level can experience severe altitude sickness; the Leadville Mining District Superfund site created historical lead and arsenic exposure in the community; ongoing blood lead testing programs in young children are conducted; behavioral health for isolated mountain mining community; the Leadville 100 (ultra-running and cycling races at altitude) creates unique medical event planning needs
Editorial independence: CountyOffices maintains strict editorial independence from our affiliate partners. Our content is researched from official government sources. Affiliate relationships do not influence our recommendations or the information we publish.
Editorial Trust
5 official sources cited
Reviewed by CountyOffices Editorial Team
Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Leadville
Population: 8,000
Area: 385 sq mi
Established: 1861
Public Records
TruthFinder
Search public records for Lake County County residents.
