Unless indicated otherwise census records are available 1851-1911

See also: Census Records, how to use them, where to find them.

An overview of online census records can be found at Ontario GenWeb under ‘Is It Online?’

A listing of all known York County census records can be found at OntarioGenWeb’s Census Project

Aurora

Aurora does not appear as a separate district on the census records until 1871 after which Aurora was large enough to be enumerated by itself.

1851: The National Archives lists the 1851 Whitchurch census as "missing," but it is worth checking the district "York township" since some of what became Whitchurch is there. Also try the township of King.

1861: Aurora is included as part of Whitchurch township.

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East Gwillimbury

The earliest census is 1851.

Holland Landing begins to be enumerated separately in 1861.

There was an 1842 census, but it was aggregate only, no names.

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Georgina

The 1851 census records were lost. The earliest census for the area is 1861.

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King

The earliest census records are for 1851.

There was also an 1842 census, but it was head of household only.

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Markham

The first individual census for Markham is 1851.

In 1881 Markham village begins to appear separately from Markham township.

There is an earlier census, 1842, but it was only head of household.

An index for the 1851-1881 censuses has been compiled by Louise Hope and can be purchased from York Region OGS.

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Newmarket

Newmarket does not appear as a separate district on census records until 1871. Before this, residents would have been included in the census of either Whitchurch or East Gwillimbury.

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North Gwillimbury

North Gwillimbury was enumerated separately from Georgina and East Gwillimbury for every census year.

There was an 1842 census, but it was aggregate only, which means it contains only totals, no names.

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Richmond Hill

The village of Richmond Hill begins to appear separately on census records in 1881. Prior to that, the records are found in the townships of King, Markham, Vaughan or Whitchurch.

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Vaughan

Census records for Vaughan township begin in 1851

There is a census for 1842, but it is only aggregate, which contains only totals, no names.

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Whitchurch-Stouffille

The earliest census for Whitchurch township is 1861. The National Archives has the 1851 census listed as "missing." However, it may be worthwhile checking 1851 York township since some of what became Whitchurch seems to have been included there.

In 1871 and all later censuses, the villages of Aurora and Newmarket appear separate from Whitchurch township.

There is a census for 1842, but it was aggregate only, which means only totals, no names.