Colchester, Ontario (1851 census)
Colchester was a census subdivision in Essex County, Ontario, recorded in the 1851 Census of Canada with a population of 1,870. The administrative centroid was at approximately 42.084°N, 82.900°W.
Population
In 1851, Colchester had a population of 1,870: 965 male and 905 female residents. Population density was 16.4 people per square mile.
Population trajectory across census years
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1851 | 1,870 |
| 1861 | 2,656 |
| 1871 | 2,920 |
Cross-year identity established by spatial polygon overlap (SAME_AS chains across the Canadian Census Subdivision boundary files).
Neighbouring Census Subdivisions in 1851
In the 1851 census, Colchester shared boundaries with:
Full census record, 1851
The 1851 census recorded 324 measurements for this Census Subdivision across 7 categories. Tables below are collapsible.
Population & families (24 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| C10 FAM NO | 277 |
| Female members of the family who are absent | 5 |
| Female members of the family who are present | 876 |
| Females present who are not members of the family | 29 |
| Male members of the family who are present | 939 |
| Males present who are not members of the family | 26 |
| Number of families | 277 |
| Number of female births in the past year | 43 |
| Number of females | 905 |
| Number of females attending school | 117 |
| Number of male births in the past year | 47 |
| Number of males | 965 |
| Number of males attending school | 148 |
| Number of married females | 279 |
| Number of married males | 296 |
| Number of single females | 594 |
| Number of single males | 644 |
| Number of widowed females | 32 |
| Number of widowed males | 21 |
| POP | 1,870 |
| POP FX N.1 | 905 |
| POP MX N.1 | 965 |
| POP XX N.1 | 1,870 |
| Total population | 1,870 |
Age structure (55 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of females age 3 to 4 | 34 |
| Number of females aged 1 to 2 | 25 |
| Number of females aged 2 to 3 | 26 |
| Number of females aged 4 to 5 | 35 |
| Number of females aged 5 to 10 | 156 |
| Number of females under age 1 | 41 |
| Number of males aged 1 to 2 | 36 |
| Number of males aged 2 to 3 | 22 |
| Number of males aged 3 to 4 | 34 |
| Number of males aged 4 to 5 | 27 |
| Number of males aged 5 to 10 | 146 |
| Number of males under age 1 | 43 |
| Number of married females aged 15 to 20 | 17 |
| Number of married females aged 20 to 30 | 78 |
| Number of married females aged 30 to 40 | 89 |
| Number of married females aged 40 to 50 | 43 |
| Number of married females aged 50 to 60 | 35 |
| Number of married females aged 60 to 70 | 15 |
| Number of married females aged 70 to 80 | 2 |
| Number of married males aged 15 to 20 | 3 |
| Number of married males aged 20 to 30 | 57 |
| Number of married males aged 30 to 40 | 78 |
| Number of married males aged 40 to 50 | 75 |
| Number of married males aged 50 to 60 | 52 |
| Number of married males aged 60 to 70 | 21 |
| Number of married males aged 70 to 80 | 7 |
| Number of married males aged 80 to 90 | 2 |
| Number of married males aged 90 to 100 | 1 |
| Number of single females aged 10 to 15 | 107 |
| Number of single females aged 15 to 20 | 89 |
| Number of single females aged 20 to 30 | 52 |
| Number of single females aged 30 to 40 | 12 |
| Number of single females aged 40 to 50 | 11 |
| Number of single females aged 50 to 60 | 5 |
| Number of single females aged 70 to 80 | 1 |
| Number of single males aged 10 to 15 | 139 |
| Number of single males aged 15 to 20 | 88 |
| Number of single males aged 20 to 30 | 78 |
| Number of single males aged 30 to 40 | 15 |
| Number of single males aged 40 to 50 | 12 |
| Number of single males aged 50 to 60 | 5 |
| Number of single males aged 60 to 70 | 3 |
| Number of widowed females aged 20 to 30 | 4 |
| Number of widowed females aged 30 to 40 | 7 |
| Number of widowed females aged 40 to 50 | 5 |
| Number of widowed females aged 50 to 60 | 7 |
| Number of widowed females aged 60 to 70 | 3 |
| Number of widowed females aged 70 to 80 | 3 |
| Number of widowed females aged 80 to 90 | 3 |
| Number of widowed males aged 20 to 30 | 2 |
| Number of widowed males aged 30 to 40 | 2 |
| Number of widowed males aged 40 to 50 | 3 |
| Number of widowed males aged 50 to 60 | 9 |
| Number of widowed males aged 60 to 70 | 3 |
| Number of widowed males aged 70 to 80 | 2 |
Ethnic origin (13 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of female negroes or coloured persons | 233 |
| Number of French Canadians | 188 |
| Number of male negroes or coloured persons | 300 |
| Number of persons native to Canada, not of French origin | 1,189 |
| Number of persons originating in England or Wales | 84 |
| Number of persons originating in France | 1 |
| Number of persons originating in Germany or Holland | 6 |
| Number of persons originating in Ireland | 52 |
| Number of persons originating in Jersey or other British islands | 1 |
| Number of persons originating in Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island | 2 |
| Number of persons originating in Scotland | 30 |
| Number of persons originating in the United States | 316 |
| Number of persons originating in the West Indies | 1 |
Agriculture (71 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Acres of barley | 5 |
| Acres of buckwheat | 54 |
| Acres of corn | 1,306 |
| Acres of farmland in gardens or orchards | 243 |
| Acres of farmland in pasture | 2,506 |
| Acres of farmland in woodland or forest | 13,911 |
| Acres of farmland under crops | 5,651 |
| Acres of farmland under cultivation | 8,400 |
| Acres of land in farms | 22,311 |
| Acres of oats | 419 |
| Acres of peas | 97 |
| Acres of potatoes | 100 |
| Acres of rye | 13 |
| Acres of turnips | 16 |
| Acres of wheat | 2,243 |
| BAR AC | 5 |
| BAR BU | 130 |
| Barrels of beef produced in the past year | 255 |
| Barrels of pork produced in the past year | 1,285 |
| BEEF BAR | 255 |
| Bushels of barley produced in the past year | 130 |
| Bushels of beans produced in the past year | 15 |
| Bushels of buckwheat produced in the past year | 792 |
| Bushels of carrots produced in the past year | 2 |
| Bushels of clover, timothy, or other grass seed produced in the past year | 15 |
| Bushels of corn produced in the past year | 25,681 |
| Bushels of oats produced in the past year | 10,123 |
| Bushels of peas produced in the past year | 1,708 |
| Bushels of potatoes produced in the past year | 8,314 |
| Bushels of rye produced in the past year | 168 |
| Bushels of turnips produced in the past year | 2,506 |
| Bushels of wheat produced in the past year | 38,794 |
| BWT AC | 54 |
| BWT BU | 792 |
| CRN AC | 1,306 |
| CRN BU | 25,681 |
| Gallons of cider produced in the past year | 8,194 |
| HAY TONS | 1,222 |
| Number of bulls, oxen, or steers | 573 |
| Number of calves and heifers | 705 |
| Number of horses | 784 |
| Number of milk cows | 844 |
| Number of occupants of farms | 280 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 10 and 20 acres | 16 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 100 and 200 acres | 53 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 20 and 50 acres | 53 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 50 and 100 acres | 91 |
| Number of persons living on farms over 200 acres | 7 |
| Number of persons living on farms under 10 acres | 60 |
| Number of sheep | 2,342 |
| Number of swine | 2,316 |
| OAT AC | 419 |
| OAT BU | 10,123 |
| PEA AC | 97 |
| PEA BU | 1,708 |
| PORK BAR | 1,285 |
| POT AC | 100 |
| POT BU | 8,314 |
| Pounds of cheese produced on farms in the past year | 2,994 |
| Pounds of flax or hemp produced in the past year | 310 |
| Pounds of homemade butter | 36,152 |
| Pounds of maple sugar produced in the past year | 1,735 |
| Pounds of tobacco produced in the past year | 115,178 |
| Pounds of wool produced on farms in the past year | 6,916 |
| RYE AC | 13 |
| RYE BU | 168 |
| TOB LBS | 115,178 |
| Tons of hay produced in the past year | 1,222 |
| WHT AC | 2,243 |
| WHT BU | 38,794 |
| WOOL LBS | 6,916 |
Manufacturing & industry (22 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of carding and fulling mills | 2 |
| Number of carding and fulling mills not reporting | 1 |
| Number of carding and fulling mills reporting | 1 |
| Number of employees in carding and fulling mills | 3 |
| Number of employees in grist mills | 2 |
| Number of employees in saw mills | 3 |
| Number of grist mills | 2 |
| Number of grist mills not reporting | 2 |
| Number of grist mills powered by water | 2 |
| Number of grist mills returning capital | 2 |
| Number of saw mills | 3 |
| Number of saw mills not reporting | 3 |
| Number of saw mills powered by steam | 1 |
| Number of saw mills powered by water | 2 |
| Number of tanneries | 2 |
| Number of tanneries not reporting | 2 |
| Pounds of wool produced in carding and fulling mills in the past year | 10,000 |
| Value of capital returned by grist mills (pounds sterling) | 5,500 |
| Yards of cloth produced in carding and fulling mills in the past year | 1,800 |
| Yards of flannel produced in the past year | 5,243 |
| Yards of fulled cloth produced in the past year | 822 |
| Yards of linen produced in the past year | 107 |
Deaths & mortality (8 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 5 to 10 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among females of all ages | 3 |
| Deaths in the past year among females under age 1 | 2 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 15 to 20 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 50 to 60 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among males of all ages | 7 |
| Deaths in the past year among males under age 1 | 4 |
| Total number of deaths in the past year | 10 |
Other recorded variables (131 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| B LBS | 36,152 |
| BEN BU | 15 |
| BOV | 573 |
| C H | 705 |
| C LBS | 2,994 |
| C01 SEX MALE | 965 |
| C02 SEX FEM | 905 |
| C03 TOTAL | 1,870 |
| C04 MEM OF FAM M | 939 |
| C05 MEM OF FAM F | 876 |
| C06 NOT MEM OF FAM M | 26 |
| C07 NOT MEM OF FAM F | 29 |
| C09 MEM OF FAM ABSENT F | 5 |
| C103 BTWN 80 AND 90 F WID | 3 |
| C106 BTWN 90 AND 100 M MD | 1 |
| C12 BIRTHS M | 47 |
| C126 MD MALE | 296 |
| C127 S MALE | 644 |
| C128 WID MALE | 21 |
| C129 TOT MALE | 965 |
| C13 BIRTHS F | 43 |
| C130 MD FEM | 279 |
| C131 S FEM | 594 |
| C132 WID FEM | 32 |
| C133 TOT FEM | 905 |
| C134 GRAND TOT | 1,870 |
| C135 DEATHS M | 7 |
| C136 DEATHS F | 3 |
| C137 DEATHS TOT | 10 |
| C14 UNDER 1 M | 43 |
| C141 COL PERSON M | 300 |
| C142 COL PERSONS F | 233 |
| C143 ATTND SCHOOL M | 148 |
| C144 ATTND SCHOOL F | 117 |
| C15 UNDER 1 F | 41 |
| C16 DEATHS UNDER 1 M | 4 |
| C17 DEATHS UNDER 1 F | 2 |
| C18 UNDER 2 M | 36 |
| C19 UNDER 2 F | 25 |
| C22 UNDER 3 M | 22 |
| C23 UNDER 3 F | 26 |
| C26 UNDER 4 M | 34 |
| C27 UNDER 4 F | 34 |
| C30 UNDER 5 M | 27 |
| C31 UNDER 5 F | 35 |
| C34 BTWN 5 AND 10 M | 146 |
| C35 BTWN 5 AND 10 F | 156 |
| C37 DEATHS BTWN 5 AND 10 F | 1 |
| C39 BTWN 10 AND 15 M S | 139 |
| C41 BTWN 10 AND 15 F S | 107 |
| C44 BTWN 15 AND 20 M MD | 3 |
| C45 BTWN 15 AND 20 M S | 88 |
| C46 BTWN 15 AND 20 F MD | 17 |
| C47 BTWN 15 AND 20 F S | 89 |
| C48 BTWN 15 AND 20 M DEATHS | 1 |
| C50 BTWN 20 AND 30 M MD | 57 |
| C51 BTWN 20 AND 30 M S | 78 |
| C52 BTWN 20 AND 30 M WID | 2 |
| C53 BTWN 20 AND 30 F MD | 78 |
| C54 BTWN 20 AND 30 F S | 52 |
| C55 BTWN 20 AND 30 F WID | 4 |
| C58 BTWN 30 AND 40 M MD | 78 |
| C59 BTWN 30 AND 40 M S | 15 |
| C60 BTWN 30 AND 40 M WID | 2 |
| C61 BTWN 30 AND 40 F MD | 89 |
| C62 BTWN 30 AND 40 F S | 12 |
| C63 BTWN 30 AND 40 F WID | 7 |
| C66 BTWN 40 AND 50 M MD | 75 |
| C67 BTWN 40 AND 50 M S | 12 |
| C68 BTWN 40 AND 50 M WID | 3 |
| C69 BTWN 40 AND 50 F MD | 43 |
| C70 BTWN 40 AND 50 F S | 11 |
| C71 BTWN 40 AND 50 F WID | 5 |
| C74 BTWN 50 AND 60 M MD | 52 |
| C75 BTWN 50 AND 60 M S | 5 |
| C76 BTWN 50 AND 60 M WID | 9 |
| C77 BTWN 50 AND 60 F MD | 35 |
| C78 BTWN 50 AND 60 F S | 5 |
| C79 BTWN 50 AND 60 F WID | 7 |
| C80 BTWN 50 AND 60 M DEATHS | 1 |
| C82 BTWN 60 AND 70 M MD | 21 |
| C83 BTWN 60 AND 70 M S | 3 |
| C84 BTWN 60 AND 70 M WID | 3 |
| C85 BTWN 60 AND 70 F MD | 15 |
| C87 BTWN 60 AND 70 F WID | 3 |
| C90 BTWN 70 AND 80 M MD | 7 |
| C92 BTWN 70 AND 80 M WID | 2 |
| C93 BTWN 70 AND 80 F MD | 2 |
| C94 BTWN 70 AND 80 F S | 1 |
| C95 BTWN 70 AND 80 F WID | 3 |
| C98 BTWN 80 AND 90 M MD | 2 |
| CAR BU | 2 |
| CD NAME | Essex |
| CID GAL | 8,194 |
| CROP | 5,651 |
| CULT | 8,400 |
| DE NL | 6 |
| ENG WLS | 84 |
| FC YRDS | 822 |
| FLAN YRDS | 5,243 |
| FLX LBS | 310 |
| FR | 1 |
| FREN ORIG | 188 |
| GARDEN | 243 |
| GRA BU | 15 |
| HELD | 22,311 |
| HORSE | 784 |
| IRE | 52 |
| JE AND OTHR BI | 1 |
| LIN YRDS | 107 |
| LINE NO | 53 |
| M COWS | 844 |
| MPLS LBS | 1,735 |
| NOT FRN | 1,189 |
| NS PEI | 2 |
| O 10 TO 20 | 16 |
| O 100 TO 200 | 53 |
| O 20 TO 50 | 53 |
| O 50 TO 100 | 91 |
| O OVR 200 | 7 |
| O UNDR 10 | 60 |
| PASTURE | 2,506 |
| SCOT | 30 |
| SHEEP | 2,342 |
| SWINE | 2,316 |
| TOT O | 280 |
| TUR AC | 16 |
| TUR BU | 2,506 |
| US | 316 |
| WOOD | 13,911 |
| WST IN | 1 |
Identifiers
- TCP UID:
ON008003— year-scoped identifier from the Canadian Census Subdivision boundary file - Persistent place ID:
PLACE_ON001004— computed from spatial-overlap chains across census years - Wikidata: not yet grounded. This page covers a place whose persistent identity has not yet been linked to a Wikidata entity. Identification is via TCP UID and spatial polygon only.
Sources
Census tabulations from the 1851 Census of Canada, transcribed and georeferenced by the Canadian Peoples / TCP project, hosted at the HGIS Lab, University of Saskatchewan. Persistent place identity computed from spatial-overlap chains across all available census years (1851–1921). Identity grounding to Wikidata performed via the HGIS Canada Knowledge Graph project's MCP-assisted disambiguation pipeline. See the About / Methodology page for the full data pipeline.
Cite this page
Clifford, J. (2026). "Colchester, Ontario (1851 census)" in HGIS Canada Knowledge Graph. Retrieved from https://jimclifford.ca/hgiscanada/places/on/colchester-on008003-1851/.