Dorchester, Ontario (1861 census)
Dorchester was a township in Elgin County, Ontario (Canada West / Ontario), recorded in the 1861 Census of Canada with a population of 2,204. The administrative centroid was at approximately 42.861°N, 80.984°W.
Population
In 1861, Dorchester had a population of 2,204: 1,160 male and 1,044 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 1861
In the 1861 census, Dorchester shared boundaries with:
Full census record, 1861
The 1861 census recorded 350 measurements for this Census Subdivision across 7 categories. Tables below are collapsible.
Population & families (28 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Female members of the family who are present | 1,036 |
| Females present who are not members of the family | 8 |
| Male members of the family who are present | 1,128 |
| Males present who are not members of the family | 32 |
| Number of adult females unable to read or write | 49 |
| Number of adult males unable to read or write | 42 |
| Number of blind males | 1 |
| Number of deaf and dumb females | 1 |
| Number of female births in the past year | 57 |
| Number of females | 1,044 |
| Number of females attending school | 273 |
| Number of lunatic females | 1 |
| Number of lunatic males | 1 |
| Number of male births in the past year | 45 |
| Number of males | 1,160 |
| Number of males attending school | 321 |
| Number of married females | 299 |
| Number of married males | 305 |
| Number of persons at sea | 2 |
| Number of single females | 711 |
| Number of single males | 841 |
| Number of widowed females | 34 |
| Number of widowed males | 14 |
| POP FX N.1 | 1,044 |
| POP MX N.1 | 1,160 |
| POP TOT | 2,204 |
| POP XX N.1 | 2,204 |
| Total population | 2,204 |
Age structure (55 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of females age 3 to 4 | 37 |
| Number of females aged 1 to 2 | 49 |
| Number of females aged 2 to 3 | 36 |
| Number of females aged 4 to 5 | 34 |
| Number of females aged 5 to 10 | 150 |
| Number of males aged 1 to 2 | 46 |
| Number of males aged 2 to 3 | 36 |
| Number of males aged 3 to 4 | 42 |
| Number of males aged 4 to 5 | 41 |
| Number of males aged 5 to 10 | 170 |
| Number of married females aged 15 to 20 | 8 |
| Number of married females aged 20 to 30 | 98 |
| Number of married females aged 30 to 40 | 102 |
| Number of married females aged 40 to 50 | 47 |
| Number of married females aged 50 to 60 | 28 |
| Number of married females aged 60 to 70 | 11 |
| Number of married females aged 70 to 80 | 4 |
| Number of married females aged 80 to 90 | 1 |
| Number of married males aged 20 to 30 | 60 |
| Number of married males aged 30 to 40 | 105 |
| Number of married males aged 40 to 50 | 79 |
| Number of married males aged 50 to 60 | 33 |
| Number of married males aged 60 to 70 | 21 |
| Number of married males aged 70 to 80 | 7 |
| Number of single females aged 10 to 15 | 136 |
| Number of single females aged 15 to 20 | 115 |
| Number of single females aged 20 to 30 | 58 |
| Number of single females aged 30 to 40 | 14 |
| Number of single females aged 40 to 50 | 10 |
| Number of single females aged 50 to 60 | 8 |
| Number of single females aged 60 to 70 | 4 |
| Number of single females aged 70 to 80 | 3 |
| Number of single males aged 10 to 15 | 145 |
| Number of single males aged 15 to 20 | 114 |
| Number of single males aged 20 to 30 | 110 |
| Number of single males aged 30 to 40 | 19 |
| Number of single males aged 40 to 50 | 60 |
| Number of single males aged 50 to 60 | 6 |
| Number of single males aged 60 to 70 | 4 |
| Number of single males aged 70 to 80 | 2 |
| Number of single males aged 80 to 90 | 1 |
| Number of widowed females aged 20 to 30 | 3 |
| Number of widowed females aged 30 to 40 | 7 |
| Number of widowed females aged 40 to 50 | 9 |
| Number of widowed females aged 50 to 60 | 5 |
| Number of widowed females aged 60 to 70 | 4 |
| Number of widowed females aged 70 to 80 | 2 |
| Number of widowed females aged 80 to 90 | 3 |
| Number of widowed females aged 90 to 100 | 1 |
| Number of widowed males aged 20 to 30 | 1 |
| Number of widowed males aged 30 to 40 | 4 |
| Number of widowed males aged 40 to 50 | 3 |
| Number of widowed males aged 50 to 60 | 2 |
| Number of widowed males aged 60 to 70 | 2 |
| Number of widowed males aged 70 to 80 | 2 |
Ethnic origin (11 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of French Canadians | 22 |
| Number of persons native to Canada, not of French origin | 1,637 |
| Number of persons originating in England or Wales | 135 |
| Number of persons originating in Germany or Holland | 20 |
| Number of persons originating in Ireland | 91 |
| Number of persons originating in New Brunswick | 13 |
| Number of persons originating in Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island | 12 |
| Number of persons originating in Scotland | 163 |
| Number of persons originating in Sweden or Norway | I 1 |
| Number of persons originating in the United States | 108 |
| Number of persons originating in the West Indies | 1 |
Agriculture (80 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Acres of barley | 32 |
| Acres of buckwheat | 133 |
| Acres of corn | 21 |
| Acres of farmland held by townspeople who are not farmers | 5 |
| Acres of farmland in gardens | 23 |
| Acres of farmland in pasture | 2,425 |
| Acres of farmland in woodland or forest | 5,877 |
| Acres of farmland under crops | 4,648 |
| Acres of farmland under cultivation | 7,096 |
| Acres of land in farms | 12,973 |
| Acres of mangel wurtzel | 1 |
| Acres of oats | 1,029 |
| Acres of peas | 1,197 |
| Acres of potatoes | 102 |
| Acres of rye | 10 |
| Acres of spring wheat | 1,313 |
| Acres of turnips | 34 |
| Acres of winter wheat | 728 |
| Barrels of beef produced in the past year | 187 |
| Barrels of pork produced in the past year | 1,233 |
| Bushels of barley produced in the past year | 1,023 |
| Bushels of beans produced in the past year | 83 |
| Bushels of buckwheat produced in the past year | 1,287 |
| Bushels of carrots produced in the past year | 4,079 |
| Bushels of clover, timothy, or other grass seed produced in the past year | 101 |
| Bushels of corn produced in the past year | 638 |
| Bushels of mangel wurtzel produced in the past year | 123 |
| Bushels of oats produced in the past year | 40,096 |
| Bushels of peas produced in the past year | 29,909 |
| Bushels of potatoes produced in the past year | 12,392 |
| Bushels of rye produced in the past year | 97 |
| Bushels of spring wheat produced in the past year | 25,418 |
| Bushels of turnips produced in the past year | 11,630 |
| Bushels of winter wheat produced in the past year | 8,594 |
| C18 WHT FALL AC | 728 |
| C19 WHT FALL BU | 8,594 |
| C20 WHT SP AC | 1,313 |
| C21 WHT SP BU | 25,418 |
| C22 BAR AC | 32 |
| C23 BAR BU | 1,023 |
| C24 RYE AC | 10 |
| C25 RYE BU | 97 |
| C26 PEA AC | 1,197 |
| C27 PEA BU | 29,909 |
| C28 OAT AC | 1,029 |
| C29 OAT BU | 40,096 |
| C30 BWT AC | 133 |
| C31 BWT BU | 1,287 |
| C34 POT AC | 102 |
| C35 POT BU | 12,392 |
| C43 HAY TONS | 1,207 |
| C47 WOOL LBS | 16,399 |
| C63 BEEF BAR | 187 |
| C64 PORK BAR | 1,233 |
| Gallons of cider produced in the past year | 77 |
| HRS ov03 V | 27,485 |
| Number of bulls, oxen, or steers | 170 |
| Number of calves and heifers | 1,835 |
| Number of horses aged 3 years and under | 240 |
| Number of horses aged over 3 years | 611 |
| Number of milk cows | 1,050 |
| Number of occupants of farms | 155 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 10 and 20 acres | 4 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 100 and 200 acres | 21 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 20 and 50 acres | 44 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 50 and 100 acres | 78 |
| Number of persons living on farms over 200 acres | 1 |
| Number of persons living on farms under 10 acres | 7 |
| Number of sheep | 3,907 |
| Number of swine | 1,911 |
| Pounds of cheese produced on farms in the past year | 4,555 |
| Pounds of flax or hemp produced in the past year | 150 |
| Pounds of homemade butter | 90,380 |
| Pounds of maple sugar produced in the past year | 59,110 |
| Pounds of wool produced on farms in the past year | 16,399 |
| Tons of hay produced in the past year | 1,207 |
| Value of all livestock | 101,193 |
| Value of farm implements in dollars | 15,038 |
| Value of farms (dollars) | 271,410 |
| Value of garden and orchard crops produced in the past year | 805 |
Manufacturing & industry (5 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of carriages for pleasure | 60 |
| Value of carriages for pleasure (dollars) | 3,887 |
| Yards of flannel produced in the past year | 5,879 |
| Yards of fulled cloth produced in the past year | 945 |
| Yards of linen produced in the past year | 30 |
Deaths & mortality (16 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 1 to 2 | 3 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 10 to 15 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 20 to 30 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 30 to 40 | 2 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 5 to 10 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 70 to 80 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among females of all ages | 12 |
| Deaths in the past year among females under age 1 | 3 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 15 to 20 | 3 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 20 to 30 | 2 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 30 to 40 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 40 to 50 | 2 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 60 to 70 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among males of all ages | 10 |
| Deaths in the past year among males under age 1 | 1 |
| Total number of deaths in the past year | 22 |
Other recorded variables (155 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| At Sea | 2 |
| C01 TOTAL | 155 |
| C02 OCC UNDR 10 | 7 |
| C03 OCC 10 TO 20 | 4 |
| C04 OCC 20 TO 50 | 44 |
| C05 OCC 50 TO 100 | 78 |
| C06 OCC 100 TO 200 | 21 |
| C07 OCC OVR 200 | 1 |
| C08 HELD | 12,973 |
| C09 UNDR CULT | 7,096 |
| C1 Males | 1,160 |
| C10 Deaths under 1 year M | 1 |
| C10 UNDR CROP | 4,648 |
| C105 Between 90 and 100 years Widows F | 1 |
| C11 Deaths under 1 year F | 3 |
| C11 UNDR PAST | 2,425 |
| C12 GARDENS | 23 |
| C12 Under 2 Years M | 46 |
| C120 Married M | 305 |
| C121 Single M | 841 |
| C122 Widowed M | 14 |
| C123 Total M | 1,160 |
| C124 Married F | 299 |
| C125 Single F | 711 |
| C126 Widows F | 34 |
| C127 Total F | 1,044 |
| C128 Grand Total | 2,204 |
| C129 Deaths M | 10 |
| C13 Under 2 Years F | 49 |
| C13 WOOD WILD | 5,877 |
| C130 Deaths F | 12 |
| C131 Deaths Total | 22 |
| C136 Attending School M | 321 |
| C137 Attending School F | 273 |
| C138 Adults unable to read or write M | 42 |
| C139 Adults unable to read or write F | 49 |
| C14 CASH FARM | 271,410 |
| C141 Deaf and Dumb F | 1 |
| C142 Blind M | 1 |
| C144 Lunatics M | 1 |
| C145 Lunatics F | 1 |
| C15 CASH IMP | 15,038 |
| C15 Deaths under 2 years F | 3 |
| C16 GARDN VALUE | 805 |
| C16 Under 3 years M | 36 |
| C17 LAND HELD | 5 |
| C17 Under 3 years F | 36 |
| C2 Females | 1,044 |
| C20 Under 4 years M | 42 |
| C21 Under 4 years F | 37 |
| C24 Under 5 years M | 41 |
| C25 Under 5 years F | 34 |
| C28 Between 5 and 10 Years M | 170 |
| C29 Between 5 and 10 years F | 150 |
| C3 Total | 2,204 |
| C31 Deaths between 5 and 10 years F | 1 |
| C32 INDN CRN AC | 21 |
| C33 Between 10 and 15 years Single M | 145 |
| C33 INDN CRN BU | 638 |
| C35 Between 10 and 15 years Single F | 136 |
| C36 TUR AC | 34 |
| C37 Between 10 and 15 years Deaths F | 1 |
| C37 TUR BU | 11,630 |
| C38 CAR BU | 4,079 |
| C39 Between 15 and 20 years Single M | 114 |
| C39 MAN WURT AC | 1 |
| C4 Members of Family M | 1,128 |
| C40 Between 15 and 20 years Married F | 8 |
| C40 MAN WURT BU | 123 |
| C41 BEN BU | 83 |
| C41 Between 15 and 20 years Single F | 115 |
| C42 Between 15 and 20 years Deaths M | 3 |
| C42 CLV TIM GRA | 101 |
| C44 Between 20 and 30 years Married M | 60 |
| C45 Between 20 and 30 years Single M | 110 |
| C45 MPL SGR LBS | 59,110 |
| C46 Between 20 and 30 years Widowers M | 1 |
| C46 CID GAL | 77 |
| C47 Between 20 and 30 years Married F | 98 |
| C48 Between 20 and 30 years Single F | 58 |
| C48 FLLD CLOTH YRDS | 945 |
| C49 Between 20 and 30 years Widows F | 3 |
| C49 FLAN YRDS | 5,879 |
| C5 Members of Family F | 1,036 |
| C50 Between 20 and 30 years Deaths M | 2 |
| C50 FLX HEM LBS | 150 |
| C51 Between 20 and 30 years Deaths F | 1 |
| C51 LIN YRDS | 30 |
| C52 Between 30 and 40 years Married M | 105 |
| C52 BULLS OX STEERS | 170 |
| C53 Between 30 and 40 years Single M | 19 |
| C53 MILK COWS | 1,050 |
| C54 Between 30 and 40 years Widowers M | 4 |
| C54 CALVES HEIFERS | 1,835 |
| C55 Between 30 and 40 years Married F | 102 |
| C55 HORSES | 611 |
| C56 Between 30 and 40 years Single F | 14 |
| C56 HORSES VAL | 27,485 |
| C57 Between 30 and 40 years Widows F | 7 |
| C57 COLTS FILLIES | 240 |
| C58 Between 30 and 40 years Deaths M | 1 |
| C58 SHEEP | 3,907 |
| C59 Between 30 and 40 years Deaths F | 2 |
| C59 SWINE | 1,911 |
| C6 Not Members of Family M | 32 |
| C60 Between 40 and 50 years Married M | 79 |
| C60 TOT VALUE | 101,193 |
| C61 Between 40 and 50 years Single M | 60 |
| C61 BUTTER LB | 90,380 |
| C62 Between 40 and 50 years Widowers M | 3 |
| C62 CHEESE LB | 4,555 |
| C63 Between 40 and 50 years Married F | 47 |
| C64 Between 40 and 50 years Single F | 10 |
| C65 Between 40 and 50 years Widows F | 9 |
| C66 Between 40 and 50 years Deaths M | 2 |
| C68 Between 50 and 60 years Married M | 33 |
| C68 CAR PLEASURE | 60 |
| C69 Between 50 and 60 years Single M | 6 |
| C69 VALUE DOL P | 3,887 |
| C7 Not Members of Family F | 8 |
| C70 Between 50 and 60 years Widowers M | 2 |
| C71 Between 50 and 60 years Married F | 28 |
| C72 Between 50 and 60 years Single F | 8 |
| C73 Between 50 and 60 years Widows F | 5 |
| C76 Between 60 and 70 years Married M | 21 |
| C77 Between 60 and 70 years Single M | 4 |
| C78 Between 60 and 70 years Widowers M | 2 |
| C79 Between 60 and 70 years Married F | 11 |
| C8 Births in 1860 M | 45 |
| C80 Between 60 and 70 years Single F | 4 |
| C81 Between 60 and 70 years Widows F | 4 |
| C82 Between 60 and 70 years Deaths M | 1 |
| C84 Between 70 and 80 years Married M | 7 |
| C85 Between 70 and 80 years Single M | 2 |
| C86 Between 70 and 80 years Widowers M | 2 |
| C87 Between 70 and 80 years Married F | 4 |
| C88 Between 70 and 80 years Single F | 3 |
| C89 Between 70 and 80 years Widows F | 2 |
| C9 Births in 1860 F | 57 |
| C91 Between 70 and 80 years Deaths F | 1 |
| C93 Between 80 and 90 years Single M | 1 |
| C95 Between 80 and 90 years Married F | 1 |
| C97 Between 80 and 90 years Widows F | 3 |
| CD NAME | Elgin |
| England and Wales | 135 |
| Ireland | 91 |
| Natives of Canada French Origin | 22 |
| Natives of Canada Not of French Origin | 1,637 |
| New Brunswick | 13 |
| Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island | 12 |
| Prussia German States and Holland | 20 |
| Scotland | 163 |
| Swedan and Norway | I 1 |
| United States | 108 |
| West Indies | 1 |
Identifiers
- TCP UID:
ON070003— 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 1861 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 (1861 census)" in HGIS Canada Knowledge Graph. Retrieved from https://jimclifford.ca/hgiscanada/places/on/dorchester-on070003-1861/.