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Sarnia, Ontario (City)




Canada is a country in the northern half of North America. Sarnia is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada with a population 70,876 in 2001. It is the largest city on Lake Huron, and is located where the three upper Great Lakes empty into the Saint Clair River. The city's natural harbour first attracted the French explorer La Salle, who named the site, the Rapids. The name Sarnia was the Latin name for Guernsey in the Channel Islands just off the coast of Normandy, France. The Sarnia port is still an important centre for lake freighters and salties carrying cargos of grain, ore, and petroleum products. It is the largest community in Lambton County. Its population in 2001 was 70,876 with density of 430.5 per square kilometers and area of 164.62 square kilometers.

Early in the 1830s, the first settlers arrived in the Sarnia area and established a community known as the Rapids. In 1836, the name Port Sarnia was adopted, and the community grew steadily over the years being incorporated as a town in 1856 and, finally, as the City of Sarnia on May 7th, 1914. The City of Sarnia and the neighbouring Town of Clearwater amalgamated on January 1st, 1991, to become the City of Sarnia-Clearwater. The new community has a population of 70,000 and a total land mass of 44,000 acres. On January 1st, 1992, the name became City of Sarnia.
 
The early growth of Sarnia was stimulated by the wealth of adjoining stands of timber, by the discovery of oil nearby and by the arrival of The Great Western Railway in 1858 and the Grand Trunk Railway in 1859. These rail lines were later linked directly to the United States by the opening of a rail tunnel under the Saint Clair River at Sarnia in 1889. A convenient link for vehicular traffic was provided when the Bluewater Bridge was opened in 1938.
 
The Lambton Kent District School Board is responsible for the 13 elementary and 5 secondary public schools namely N.C.I.V.S, Northern Collegiate Institute and Vocational School., Alexander MacKenzie, S.C.I.T.S., L.C.C.V.I., and Saint Clair located within Sarnia's boundaries. The Saint Clair Catholic District School Board is responsible for the city's 7 elementary and 2 secondary Catholic schools namely Saint Christopher's and Saint Patrick's.
 
Today, one can also learn about its history, from its earliest times and gain enthusiasm in its natural beauty and populace. Sarnia enjoys a very positive reputation with worldwide travelers.

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