Monday, November 2, 2015

Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions

Question

In the illustrated census glossary (http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/92-195-x/2011001/geo/csd-sdr/csd-sdr-eng.htm), Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions are listed as valid for census years going back to 1961, but I have noticed that the terms Census Division and Subdivison are used at least as far back as 1931, if not earlier.

Any clue as to why this disparity?

Answer

These years align with those of the Standard Geographical Classification (SGC), Statistics Canada's official classification for geographical areas in Canada and Statistics Canada's official classification of geographic areas which provides unique codes for three hierarchically-related geographic areas: provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions.
http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/ref/dict/geo027-eng.cfm
http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/ref/dict/geo044-eng.cfm

Preface
Established in the early 1960s, the Standard Geographical Classification was released as a working manual for 1964, 1966 and 1972. In 1974, the manual became an official publication of Statistics Canada and it was subsequently issued for 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996 and 2001. This 2006 version is the eighth edition.

The classification consists of two volumes, each available separately. Volume I describes the classification and related standard areas and provides an alphabetical index of place names. It also explains the changes between the 2006 edition of the SGC and the 2001 edition that impact directly upon the SGC, such as changes in name, type, or code, and indicates how the new and old codes relate to one another. Volume II contains reference maps showing the locations and boundaries of the standard geographical areas in the classification. The maps are available for a fee in a paper version or can be downloaded for free in PDF format from our website.