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December 10, 2018

Understanding the Border Crossings Canada-USA

Many genealogists have asked me about the online border crossings on Ancestry. Some are confused about when the border crossing records begin. Others are bewildered at finding an ancestor who they know lived in border towns such as Windsor Ontario or neighbouring Detroit Michigan, in the set called St. Alban's (Vermont) Border Crossing Records. Why, they ask, would their ancestor cross at Vermont which would lead directly to Quebec!

These two questions are easily answered.

1. Border crossing records were not kept until 1895.


 ALWAYS READ THE DESCRIPTION OF AN ONLINE DATABASE

2. To find out what a database consists of, it is wise to read the description of the database before searching. 

For example one border crossing database on Ancestry is called St. Albans (Vermont) but by reading the description of the database, we see that it contains an index of aliens and citizens crossing into the U.S. from Canada via various ports of entry along the U.S.-Canadian border between 1895 and 1960. 

St. Albans Vermont set of border crossings - note the port of entry of Detroit

 From this we learn that it does not mean that everyone found in the database crossed at St. Albans. Researchers should scrutinize the image carefully as it will indicate the port of entry.


BORDER CROSSINGS CANADA TO USA

Ancestry has U.S., Border Crossings from Canada to U.S., 1895-1960 online. This database covers crossing into the U.S. from Canada via various ports of entry along the U.S.-Canadian border between 1895 and 1960. Specifically, this database covers the following ports and years:

Idaho
  • Eastport, 1924-1954
  • Porthill, 1923-1954
Maine
  • Bangor, 1924-1952
  • Calais, 1906-1952 (also includes a few arrivals from 1877 to 1905)
  • Eastport, Fort Kent, Lubec, and Madawaska, 1906-1952 (also includes some departure records of U.S. citizens)
  • Fort Fairfield, 1909-1953 (also includes a few arrivals at Easton, ME, Houlton, ME, Boston, MA, and Buffalo, NY and a few alien departures)
  • Houlton, 1906-1952 (also includes some Indian admissions, ca. 1941-ca. 1953; “Records of Registry” documenting aliens’ previous arrivals for which no records could be found; Re-entry permits; persons admitted under the “Rule of Presumption” ; Land border departure records; War brides and their children)
  • Jackman, 1909-1953
  • Van Buren, 1906-1952
  • Vanceboro, 1906-1952 (also includes a few arrivals from 1888 to 1905 and a few arrivals at Halifax, Nova Scotia and St. John, New Brunswick)
Minnesota
  • International Falls, Baudette, Duluth, Mineral Center, Pigeon River, Pine Creek, Roseau, and Warroad, 1907-1952 (also includes some departure records of U.S. citizens)
  • Noyes, 1917-1929
Montana
  • Babb, 1928-1956
  • Chief Mountain, Cut Bank, Del Bonita, Gateway, Great Falls, and Roosville, 1923-1956
  • Sweet Grass, 1917-1954
New York
  • Buffalo, Lewiston, Niagara Falls, and Rochester, 1902-1954
  • Hogansburg, Malone, Morristown, Nyando, Ogdensburg, Rooseveltown, Waddington, Alexandria Bay, Cape Vincent, Champlain, Clayton, Fort Covington, Moers, Rouses Point, Thousands Island Bridge, and Trout River, 1929-1956
North Dakota
  • Northgate and St. John, 1910-1921
  • Pembina and Walhalla, 1917-1929
  • Portal, 1915-1921
Vermont
  • Newport, 1906-1924
  • St. Albans, 1895-1954
Washington
  • Anacortes, 1924-1953
  • Blaine, 1905-1956
  • Danville, 1931-1956
  • Ferry, 1917-1956
  • Laurier and Marcus, 1923-1951
  • Lynden, 1923-1952
  • Metaline Falls, 1924-1954
  • Northport, May 1923-1951
  • Oroville, 1918-1954
  • Port Angeles, 1929-1952
  • Sumas, 1924-1956

BORDER CROSSINGS USA TO CANADA

Ancestry also has Border Crossings: From U.S. to Canada, 1908-1935 online. These records consist of border entry lists and Form 30 (individual entry forms).

Canadian Border Entry Ports:
Alberta
Coutts
Pinhorn
Twin Lakes
British Columbia
AldergroveKereemeosOsoyoosRossland
AnyoxKingsgatePacific HighwayRykerts
BamfieldLadnerPatersonSimilkameen
BridesvilleLadysmithPeardonvilleStewart
CarsonMidwayPentictonUnion Bay
CascadeMissionPhillipsUpper Sumas
ChilliwackMyncasterPort SimpsonVictoria
DouglasNanaimoPowell RiverWaneta
Grand ForksNewgatePrince RupertWhite Pass
GatewayOcean FallsRoosvilleWhite Rock
Huntingdon
Manitoba
BannermanMorden
EmersonMowbray
HaskettSnowflake
GretnaSprague
Ontario
AmhertsburgCutlerNiagara FallsPrescott
AultsvilleDepot HarbourOjibwaRainy River
BathDeserontoParry SoundRockport
BellevilleErie BeachPictonSarnia
Blind RiverFort EriePigeon River BridgeSault Ste Marie
BridgeburgFort FrancesPoint EdwardSombra
BrightonFort WilliamPort ArthurThessalon
BrockvilleGananoquePort BurwellToronto
Bruce MinesGoderichPort ColborneTrenton
CobourgGore BayPort DalhousieWalkerville
CollingwoodIroquoisPort DoverWallaceburg
CornwallKingstonPort HopeWalpole Island
CourtrightLittle CurrentPort LambtonWindmill Point
Crystal BeachMorrisburgPort StanleyWindsor
Wolf Island
New Brunswick
AndoverDebec JunctionGrand MananNorth HeadSt Stephen
Aroostook JunctionEdmundstonGreen RiverRichmond Road/CornerUpper Mills
CentrevilleFair HavenLeteteSt AndrewsWelshpool
ConnorsFostervilleMcAdam JunctionSt HilaireWilsons Beach
ClairGrand FallsMilltownSt LĂ©onardWoodstock
Nova Scotia
Clements Port
Liverpool
Port Hawkesbury
Sydney
Yarmouth
Quebec
ArmstrongFrelighsburgLacolle JunctionStanhope
AthelstanGeorgevilleMagogStanstead Junction
Beebe JunctionHemmingfordMansonvilleSt Armand
CoaticookHerefordMeganticSt Johns
Comins MillsHighwaterNoyan JunctionSt Regis
DundeeHuntingdon/St AgnesPaquetteville
Saskatchewan
Big MuddyNorth PortalWest Poplar River
East Poplar RiverNorthgateWillow Creek
MarienthalRadvilleWood Mountain
Yukon
Dawson
Forty Mile
Maine
Portland
Massachusetts
Boston
New York
Charlotte
Lewiston
Malone
Rochester
Rouses Point
Vermont
Alburg
St Albans

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