Preston, Village, Ontario (1861 census)
Preston, Village was a village in Waterloo County, Ontario, recorded in the 1861 Census of Canada with a population of 1,538. The community is grounded to Wikidata Q7241810. The administrative centroid was at approximately 43.395°N, 80.353°W.
Population
In 1861, Preston, Village had a population of 1,538: 794 male and 744 female residents. Population density was 1533.3 people per square mile.
Population trajectory across census years
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1851 | 1,180 |
| 1861 | 1,538 |
| 1871 | 1,408 |
| 1881 | 1,419 |
| 1891 | 1,843 |
| 1901 | 2,308 |
| 1911 | 3,883 |
| 1921 | 5,423 |
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, Preston, Village shared boundaries with:
Full census record, 1861
The 1861 census recorded 310 measurements for this Census Subdivision across 7 categories. Tables below are collapsible.
Population & families (26 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Female members of the family who are present | 697 |
| Females present who are not members of the family | 47 |
| Male members of the family who are present | 724 |
| Males present who are not members of the family | 70 |
| Number of adult females unable to read or write | 16 |
| Number of adult males unable to read or write | 15 |
| Number of blind males | 1 |
| Number of deaf and dumb females | 1 |
| Number of deaf and dumb males | 2 |
| Number of female births in the past year | 40 |
| Number of females | 744 |
| Number of females attending school | 122 |
| Number of lunatic males | 3 |
| Number of male births in the past year | 33 |
| Number of males | 794 |
| Number of males attending school | 155 |
| Number of married females | 268 |
| Number of persons at sea | 1 |
| Number of single females | 404 |
| Number of widowed females | 42 |
| Number of widowed males | 16 |
| POP FX N.1 | 744 |
| POP MX N.1 | 794 |
| POP TOT | 1,538 |
| POP XX N.1 | 1,538 |
| Total population | 1,538 |
Age structure (48 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of females age 3 to 4 | 32 |
| Number of females aged 1 to 2 | 43 |
| Number of females aged 2 to 3 | 33 |
| Number of females aged 4 to 5 | 22 |
| Number of females aged 5 to 10 | 76 |
| Number of males aged 1 to 2 | 27 |
| Number of males aged 2 to 3 | 35 |
| Number of males aged 3 to 4 | 28 |
| Number of males aged 4 to 5 | 28 |
| Number of males aged 5 to 10 | 76 |
| Number of males of unknown age | 6 |
| Number of married females aged 15 to 20 | 2 |
| Number of married females aged 20 to 30 | 87 |
| Number of married females aged 30 to 40 | 81 |
| Number of married females aged 40 to 50 | 52 |
| Number of married females aged 50 to 60 | 25 |
| Number of married females aged 60 to 70 | 17 |
| Number of married females aged 70 to 80 | 4 |
| Number of married males aged 20 to 30 | 38 |
| Number of married males aged 30 to 40 | 102 |
| Number of married males aged 40 to 50 | 71 |
| Number of married males aged 50 to 60 | 35 |
| Number of married males aged 60 to 70 | 19 |
| Number of married males aged 70 to 80 | 3 |
| Number of married males aged 80 to 90 | 1 |
| Number of single females aged 10 to 15 | 74 |
| Number of single females aged 15 to 20 | 81 |
| Number of single females aged 20 to 30 | 31 |
| Number of single females aged 40 to 50 | 2 |
| Number of single males aged 10 to 15 | 87 |
| Number of single males aged 15 to 20 | 84 |
| Number of single males aged 20 to 30 | 86 |
| Number of single males aged 30 to 40 | 13 |
| Number of single males aged 40 to 50 | 4 |
| Number of single males aged 50 to 60 | 1 |
| Number of single males aged 60 to 70 | 1 |
| Number of widowed females aged 20 to 30 | 1 |
| Number of widowed females aged 30 to 40 | 8 |
| Number of widowed females aged 40 to 50 | 11 |
| Number of widowed females aged 50 to 60 | 8 |
| Number of widowed females aged 60 to 70 | 7 |
| Number of widowed females aged 70 to 80 | 5 |
| Number of widowed females aged 80 to 90 | 2 |
| Number of widowed males aged 30 to 40 | 2 |
| Number of widowed males aged 50 to 60 | 5 |
| Number of widowed males aged 60 to 70 | 4 |
| Number of widowed males aged 70 to 80 | 3 |
| Number of widowed males aged 80 to 90 | 2 |
Ethnic origin (16 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of female negroes or coloured persons | 3 |
| Number of French Canadians | 75 |
| Number of Indigenous females | 1 |
| Number of Indigenous males | 2 |
| Number of male negroes or coloured persons | 3 |
| Number of negroes or coloured persons | 3 |
| Number of persons native to Canada, not of French origin | 612 |
| Number of persons originating in all other places | 1 |
| Number of persons originating in England or Wales | 22 |
| Number of persons originating in France | 77 |
| Number of persons originating in Germany or Holland | 588 |
| Number of persons originating in Ireland | 18 |
| Number of persons originating in Scotland | 41 |
| Number of persons originating in Sweden or Norway | 2 |
| Number of persons originating in Switzerland | 41 |
| Number of persons originating in the United States | 60 |
Agriculture (66 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Acres of barley | 12 |
| Acres of corn | 2 |
| Acres of farmland held by townspeople who are not farmers | 670 |
| Acres of farmland in gardens | 24 |
| Acres of farmland in pasture | 105 |
| Acres of farmland in woodland or forest | 235 |
| Acres of farmland under crops | 228 |
| Acres of farmland under cultivation | 357 |
| Acres of land in farms | 592 |
| Acres of oats | 26 |
| Acres of peas | 15 |
| Acres of potatoes | 10 |
| Acres of rye | 4 |
| Acres of spring wheat | 75 |
| Acres of turnips | 2 |
| Acres of winter wheat | 63 |
| Barrels of beef produced in the past year | 3 |
| Barrels of pork produced in the past year | 6 |
| Bushels of barley produced in the past year | 268 |
| Bushels of corn produced in the past year | 100 |
| Bushels of oats produced in the past year | 815 |
| Bushels of peas produced in the past year | 456 |
| Bushels of potatoes produced in the past year | 1,560 |
| Bushels of rye produced in the past year | 35 |
| Bushels of spring wheat produced in the past year | 1,385 |
| Bushels of turnips produced in the past year | 700 |
| Bushels of winter wheat produced in the past year | 1,075 |
| C18 WHT FALL AC | 63 |
| C19 WHT FALL BU | 1,075 |
| C20 WHT SP AC | 75 |
| C21 WHT SP BU | 1,385 |
| C22 BAR AC | 12 |
| C23 BAR BU | 268 |
| C24 RYE AC | 4 |
| C25 RYE BU | 35 |
| C26 PEA AC | 15 |
| C27 PEA BU | 456 |
| C28 OAT AC | 26 |
| C29 OAT BU | 815 |
| C34 POT AC | 10 |
| C35 POT BU | 1,560 |
| C43 HAY TONS | 59 |
| C47 WOOL LBS | 120 |
| C63 BEEF BAR | 3 |
| C64 PORK BAR | 6 |
| Gallons of cider produced in the past year | 642 |
| Number of bulls, oxen, or steers | 9 |
| Number of calves and heifers | 24 |
| Number of horses aged 3 years and under | 9 |
| Number of horses aged over 3 years | 125 |
| Number of milk cows | 181 |
| Number of occupants of farms | 6 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 20 and 50 acres | 4 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 50 and 100 acres | 1 |
| Number of persons living on farms over 200 acres | 1 |
| Number of sheep | 55 |
| Number of swine | 295 |
| Pounds of cheese produced on farms in the past year | 100 |
| Pounds of homemade butter | 1,766 |
| Pounds of maple sugar produced in the past year | 20 |
| Pounds of wool produced on farms in the past year | 120 |
| Tons of hay produced in the past year | 59 |
| Value of all livestock | 12,379 |
| Value of farm implements in dollars | 2,180 |
| Value of farms (dollars) | 35,280 |
| Value of garden and orchard crops produced in the past year | 320 |
Manufacturing & industry (6 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of carriages for hire | 4 |
| Number of carriages for pleasure | 17 |
| Value of carriages for hire (dollars) | 250 |
| Value of carriages for pleasure (dollars) | 3,212 |
| Yards of flannel produced in the past year | 20 |
| Yards of fulled cloth produced in the past year | 25 |
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 of all ages | 6 |
| Deaths in the past year among females of unknown age | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among females under age 1 | 4 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 4 to 5 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 40 to 50 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 60 to 70 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 70 to 80 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among males of all ages | 7 |
| Deaths in the past year among males under age 1 | 3 |
| Total number of deaths in the past year | 13 |
Other recorded variables (137 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| All other Places | 1 |
| At Sea | 1 |
| C01 TOTAL | 6 |
| C04 OCC 20 TO 50 | 4 |
| C05 OCC 50 TO 100 | 1 |
| C07 OCC OVR 200 | 1 |
| C08 HELD | 592 |
| C09 UNDR CULT | 357 |
| C1 Males | 794 |
| C10 Deaths under 1 year M | 3 |
| C10 UNDR CROP | 228 |
| C11 Deaths under 1 year F | 4 |
| C11 UNDR PAST | 105 |
| C116 Ages not given M | 6 |
| C119 Ages not given Deaths F | 1 |
| C12 GARDENS | 24 |
| C12 Under 2 Years M | 27 |
| C122 Widowed M | 16 |
| C123 Total M | 794 |
| C124 Married F | 268 |
| C125 Single F | 404 |
| C126 Widows F | 42 |
| C127 Total F | 744 |
| C128 Grand Total | 1,538 |
| C129 Deaths M | 7 |
| C13 Under 2 Years F | 43 |
| C13 WOOD WILD | 235 |
| C130 Deaths F | 6 |
| C131 Deaths Total | 13 |
| C132 Indians M | 2 |
| C133 Indians F | 1 |
| C134 Negroes M | 3 |
| C135 Negreos F | 3 |
| C136 Attending School M | 155 |
| C137 Attending School F | 122 |
| C138 Adults unable to read or write M | 15 |
| C139 Adults unable to read or write F | 16 |
| C14 CASH FARM | 35,280 |
| C140 Deaf and Dumb M | 2 |
| C141 Deaf and Dumb F | 1 |
| C142 Blind M | 1 |
| C144 Lunatics M | 3 |
| C15 CASH IMP | 2,180 |
| C15 Deaths under 2 years F | 1 |
| C16 GARDN VALUE | 320 |
| C16 Under 3 years M | 35 |
| C17 LAND HELD | 670 |
| C17 Under 3 years F | 33 |
| C2 Females | 744 |
| C20 Under 4 years M | 28 |
| C21 Under 4 years F | 32 |
| C24 Under 5 years M | 28 |
| C25 Under 5 years F | 22 |
| C26 Deaths under 5 years M | 1 |
| C28 Between 5 and 10 Years M | 76 |
| C29 Between 5 and 10 years F | 76 |
| C3 Total | 1,538 |
| C32 INDN CRN AC | 2 |
| C33 Between 10 and 15 years Single M | 87 |
| C33 INDN CRN BU | 100 |
| C35 Between 10 and 15 years Single F | 74 |
| C36 TUR AC | 2 |
| C37 TUR BU | 700 |
| C39 Between 15 and 20 years Single M | 84 |
| C4 Members of Family M | 724 |
| C40 Between 15 and 20 years Married F | 2 |
| C41 Between 15 and 20 years Single F | 81 |
| C44 Between 20 and 30 years Married M | 38 |
| C45 Between 20 and 30 years Single M | 86 |
| C45 MPL SGR LBS | 20 |
| C46 CID GAL | 642 |
| C47 Between 20 and 30 years Married F | 87 |
| C48 Between 20 and 30 years Single F | 31 |
| C48 FLLD CLOTH YRDS | 25 |
| C49 Between 20 and 30 years Widows F | 1 |
| C49 FLAN YRDS | 20 |
| C5 Members of Family F | 697 |
| C52 Between 30 and 40 years Married M | 102 |
| C52 BULLS OX STEERS | 9 |
| C53 Between 30 and 40 years Single M | 13 |
| C53 MILK COWS | 181 |
| C54 Between 30 and 40 years Widowers M | 2 |
| C54 CALVES HEIFERS | 24 |
| C55 Between 30 and 40 years Married F | 81 |
| C55 HORSES | 125 |
| C57 Between 30 and 40 years Widows F | 8 |
| C57 COLTS FILLIES | 3 |
| C58 SHEEP | 55 |
| C59 SWINE | 295 |
| C6 Not Members of Family M | 70 |
| C60 Between 40 and 50 years Married M | 71 |
| C60 TOT VALUE | 12,379 |
| C61 Between 40 and 50 years Single M | 4 |
| C61 BUTTER LB | 1,766 |
| C62 CHEESE LB | 100 |
| C63 Between 40 and 50 years Married F | 52 |
| C64 Between 40 and 50 years Single F | 2 |
| C65 Between 40 and 50 years Widows F | 11 |
| C66 Between 40 and 50 years Deaths M | 1 |
| C68 Between 50 and 60 years Married M | 35 |
| C68 CAR PLEASURE | 17 |
| C69 Between 50 and 60 years Single M | 1 |
| C69 VALUE DOL P | 3,212 |
| C7 Not Members of Family F | 47 |
| C70 Between 50 and 60 years Widowers M | 5 |
| C70 CAR HIRE | 4 |
| C71 Between 50 and 60 years Married F | 25 |
| C71 VALUE DOL H | 250 |
| C73 Between 50 and 60 years Widows F | 8 |
| C76 Between 60 and 70 years Married M | 19 |
| C77 Between 60 and 70 years Single M | 1 |
| C78 Between 60 and 70 years Widowers M | 4 |
| C79 Between 60 and 70 years Married F | 17 |
| C8 Births in 1860 M | 33 |
| C81 Between 60 and 70 years Widows F | 7 |
| C82 Between 60 and 70 years Deaths M | 1 |
| C84 Between 70 and 80 years Married M | 3 |
| C86 Between 70 and 80 years Widowers M | 3 |
| C87 Between 70 and 80 years Married F | 4 |
| C89 Between 70 and 80 years Widows F | 5 |
| C9 Births in 1860 F | 40 |
| C90 Between 70 and 80 years Deaths M | 1 |
| C92 Between 80 and 90 years Married M | 1 |
| C94 Between 80 and 90 years Widowers M | 2 |
| C97 Between 80 and 90 years Widows F | 2 |
| CD NAME | Waterloo |
| Colored Persons | 3 |
| England and Wales | 22 |
| France | 77 |
| Ireland | 18 |
| Natives of Canada French Origin | 75 |
| Natives of Canada Not of French Origin | 612 |
| Prussia German States and Holland | 588 |
| Scotland | 41 |
| Swedan and Norway | 2 |
| Switzerland | 41 |
| United States | 60 |
Identifiers
- TCP UID:
ON101006— year-scoped identifier from the Canadian Census Subdivision boundary file - Persistent place ID:
PLACE_ON150009— computed from spatial-overlap chains across census years - Wikidata: Q7241810
- Wikipedia (EN): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preston,_Ontario
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). "Preston, Village, Ontario (1861 census)" in HGIS Canada Knowledge Graph. Retrieved from https://jimclifford.ca/hgiscanada/places/on/preston-village-on101006-1861/.