Sarnia, Ontario (1851 census)
Sarnia was a census subdivision in Lambton County, Ontario, recorded in the 1851 Census of Canada with a population of 1,384. The community is grounded to Wikidata Q115262762. The administrative centroid was at approximately 42.965°N, 82.325°W.
Population
In 1851, Sarnia had a population of 1,384: 744 male and 640 female residents. Population density was 17.3 people per square mile.
Population trajectory across census years
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1851 | 1,384 |
| 1861 | 1,560 |
| 1871 | 3,438 |
| 1881 | 3,583 |
| 1891 | 2,937 |
| 1901 | 2,632 |
| 1911 | 2,663 |
| 1921 | 2,583 |
Cross-year identity established by spatial polygon overlap (SAME_AS chains across the Canadian Census Subdivision boundary files).
Boundary continuity (non-identical overlaps)
Spatial polygon overlaps with adjacent census years where the boundary shifted enough that the SAME_AS chain didn't merge them. These show where the territory came from and went to even when it isn't tracked as the same persistent place.
Later boundary forms
- In a later year, this CSD contained Sarnia, Town—Ville, 1861 (2.3% of this CSD's polygon).
Neighbouring Census Subdivisions in 1851
In the 1851 census, Sarnia shared boundaries with:
Full census record, 1851
The 1851 census recorded 303 measurements for this Census Subdivision across 8 categories. Tables below are collapsible.
Population & families (25 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| C10 FAM NO | 228 |
| Female members of the family who are present | 628 |
| Females present who are not members of the family | 12 |
| Male members of the family who are present | 715 |
| Male members of the family who are present | 3 |
| Males present who are not members of the family | 29 |
| Number of blind males | 1 |
| Number of families | 228 |
| Number of female births in the past year | 29 |
| Number of females | 640 |
| Number of females attending school | 159 |
| Number of male births in the past year | 29 |
| Number of males | 744 |
| Number of males attending school | 158 |
| Number of married females | 213 |
| Number of married males | 210 |
| Number of single females | 408 |
| Number of single males | 527 |
| Number of widowed females | 19 |
| Number of widowed males | 7 |
| POP | 1,384 |
| POP FX N.1 | 640 |
| POP MX N.1 | 744 |
| POP XX N.1 | 1,384 |
| Total population | 1,384 |
Age structure (46 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of females age 3 to 4 | 27 |
| Number of females aged 1 to 2 | 22 |
| Number of females aged 2 to 3 | 28 |
| Number of females aged 4 to 5 | 24 |
| Number of females aged 5 to 10 | 90 |
| Number of females under age 1 | 24 |
| Number of males aged 1 to 2 | 33 |
| Number of males aged 2 to 3 | 27 |
| Number of males aged 3 to 4 | 24 |
| Number of males aged 4 to 5 | 22 |
| Number of males aged 5 to 10 | 124 |
| Number of males under age 1 | 37 |
| Number of married females aged 15 to 20 | 6 |
| Number of married females aged 20 to 30 | 95 |
| Number of married females aged 30 to 40 | 56 |
| Number of married females aged 40 to 50 | 33 |
| Number of married females aged 50 to 60 | 16 |
| Number of married females aged 60 to 70 | 7 |
| Number of married males aged 20 to 30 | 54 |
| Number of married males aged 30 to 40 | 74 |
| Number of married males aged 40 to 50 | 43 |
| Number of married males aged 50 to 60 | 27 |
| Number of married males aged 60 to 70 | 11 |
| Number of married males aged 70 to 80 | 1 |
| Number of single females aged 10 to 15 | 71 |
| Number of single females aged 15 to 20 | 68 |
| Number of single females aged 20 to 30 | 39 |
| Number of single females aged 30 to 40 | 10 |
| Number of single females aged 40 to 50 | 3 |
| Number of single females aged 50 to 60 | 2 |
| Number of single males aged 10 to 15 | 69 |
| Number of single males aged 15 to 20 | 80 |
| Number of single males aged 20 to 30 | 89 |
| Number of single males aged 30 to 40 | 15 |
| Number of single males aged 40 to 50 | 7 |
| Number of widowed females aged 20 to 30 | 3 |
| Number of widowed females aged 30 to 40 | 4 |
| Number of widowed females aged 40 to 50 | 1 |
| Number of widowed females aged 50 to 60 | 4 |
| Number of widowed females aged 60 to 70 | 6 |
| Number of widowed females aged 70 to 80 | 1 |
| Number of widowed males aged 20 to 30 | 2 |
| Number of widowed males aged 30 to 40 | 1 |
| Number of widowed males aged 40 to 50 | 1 |
| Number of widowed males aged 50 to 60 | 2 |
| Number of widowed males aged 60 to 70 | 1 |
Ethnic origin (12 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Number of French Canadians | 69 |
| Number of persons native to Canada, not of French origin | 658 |
| Number of persons originating in all other places | 1 |
| Number of persons originating in England or Wales | 132 |
| Number of persons originating in Germany or Holland | 2 |
| Number of persons originating in Ireland | 123 |
| Number of persons originating in New Brunswick | 5 |
| Number of persons originating in Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island | 53 |
| Number of persons originating in Scotland | 277 |
| Number of persons originating in the United States | 52 |
| Number of persons originating in the West Indies | 2 |
| Number of persons whose origin is unknown | 10 |
Agriculture (63 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Acres of buckwheat | 4 |
| Acres of corn | 67 |
| Acres of farmland in gardens or orchards | 29 |
| Acres of farmland in pasture | 1,486 |
| Acres of farmland in woodland or forest | 8,043 |
| Acres of farmland under crops | 686 |
| Acres of farmland under cultivation | 2,201 |
| Acres of land in farms | 10,244 |
| Acres of oats | 225 |
| Acres of peas | 71 |
| Acres of potatoes | 47 |
| Acres of rye | 10 |
| Acres of turnips | 9 |
| Acres of wheat | 227 |
| BAR BU | 5 |
| Barrels of beef produced in the past year | 59 |
| Barrels of pork produced in the past year | 98 |
| BEEF BAR | 59 |
| Bushels of barley produced in the past year | 5 |
| Bushels of beans produced in the past year | 18 |
| Bushels of buckwheat produced in the past year | 50 |
| Bushels of carrots produced in the past year | 40 |
| Bushels of clover, timothy, or other grass seed produced in the past year | 4 |
| Bushels of corn produced in the past year | 1,517 |
| Bushels of oats produced in the past year | 5,468 |
| Bushels of peas produced in the past year | 1,600 |
| Bushels of potatoes produced in the past year | 4,598 |
| Bushels of rye produced in the past year | 150 |
| Bushels of turnips produced in the past year | 2,095 |
| Bushels of wheat produced in the past year | 4,215 |
| BWT AC | 4 |
| BWT BU | 50 |
| CRN AC | 67 |
| CRN BU | 1,517 |
| HAY TONS | 574 |
| Number of bulls, oxen, or steers | 196 |
| Number of calves and heifers | 199 |
| Number of horses | 134 |
| Number of milk cows | 244 |
| Number of occupants of farms | 96 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 100 and 200 acres | 15 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 20 and 50 acres | 19 |
| Number of persons living on farms between 50 and 100 acres | 60 |
| Number of persons living on farms over 200 acres | 2 |
| Number of sheep | 654 |
| Number of swine | 258 |
| OAT AC | 225 |
| OAT BU | 5,468 |
| PEA AC | 71 |
| PEA BU | 1,600 |
| PORK BAR | 98 |
| POT AC | 47 |
| POT BU | 4,598 |
| Pounds of cheese produced on farms in the past year | 110 |
| Pounds of homemade butter | 13,214 |
| Pounds of maple sugar produced in the past year | 1,700 |
| Pounds of wool produced on farms in the past year | 1,898 |
| RYE AC | 10 |
| RYE BU | 150 |
| Tons of hay produced in the past year | 574 |
| WHT AC | 227 |
| WHT BU | 4,215 |
| WOOL LBS | 1,898 |
Manufacturing & industry (15 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Barrels of flour produced per year by grist mills reporting annual production | 10,400 |
| Number of employees in saw mills | 20 |
| Number of grist mills | 2 |
| Number of grist mills not reporting | 1 |
| Number of grist mills powered by water | 2 |
| Number of grist mills reporting annual production | 1 |
| Number of grist mills returning capital | 1 |
| Number of saw mills returning capital | 2 |
| Number of tanneries | 1 |
| Number of tanneries not reporting | 1 |
| Value of capital returned by grist mills (pounds sterling) | 550 |
| Value of capital returned by saw mills (pounds sterling) | 4,500 |
| Yards of flannel produced in the past year | 139 |
| Yards of fulled cloth produced in the past year | 100 |
| Yards of linen produced in the past year | 42 |
Fisheries (1 variable)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Barrels of cured fish produced in the past year | 290 |
Deaths & mortality (9 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 1 to 2 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among females aged 20 to 30 | 2 |
| Deaths in the past year among females of all ages | 4 |
| Deaths in the past year among females under age 1 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 1 to 2 | 1 |
| Deaths in the past year among males aged 20 to 30 | 3 |
| Deaths in the past year among males of all ages | 8 |
| Deaths in the past year among males under age 1 | 1 |
| Total number of deaths in the past year | 12 |
Other recorded variables (132 variables)
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| B LBS | 13,214 |
| BEN BU | 18 |
| BOV | 196 |
| C F BAR | 290 |
| C H | 199 |
| C LBS | 110 |
| C01 GM NO MILLS | 2 |
| C01 SEX MALE | 744 |
| C02 SEX FEM | 640 |
| C03 GM WATER | 2 |
| C03 TOTAL | 1,384 |
| C04 GM NO YEAR | 1 |
| C04 MEM OF FAM M | 715 |
| C05 GM BARRELS YEAR | 10,400 |
| C05 MEM OF FAM F | 628 |
| C06 NOT MEM OF FAM M | 29 |
| C07 NOT MEM OF FAM F | 12 |
| C08 MEM OF FAM ABSENT M | 3 |
| C12 BIRTHS M | 29 |
| C12 GM CAP NO | 1 |
| C126 MD MALE | 210 |
| C127 S MALE | 527 |
| C128 WID MALE | 7 |
| C129 TOT MALE | 744 |
| C13 BIRTHS F | 29 |
| C13 GM CAP P | 550 |
| C130 MD FEM | 213 |
| C131 S FEM | 408 |
| C132 WID FEM | 19 |
| C133 TOT FEM | 640 |
| C134 GRAND TOT | 1,384 |
| C135 DEATHS M | 8 |
| C136 DEATHS F | 4 |
| C137 DEATHS TOT | 12 |
| C14 UNDER 1 M | 37 |
| C143 ATTND SCHOOL M | 158 |
| C144 ATTND SCHOOL F | 159 |
| C147 BLIND M | 1 |
| C15 GM NO RETURNS | 1 |
| C15 UNDER 1 F | 24 |
| C16 DEATHS UNDER 1 M | 1 |
| C17 DEATHS UNDER 1 F | 1 |
| C18 UNDER 2 M | 33 |
| C19 UNDER 2 F | 22 |
| C20 DEATHS UNDER 2 M | 1 |
| C21 DEATHS UNDER 2 F | 1 |
| C22 UNDER 3 M | 27 |
| C23 UNDER 3 F | 28 |
| C26 UNDER 4 M | 24 |
| C27 UNDER 4 F | 27 |
| C28 SM RETURNS NO | 2 |
| C29 SM RETURNS P | 4,500 |
| C30 SM EMPLOYED | 20 |
| C30 UNDER 5 M | 22 |
| C31 UNDER 5 F | 24 |
| C34 BTWN 5 AND 10 M | 124 |
| C35 BTWN 5 AND 10 F | 90 |
| C39 BTWN 10 AND 15 M S | 69 |
| C41 BTWN 10 AND 15 F S | 71 |
| C45 BTWN 15 AND 20 M S | 80 |
| C46 BTWN 15 AND 20 F MD | 6 |
| C47 BTWN 15 AND 20 F S | 68 |
| C50 BTWN 20 AND 30 M MD | 54 |
| C51 BTWN 20 AND 30 M S | 89 |
| C52 BTWN 20 AND 30 M WID | 2 |
| C52 TAN NO | 1 |
| C53 BTWN 20 AND 30 F MD | 95 |
| C54 BTWN 20 AND 30 F S | 39 |
| C55 BTWN 20 AND 30 F WID | 3 |
| C56 BTWN 20 AND 30 M DEATHS | 3 |
| C57 BTWN 20 AND 30 F DEATHS | 2 |
| C57 TAN NO RETURNS | 1 |
| C58 BTWN 30 AND 40 M MD | 74 |
| C59 BTWN 30 AND 40 M S | 15 |
| C60 BTWN 30 AND 40 M WID | 1 |
| C61 BTWN 30 AND 40 F MD | 56 |
| C62 BTWN 30 AND 40 F S | 10 |
| C63 BTWN 30 AND 40 F WID | 4 |
| C66 BTWN 40 AND 50 M MD | 43 |
| C67 BTWN 40 AND 50 M S | 7 |
| C68 BTWN 40 AND 50 M WID | 1 |
| C69 BTWN 40 AND 50 F MD | 33 |
| C70 BTWN 40 AND 50 F S | 3 |
| C71 BTWN 40 AND 50 F WID | 1 |
| C74 BTWN 50 AND 60 M MD | 27 |
| C76 BTWN 50 AND 60 M WID | 2 |
| C77 BTWN 50 AND 60 F MD | 16 |
| C78 BTWN 50 AND 60 F S | 2 |
| C79 BTWN 50 AND 60 F WID | 4 |
| C82 BTWN 60 AND 70 M MD | 11 |
| C84 BTWN 60 AND 70 M WID | 1 |
| C85 BTWN 60 AND 70 F MD | 7 |
| C87 BTWN 60 AND 70 F WID | 6 |
| C90 BTWN 70 AND 80 M MD | 1 |
| C95 BTWN 70 AND 80 F WID | 1 |
| CAR BU | 40 |
| CD NAME | Lambton |
| CROP | 686 |
| CULT | 2,201 |
| DE NL | 2 |
| ENG WLS | 132 |
| FC YRDS | 100 |
| FLAN YRDS | 139 |
| FREN ORIG | 69 |
| GARDEN | 29 |
| GRA BU | 4 |
| HELD | 10,244 |
| HORSE | 134 |
| IRE | 123 |
| LIN YRDS | 42 |
| LINE NO | 155 |
| M COWS | 244 |
| MPLS LBS | 1,700 |
| NB | 5 |
| NOT FRN | 658 |
| NOT KNOWN | 10 |
| NS PEI | 53 |
| O 100 TO 200 | 15 |
| O 20 TO 50 | 19 |
| O 50 TO 100 | 60 |
| O OVR 200 | 2 |
| OTHER PL | 1 |
| PASTURE | 1,486 |
| SCOT | 277 |
| SHEEP | 654 |
| SWINE | 258 |
| TOT O | 96 |
| TUR AC | 9 |
| TUR BU | 2,095 |
| US | 52 |
| WOOD | 8,043 |
| WST IN | 2 |
Identifiers
- TCP UID:
ON018008— year-scoped identifier from the Canadian Census Subdivision boundary file - Persistent place ID:
PLACE_ON122008— computed from spatial-overlap chains across census years - Wikidata: Q115262762
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). "Sarnia, Ontario (1851 census)" in HGIS Canada Knowledge Graph. Retrieved from https://jimclifford.ca/hgiscanada/places/on/sarnia-on018008-1851/.