Ontario, Canada, Boundary Changes and Maps

Introduction
Although they were designated by 1800, Ontario counties did not always have their own governments. Early Ontario was divided into a varying number of districts, and each district included several counties. Most early government records were organized on the basis of districts.

Township boundaries in Ontario have changed very little over the years.

County and district boundaries have changed, however, and a township may have been included in different districts and counties at various times.

Background
Although they were designated by 1800, Ontario counties did not always have their own governments. Early Ontario was divided into a varying number of districts, and each district included several counties. Most early government records were organized on the basis of districts.


 * District officials recorded court and probate matters, marriage registers, and some early census records.
 * County officials recorded land transactions.

By 1858, the districts of southern Ontario were abolished and counties became more important.

Ontario districts and counties
Early southern Ontario was called Upper Canada or Canada West. It was divided into:


 * Townships.
 * Counties.
 * Districts.

Each township included a few towns and villages. Each county included several townships. Each district included several counties.

For example:


 * Bloomington Village was in Whitchurch Township.
 * Whitchurch Township was in York County.
 * York County was in the Home District.

Township boundaries remained constant. People often gave the name of their township instead of the name of their village as their address. So people living in Bloomington would say they were "of Whitchurch."

County boundaries shifted somewhat, although less than the district boundaries.

District boundaries underwent several changes in southern Ontario. In 1801 there were seven districts. By 1855 there were twenty districts, although at that time several of the districts included only one county. By 1858 the districts of southern Ontario had been abolished, and the counties became more important. The district marriage registers were discontinued, and county marriage registers began.

Districts in early southern Ontario are not the same as the districts that still exist in modern northern Ontario.

For further information, see the "Historical Geography" section of the Ontario Research Outline.

Maps and gazetteers
The following step will help you learn where to find records that may mention your ancestor.

Find the place where your ancestor lived using maps and gazetteers.

The maps and gazetteers listed in the following table will help you learn creation dates, boundary changes, and other information about boundaries over the years. Knowing the place can help you find records that may mention your ancestor.

To find more sources that have maps or give information about places in Ontario, see What to Do Next, and click on Family History Library Catalog.