Reading the 1870 Census: As documented by the 1870 federal census, the decade of the 1860's was a watershed period in the composition of Metomen residents. Despite an 18% increase in population, the number of farm families in the township dropped 13% while men identifying themselves as laborers increased 80%. Yankees in the township decreased from 68% of the adult population to 47%, while German-born increased from 7% to 23%. Danes became a significant immigrant group in Fairwater, while Dutch immigrants in the town of Metomen concentrated in Brandon.