The Canadian Historical GIS

Downloadable Data

The datasets underlying the CHGIS dynamic map can be downloaded for use and analysis in a variety of applications.  Below are download links to the GIS data (in ESRI geodatabase format) and to the aggregate attribute data (in Excel spreadsheet format).  Downloaded datasets will come as zipped files with documentation (in Adobe PDF format) enclosed.  Since historical data are complex and never perfectly accurate, users should carefully review the documentation in order to properly understand and interpret the scope, structure, accuracy, and limitations of these datasets.

Click here to see full documentation for the GIS data.

Click here to see full documentation for the aggregate data.

Geographic Data Download

This GIS geodatabase includes Census Subdivision (CSD) level polygons corresponding to the published census geography for 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911, and 1921.

Aggregate Data Download

Published census tables, in several formats, are available from CHGIS for the following years:

1921 Census:  4 Tables (Vol. 1, Tables 16, 27, 38; Vol. 3, Table 2)

1911 Census:  5 Tables (Vol. 1, Tables 1, 2; Vol. 2, Tables 2, 7, 28)

1901 Census:  1 Table (Vol. 1, Table 7)

1891 Census:  5 Tables (Vol. 1, Tables 2, 3; Vol. 2, Table 16; Vol. 4, Tables 2, 3)

1881 Census:  3 Tables (Vol. 1, Table 1; Vol. 3, Tables 24, 27)

1871 Census:  3 Tables (Vol. 1, Table 1; Vol. 3, Table 23; PEI Vol. 1, Table 1)

1861 Census:  6 Tables (Vol. 1, Tables 1-2, 5-6; Vol. 2, Table 11-12)

1851 Census:  4 Tables (Vol. 1, Tables 1, 3; Vol. 2, Tables 6, 7)