Dorchester, Ontario (1851 census)
Dorchester was a township in Elgin County, Ontario (Canada West / Ontario), recorded in the 1851 Census of Canada with a population of 1,477. The administrative centroid was at approximately 42.861°N, 80.984°W.
Population
In 1851, Dorchester had a population of 1,477: 767 male and 710 female residents.
Population trajectory across census years
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1851 | 1,477 |
| 1861 | 2,204 |
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, Dorchester shared boundaries with:
Full census record, 1851
The 1851 census recorded 301 measurements for this Census Subdivision across 7 categories. Tables below are collapsible.
Population & families (28 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| C10 FAM NO | 238 |
| Female members of the family who are absent | 2 |
| Female members of the family who are present | 661 |
| Females present who are not members of the family | 49 |
| Male members of the family who are present | 718 |
| Male members of the family who are present | 15 |
| Males present who are not members of the family | 49 |
| Number of families | 238 |
| Number of female births in the past year | 20 |
| Number of females | 710 |
| Number of females attending school | 134 |
| Number of lunatic females | 4 |
| Number of lunatic males | 3 |
| Number of male births in the past year | 32 |
| Number of males | 767 |
| Number of males attending school | 154 |
| Number of married females | 233 |
| Number of married males | 236 |
| Number of persons at sea | 1 |
| Number of single females | 461 |
| Number of single males | 521 |
| Number of widowed females | 16 |
| Number of widowed males | 10 |
| POP | 1,477 |
| POP FX N.1 | 710 |
| POP MX N.1 | 767 |
| POP XX N.1 | 1,477 |
| Total population | 1,477 |
Age structure (46 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of females age 3 to 4 | 33 |
| Number of females aged 1 to 2 | 46 |
| Number of females aged 2 to 3 | 20 |
| Number of females aged 4 to 5 | 32 |
| Number of females aged 5 to 10 | 119 |
| Number of females under age 1 | 19 |
| Number of males aged 1 to 2 | 35 |
| Number of males aged 2 to 3 | 40 |
| Number of males aged 3 to 4 | 25 |
| Number of males aged 4 to 5 | 21 |
| Number of males aged 5 to 10 | 120 |
| Number of males under age 1 | 32 |
| Number of married females aged 15 to 20 | 9 |
| Number of married females aged 20 to 30 | 110 |
| Number of married females aged 30 to 40 | 50 |
| Number of married females aged 40 to 50 | 35 |
| Number of married females aged 50 to 60 | 22 |
| Number of married females aged 60 to 70 | 7 |
| Number of married males aged 20 to 30 | 66 |
| Number of married males aged 30 to 40 | 84 |
| Number of married males aged 40 to 50 | 46 |
| Number of married males aged 50 to 60 | 28 |
| Number of married males aged 60 to 70 | 13 |
| Number of married males aged 70 to 80 | 2 |
| Number of single females aged 10 to 15 | 91 |
| Number of single females aged 15 to 20 | 65 |
| Number of single females aged 20 to 30 | 22 |
| Number of single females aged 30 to 40 | 6 |
| Number of single females aged 40 to 50 | 3 |
| Number of single females aged 50 to 60 | 2 |
| Number of single females aged 60 to 70 | 1 |
| Number of single males aged 10 to 15 | 83 |
| Number of single males aged 15 to 20 | 72 |
| Number of single males aged 20 to 30 | 72 |
| Number of single males aged 30 to 40 | 13 |
| Number of single males aged 40 to 50 | 7 |
| Number of single males aged 50 to 60 | 1 |
| Number of widowed females aged 20 to 30 | 1 |
| Number of widowed females aged 40 to 50 | 2 |
| Number of widowed females aged 50 to 60 | 4 |
| Number of widowed females aged 60 to 70 | 5 |
| Number of widowed females aged 70 to 80 | 4 |
| Number of widowed males aged 20 to 30 | 3 |
| Number of widowed males aged 30 to 40 | 2 |
| Number of widowed males aged 60 to 70 | 3 |
| Number of widowed males aged 70 to 80 | 2 |
Ethnic origin (7 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of persons native to Canada, not of French origin | 1,101 |
| Number of persons originating in England or Wales | 51 |
| Number of persons originating in Ireland | 76 |
| Number of persons originating in New Brunswick | 6 |
| Number of persons originating in Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island | 10 |
| Number of persons originating in Scotland | 141 |
| Number of persons originating in the United States | 91 |
Agriculture (66 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Acres of barley | 8 |
| Acres of buckwheat | 6 |
| Acres of corn | 40 |
| Acres of farmland in gardens or orchards | 36 |
| Acres of farmland in pasture | 1,919 |
| Acres of farmland in woodland or forest | 11,840 |
| Acres of farmland under crops | 5,646 |
| Acres of farmland under cultivation | 7,601 |
| Acres of land in farms | 19,441 |
| Acres of oats | 601 |
| Acres of peas | 549 |
| Acres of potatoes | 43 |
| Acres of rye | 16 |
| Acres of turnips | 7 |
| Acres of wheat | 2,415 |
| BAR AC | 8 |
| BAR BU | 210 |
| Barrels of beef produced in the past year | 66 |
| Barrels of pork produced in the past year | 618 |
| BEEF BAR | 66 |
| Bushels of barley produced in the past year | 210 |
| Bushels of beans produced in the past year | 46 |
| Bushels of buckwheat produced in the past year | 101 |
| Bushels of clover, timothy, or other grass seed produced in the past year | 180 |
| Bushels of corn produced in the past year | 1,262 |
| Bushels of oats produced in the past year | 19,034 |
| Bushels of peas produced in the past year | 10,020 |
| Bushels of potatoes produced in the past year | 3,209 |
| Bushels of rye produced in the past year | 170 |
| Bushels of turnips produced in the past year | 786 |
| Bushels of wheat produced in the past year | 40,171 |
| BWT AC | 6 |
| BWT BU | 101 |
| CRN AC | 40 |
| CRN BU | 1,262 |
| HAY TONS | 1,508 |
| Number of bulls, oxen, or steers | 502 |
| Number of calves and heifers | 455 |
| Number of horses | 369 |
| Number of milk cows | 639 |
| Number of occupants of farms | 227 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 10 and 20 acres | 3 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 100 and 200 acres | 24 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 20 and 50 acres | 60 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 50 and 100 acres | 129 |
| Number of persons living on farms under 10 acres | 11 |
| Number of sheep | 2,439 |
| Number of swine | 1,354 |
| OAT AC | 601 |
| OAT BU | 19,034 |
| PEA AC | 549 |
| PEA BU | 10,020 |
| PORK BAR | 618 |
| POT AC | 43 |
| POT BU | 3,209 |
| Pounds of cheese produced on farms in the past year | 2,290 |
| Pounds of flax or hemp produced in the past year | 118 |
| Pounds of homemade butter | 39,285 |
| Pounds of maple sugar produced in the past year | 27,661 |
| Pounds of wool produced on farms in the past year | 6,651 |
| RYE AC | 16 |
| RYE BU | 170 |
| Tons of hay produced in the past year | 1,508 |
| WHT AC | 2,415 |
| WHT BU | 40,171 |
| WOOL LBS | 6,651 |
Manufacturing & industry (13 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of employees in grist mills | 2 |
| Number of employees in saw mills | 1 |
| Number of grist mills | 1 |
| Number of grist mills not reporting | 1 |
| Number of grist mills powered by water | 1 |
| Number of saw mills | 1 |
| Number of saw mills powered by water | 1 |
| Number of saw mills reporting value of annual production or rent | 1 |
| Number of saw mills returning capital | 1 |
| Value of annual production or rent from saw mills (pounds sterling) | 60 |
| Value of capital returned by saw mills (pounds sterling) | 125 |
| Yards of flannel produced in the past year | 3,899 |
| Yards of fulled cloth produced in the past year | 1,392 |
Deaths & mortality (11 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 1 to 2 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 15 to 20 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 30 to 40 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 40 to 50 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 70 to 80 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among females of all ages | 6 |
| Deaths in the past year among females under age 1 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 15 to 20 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among males of all ages | 2 |
| Deaths in the past year among males under age 1 | 1 |
| Total number of deaths in the past year | 8 |
Other recorded variables (130 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| AT SEA | 1 |
| B LBS | 39,285 |
| BEN BU | 46 |
| BOV | 502 |
| C H | 455 |
| C LBS | 2,290 |
| C01 GM NO MILLS | 1 |
| C01 SEX MALE | 767 |
| C02 SEX FEM | 710 |
| C03 GM WATER | 1 |
| C03 TOTAL | 1,477 |
| C04 MEM OF FAM M | 718 |
| C05 MEM OF FAM F | 661 |
| C06 NOT MEM OF FAM M | 49 |
| C07 NOT MEM OF FAM F | 49 |
| C08 MEM OF FAM ABSENT M | 15 |
| C09 MEM OF FAM ABSENT F | 2 |
| C12 BIRTHS M | 32 |
| C126 MD MALE | 236 |
| C127 S MALE | 521 |
| C128 WID MALE | 10 |
| C129 TOT MALE | 767 |
| C13 BIRTHS F | 20 |
| C130 MD FEM | 233 |
| C131 S FEM | 461 |
| C132 WID FEM | 16 |
| C133 TOT FEM | 710 |
| C134 GRAND TOT | 1,477 |
| C135 DEATHS M | 2 |
| C136 DEATHS F | 6 |
| C137 DEATHS TOT | 8 |
| C14 GM HANDS | 2 |
| C14 UNDER 1 M | 32 |
| C143 ATTND SCHOOL M | 154 |
| C144 ATTND SCHOOL F | 134 |
| C149 LUNATICS M | 3 |
| C15 GM NO RETURNS | 1 |
| C15 UNDER 1 F | 19 |
| C150 LUNATICS F | 4 |
| C16 DEATHS UNDER 1 M | 1 |
| C16 SM NO | 1 |
| C17 DEATHS UNDER 1 F | 1 |
| C18 SM WATER | 1 |
| C18 UNDER 2 M | 35 |
| C19 UNDER 2 F | 46 |
| C21 DEATHS UNDER 2 F | 1 |
| C22 UNDER 3 M | 40 |
| C23 UNDER 3 F | 20 |
| C26 SM ANNUAL NO | 1 |
| C26 UNDER 4 M | 25 |
| C27 SM ANNUAL P | 60 |
| C27 UNDER 4 F | 33 |
| C28 SM RETURNS NO | 1 |
| C29 SM RETURNS P | 125 |
| C30 SM EMPLOYED | 1 |
| C30 UNDER 5 M | 21 |
| C31 UNDER 5 F | 32 |
| C34 BTWN 5 AND 10 M | 120 |
| C35 BTWN 5 AND 10 F | 119 |
| C39 BTWN 10 AND 15 M S | 83 |
| C41 BTWN 10 AND 15 F S | 91 |
| C45 BTWN 15 AND 20 M S | 72 |
| C46 BTWN 15 AND 20 F MD | 9 |
| C47 BTWN 15 AND 20 F S | 65 |
| C48 BTWN 15 AND 20 M DEATHS | 1 |
| C49 BTWN 15 AND 20 F DEATHS | 1 |
| C50 BTWN 20 AND 30 M MD | 66 |
| C51 BTWN 20 AND 30 M S | 72 |
| C52 BTWN 20 AND 30 M WID | 3 |
| C53 BTWN 20 AND 30 F MD | 110 |
| C54 BTWN 20 AND 30 F S | 22 |
| C55 BTWN 20 AND 30 F WID | 1 |
| C58 BTWN 30 AND 40 M MD | 84 |
| C59 BTWN 30 AND 40 M S | 13 |
| C60 BTWN 30 AND 40 M WID | 2 |
| C61 BTWN 30 AND 40 F MD | 50 |
| C62 BTWN 30 AND 40 F S | 6 |
| C65 BTWN 30 AND 40 F DEATHS | 1 |
| C66 BTWN 40 AND 50 M MD | 46 |
| C67 BTWN 40 AND 50 M S | 7 |
| C69 BTWN 40 AND 50 F MD | 35 |
| C70 BTWN 40 AND 50 F S | 3 |
| C71 BTWN 40 AND 50 F WID | 2 |
| C73 BTWN 40 AND 50 F DEATHS | 1 |
| C74 BTWN 50 AND 60 M MD | 28 |
| C75 BTWN 50 AND 60 M S | 1 |
| C77 BTWN 50 AND 60 F MD | 22 |
| C78 BTWN 50 AND 60 F S | 2 |
| C79 BTWN 50 AND 60 F WID | 4 |
| C82 BTWN 60 AND 70 M MD | 13 |
| C84 BTWN 60 AND 70 M WID | 3 |
| C85 BTWN 60 AND 70 F MD | 7 |
| C86 BTWN 60 AND 70 F S | 1 |
| C87 BTWN 60 AND 70 F WID | 5 |
| C90 BTWN 70 AND 80 M MD | 2 |
| C92 BTWN 70 AND 80 M WID | 2 |
| C95 BTWN 70 AND 80 F WID | 4 |
| C97 BTWN 70 AND 80 F DEATHS | 1 |
| CD NAME | Elgin |
| CROP | 5,646 |
| CULT | 7,601 |
| ENG WLS | 51 |
| FC YRDS | 1,392 |
| FLAN YRDS | 3,899 |
| FLX LBS | 118 |
| GARDEN | 36 |
| GRA BU | 180 |
| HELD | 19,441 |
| HORSE | 369 |
| IRE | 76 |
| LINE NO | 47 |
| M COWS | 639 |
| MPLS LBS | 27,661 |
| NB | 6 |
| NOT FRN | 1,101 |
| NS PEI | 10 |
| O 10 TO 20 | 3 |
| O 100 TO 200 | 24 |
| O 20 TO 50 | 60 |
| O 50 TO 100 | 129 |
| O UNDR 10 | 11 |
| PASTURE | 1,919 |
| SCOT | 141 |
| SHEEP | 2,439 |
| SWINE | 1,354 |
| TOT O | 227 |
| TUR AC | 7 |
| TUR BU | 786 |
| US | 91 |
| WOOD | 11,840 |
Identifiers
- TCP UID:
ON007004— year-scoped identifier from the Canadian Census Subdivision boundary file - Persistent place ID:
PLACE_ON070003— 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). "Dorchester, Ontario (1851 census)" in HGIS Canada Knowledge Graph. Retrieved from https://jimclifford.ca/hgiscanada/places/on/dorchester-on007004-1851/.