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The Family History Library Catalog uses Canadian jurisdictions as of 1960. You may need to determine previous boundaries and jurisdictions to find your ancestors’ records. Gazetteers and histories can help you find these changes. See "[[Canada History|History]]" and "[[Canada Gazetteers|Gazetteers]]." | The Family History Library Catalog uses Canadian jurisdictions as of 1960. You may need to determine previous boundaries and jurisdictions to find your ancestors’ records. Gazetteers and histories can help you find these changes. See "[[Canada History|History]]" and "[[Canada Gazetteers|Gazetteers]]." | ||
== The Counties and Municipalities of Canada == | == The Counties and Municipalities of Canada == | ||
Records are created to meet the requirements of law. Jurisdiction is (1) the power exercised by a government to make and enforce laws and (2) the geographical area that the government controls. Governmental jurisdictions in Canada sometimes followed United States models. | Records are created to meet the requirements of law. Jurisdiction is (1) the power exercised by a government to make and enforce laws and (2) the geographical area that the government controls. Governmental jurisdictions in Canada sometimes followed United States models. | ||
Counties were designated very early in British North America in the provinces of present eastern Canada, except in Newfoundland (which has never had counties). In the heyday of counties, 1850 to 1960, the heavily populated portions of eastern provinces had counties like those in the United States, with governments at county seats, usually called county towns. | Counties were designated very early in British North America in the provinces of present eastern Canada, except in Newfoundland (which has never had counties). In the heyday of counties, 1850 to 1960, the heavily populated portions of eastern provinces had counties like those in the United States, with governments at county seats, usually called county towns. | ||
Counties in eastern Canada did not always have their own governments. In pre-1850 Upper Canada (Ontario), for example, the counties served only (1) for land description; (2) as geographical areas where the militia was levied, and (3) as ridings, or precincts, for voting. Pre-1850 southern Ontario was divided into a varying number of districts, and government records were organized by those districts. The districts were abolished in 1849, and the counties became functioning governments. This means that records (particularly land and property records) can be listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under many headings: | Counties in eastern Canada did not always have their own governments. In pre-1850 Upper Canada (Ontario), for example, the counties served only (1) for land description; (2) as geographical areas where the militia was levied, and (3) as ridings, or precincts, for voting. Pre-1850 southern Ontario was divided into a varying number of districts, and government records were organized by those districts. The districts were abolished in 1849, and the counties became functioning governments. This means that records (particularly land and property records) can be listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under many headings: | ||
[PROVINCE] [PROVINCE], [COUNTY] [PROVINCE], [COUNTY], [TOWNSHIP] [PROVINCE], [COUNTY], [CITY] | [PROVINCE] [PROVINCE], [COUNTY] [PROVINCE], [COUNTY], [TOWNSHIP] [PROVINCE], [COUNTY], [CITY] | ||
Before 1952, most of western Canada did not have counties as judicial districts for a so-called county court system. Only British Columbia used counties at that time. | Before 1952, most of western Canada did not have counties as judicial districts for a so-called county court system. Only British Columbia used counties at that time. | ||
Since 1953 there has been a tendency throughout Canada to combine the governments of townships, towns, and counties into regional governments of various names and kinds. This will eventually affect genealogical research, as records become centralized. | Since 1953 there has been a tendency throughout Canada to combine the governments of townships, towns, and counties into regional governments of various names and kinds. This will eventually affect genealogical research, as records become centralized. | ||
Most records of genealogical importance date from earlier times when the counties of eastern Canada functioned as governmental units (except in Newfoundland) and the west had no counties. The Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog lists jurisdictions in Newfoundland, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, the Yukon, and Northwest territories under: | Most records of genealogical importance date from earlier times when the counties of eastern Canada functioned as governmental units (except in Newfoundland) and the west had no counties. The Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog lists jurisdictions in Newfoundland, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, the Yukon, and Northwest territories under: | ||
[PROVINCE] [PROVINCE], [CITY] | [PROVINCE] [PROVINCE], [CITY] | ||
Rural municipalities, which cover a relatively large area like a county, are nevertheless considered local governments in the Prairie Provinces. They are listed in the catalog under the city level: | Rural municipalities, which cover a relatively large area like a county, are nevertheless considered local governments in the Prairie Provinces. They are listed in the catalog under the city level: | ||
[PROVINCE], [CITY (RURAL MUNICIPALITY)] | [PROVINCE], [CITY (RURAL MUNICIPALITY)] | ||
Townships | Townships | ||
Counties were composed of smaller areas called: | Counties were composed of smaller areas called: | ||
* Townships in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and eastern Quebec. | *Townships in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and eastern Quebec. | ||
* Parishes in New Brunswick. | *Parishes in New Brunswick. | ||
* Lots on Prince Edward Island. | *Lots on Prince Edward Island. | ||
Townships and parishes had names; lots were numbered. You can find names of townships and counties where villages were located in: | Townships and parishes had names; lots were numbered. You can find names of townships and counties where villages were located in: | ||
Lovell, John, editor. ''Canadian Dominion Directory for 1871''. Eight Volumes. Montreal, Quebec: John Lovell, 1871. ( | Lovell, John, editor. ''Canadian Dominion Directory for 1871''. Eight Volumes. Montreal, Quebec: John Lovell, 1871. (Family History Library book [http://www.familysearch.org/eng/library/fhlcatalog/supermainframeset.asp?display=titledetails&titleno=228287&disp=Index+to+the+1871+dominion+directory+of+%20%20&columns=*,0,0 971 E4L; films 856124 and 856125; fiche 6046766].) This gives the township and county of each community, which is important when searching census, land and property, local histories, and other records. | ||
In parts of some provinces, townships or their equivalent had their own municipal governments, although villages and towns within their boundaries may have been independent of them. In other places, townships were only names of parcels of land. | In parts of some provinces, townships or their equivalent had their own municipal governments, although villages and towns within their boundaries may have been independent of them. In other places, townships were only names of parcels of land. | ||
[[Category:Canada]] | [[Category:Canada]] | ||