Sombra is a village situated on the

St. Clair River The St. Clair River is a U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map accessed November 7, 2011 river in central North America which flows from Lake Huron into Lake St. Clair, forming part ...

, in southwestern

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

, Canada within the municipality of St. Clair Township. In its early days, the village developed out of local transport and agricultural trade via rail and ship and evolved mainly into a summer resort community, serving seasonal residences and summer cottagers through much of its history.
The village is now home to mostly permanent residences and commuters supported by larger cities and towns such as Sarnia, Ontario, Sarnia, Corunna, and

Wallaceburg Wallaceburg ( 2021 population 10,323) is an unincorporated community in the municipality of Chatham-Kent in Southern (Southwestern) Ontario, Canada. Originally a small settlement, it was recognized for its significant contribution to the lum ...

. Each year, in July, the town hosts Sombra Days. This community is served by two elementary schools, several churches and a small service industry. The public school is Riverview Central School. In the recent past, Sombra served as a registered port of entry into Canada by means of a ferry crossing, the Bluewater Ferry from nearby

Marine City, Michigan Marine City is a city in St. Clair County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located on the west bank of the St. Clair River, it is one of the cities in the River District north of Detroit and south of Lake Huron. In the late 19th century, it was a m ...

, United States.

History

Sombra was named by Sir Peregrine Maitland, the lieutenant governor of Upper Canada because it was so densely wooded that the sun was blocked out. He chose the name because ''Sombra'' is the Spanish (and also Portuguese) word for "shade." Samuel Burnham and Abraham Smith initially settled here in May 1812. Initially, logging and lumber was the primary industry, however, by 1822 agriculture was beginning to emerge as an important industry. The first school was built in 1820 and rebuilt after a fire in 1882. Its first year of municipal organization was 1822. Sombra also was a stop along the

Underground Railroad The Underground Railroad was an organized network of secret routes and safe houses used by freedom seekers to escape to the abolitionist Northern United States and Eastern Canada. Enslaved Africans and African Americans escaped from slavery ...

en route to

Owen Sound Owen Sound (2021 Canadian Census, 2021 Census population 21,612) is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. The county seat, seat of government of Grey County, it is located at the mouths of the Pottawatomi River, Pottawatomi and Sydenham River ...

, Ontario. This was part of the alternate route around Detroit, Michigan. During the United States Prohibition in 1920s, alcohol was smuggled into across the border from Canada via the St. Clair River and Sombra was a key location for the activity.

Al Capone Alphonse Gabriel Capone ( ; ; January 17, 1899 – January 25, 1947), sometimes known by the nickname "Scarface", was an American organized crime, gangster and businessman who attained notoriety during the Prohibition era as the co-foun ...

used Sombra as a key location for his alcohol smuggling organization.

Population

Sombra's current population is approximately 250 people.

References

External links

{{authority control Communities in Lambton County Underground Railroad locations in Canada St. Clair River