1901 - Descriptions of census divisions
There are no descriptions in the published census books
as outlined at http://www.archives.ca/02/02012204_e.html
At the time of the 1901 census, the NWT was made up of seven districts, which were
Alberta, Assiniboia, Athabasca, Franklin, Mackenzie, Saskatchewan and Ungava.
Census districts generally correspond with electoral districts, cities and counties.
Subdistricts approximated towns, townships and city wards. Villages and small towns
were usually enumerated as part of the township or parish of which they were part.
The following is from the instructions to commissioners and enumerators…
In the case of Alberta, where the present electoral districts were formed before the
province was organized, the census districts have been made to conform with the
provincial boundaries as now established. The records for each township parish, city
town or incorporated village are required to be entered separately on the schedules so as
to facilitate compilation for these several units of area.
1911 - Descriptions of census divisions
There are no descriptions in the published census books
the following is from the instructions to officers, commissioners and enumerators…
the division of the country into census districts and sub-districts shall correspond as
nearly as possible with the existing electoral divisions and subdivisions.
The subdistricts of a census district shall ordinarily consist of townships, parishes, cities,
towns and incorporated villages.
1921 - Descriptions of census divisions
Descriptions for MN, SK, AB
Manitoba – broken down into 16 divisions. Describes which Municipalities, Indian
Reserves, Cities, Towns, Villages and Unorganized Parts that each division is comprised
of. e.g. Division No. 6: comprises the municipalities of Cartier (1), Charleswood (2),
Dufferin (3), Fort Garry (4), Grey (5), Macdonald (6), Portage la Prairie (7), Ritchot (8),
St. Vital (9); Indian Reserves—Long Plain, Sioux Village; Cities—Portage la Prairie, St.
Boniface, Winnipeg; Towns—Carman, Tuxedo.
Saskatchewan – broken down into 18 divisions. Describes which Municipalities, Indian
Reserves, Cities, Towns, Villages and Unorganized Parts that each division is comprised
of.
Alberta – broken down into 17 divisions. Describes which Municipalities, Indian
Reserves, Cities, Towns, Villages and Unorganized Parts that each division is comprised
of.
the country is divided in to census districts that correspond as nearly as possible to the
federal constituencies.
The census districts are subdivided into subdistricts, varying in population from 600-800
in rural districts to 1200-1800 in urban districts.. The subdistricts are roughly the same as
the polling divisions.
1931 - Descriptions of census divisions
Descriptions of MN, AB, BC, SK
Manitoba – broken down into 16 divisions. Describes which Municipalities, Indian
Reserves, Cities, Towns, Villages and Unorganized Parts that each division is comprised
of.
Saskatchewan – broken down into 18 divisions. Describes which Municipalities, Indian
Reserves, Cities, Towns, Villages and Unorganized Parts that each division is comprised
of.
Alberta – broken down into 17 divisions. Describes which Municipalities, Indian
Reserves, Cities, Towns, Villages and Unorganized Parts that each division is comprised
of.
British Columbia –broken down into 10 Census divisions that are further divided into
census sub-divisions. These descriptions reveal in depth detail (e.g. …in a northwesterly
direction, along the easterly boundary of the watershed, until the northwest corner of lot
1234…)
census districts correspond with electoral divisions or constituencies
sub-districts correspond with polling sub divisions. (pop’n 600-800 rural, pop’n 12001800 urban)
1941 - Descriptions of census divisions
Descriptions for MN, SK, AB, BC,
Manitoba – broken down into 16 divisions. Describes which Municipalities, Indian
Reserves, Cities, Towns, Villages and Unorganized Parts that each division is comprised
of.
Saskatchewan – broken down into 18 divisions. Describes which Municipalities, Indian
Reserves, Cities, Towns, Villages and Unorganized Parts that each division is comprised
of.
Alberta – broken down into 17 divisions. Describes which Municipalities, Indian
Reserves, Cities, Towns, Villages and Unorganized Parts that each division is comprised
of.
British Columbia – broken down into 10 divisions. Each is further divided into
subdivisions that outline the rural parts, urban parts, municipalities, Indian reserves,
cities, towns, and villages.
***The descriptions say to refer to 1931 vII p 850-873 for more detailed descriptions.
These descriptions reveal the census divisions and subdivisions in detail (e.g. …in a
northwesterly direction, along the easterly boundary of the watershed, until the northwest
corner of lot 1234…)
as outlined on p977 of the 1941 census of Canada v1
Eastern Canada- county municipalities were used rather than electoral districts
Western Canada- divided into census districts and sub-districts because there are not any
fixed political divisions
PEI- divisions are the counties
NS- divisions are county municipalities
Subdivisions have no official boundaries described by metes and bounds. They are
mostly polling subdivisions. Urban parts composed of cities and towns.
NB- divisions are county municipalities. Rural subdivisions are parishes, urban parts are
cities, towns and villages.
BC - divided into 10 divisions. Each is further subdivided into between 2 and 7 sections.
Que- divisions are generally county municipalities...however some counties changed
boundaries.
ON-divisions are county municipalities. Rural parts are townships whereas the urban
parts are cities, towns and villages.
MN- divisions outlined on p 977 of the 1941 census of Canada v1.
SK- divisions outlined on p978 of the 1941 census of Canada v1.
AB- divisions outlined on p981 of the 1941 census of Canada v1
BC- divisions outlined on p983 of the 1941 census of Canada v1
1951 - Descriptions of census divisions
The descriptions are brief and say that the divisions are the same as 1931 and 1941
as outlined in 1951 census of Canada Appendix A
There have been no changes in the counties or census division boundaries of the majority
of provinces since the census divisions of the western provinces were first established at
the time of the 1921 census.
Que- a number of municipal counties have been created which subdivide some of the
original (census) counties.
ON- in addition to the 43 census counties in the southern parts of the province, there are
11 territorial districts in northern Ontario which for census purposes are shown as
counties (**same as 1941)
Subdivisions are mainly townships.
NF- Union of Newfoundland and Canada 1949.
Majority of subdivisions consist of areas which are not municipally organized, although
some include incorporated cities and towns within their boundaries.
PEI- subdivisions consist of a number of townships and 2 royalties, 1 city and a number
of incorporated towns.
NS-before 1951 subdivisions were mainly polling subdivisions or groups of poling
subdivisions (no official boundaries), therefore new subdivisions were established for
census purposes.
In those counties where municipal districts were set up, the census boundaries were made
to coincide with the municipal district boundaries.
NB- subdivisions consist of parishes (except cities, towns and villages).
QUE- subdivisions of the counties are municipalities which have been organized from
townships, parishes.
MN-subdivisions are municipalities and local government districts
SK- the subdivisions are municipalities and local improvement districts
AB- subdivisions are municipal districts and improvement districts. Although there has
been extensive reorganization of districts in the past few years, the 1941 boundaries were
used for the 1951 compilation.
BC- the census divisions and subdivisions of BC were established in 1931. the
subdivisions consist of district municipalities, unorganized parts.
*** in all provinces, Indian Reserves are treated as separate municipalities.