1885 Census Clarification Nativity locations

Candie17

What is the difference between "United States" and "British America"?

"Village of Omro, Winnebego County, Wisconsin

Joseph Lyons - Three males, 1 female, 2 born in United States, 1 born in British America."

Adrian Bruce1

I would suggest that "British America" means the British part of the continent of North America - basically, what we would today refer to as Canada. (Bear in mind that the history of Canada is slightly more complex than one might imagine - in 1885, Newfoundland was politically separate from Canada)

I can see no other plausible explanation and, conversely, there is no column for "Canada", as one might expect.

This is all based on logic, not knowledge.

Candie17

Thank you!!! It makes sense as I've been told that some of my family were born in Canada and came from there to America. It would fit with the census and which family I have found. It is so hard to find family in the census years of 1880 and 1885 since there was some loss do to fire. Of course the parts of my family I'm having the hardest time tracing arrived around 1875. LOL

I'll keep my fingers crossed while I keep looking. The search continues!