Sarnia, Ontario

Sarnia is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada (population 70,876 in 2001). It is the largest city on Lake Huron, located where the three upper Great Lakes empty into the St. 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 seat of Lambton County.

Demographics

1996 Population: 72,738

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2001 Population: 70,876

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In the 1970s, Sarnia was a prosperous and growing city. That trend had even continued into the early 1990s. In recent years, however, a shift has occurred and that area was one of the few places in Southern Ontario to see negative population growth. This is due to a combination of several things. A slowing growth in the prominent manufacturing industry has led to fewer new residents. Also, the service industry has been hurt by fewer people travelling from Michigan. This is a result of both the recent strenghening in the Canadian dollar and tighter border restrictions in the wake of the September 11 attacks. An economy that is poorer in Sarnia compared with the rest of Southern Ontario has led to this population decrease.

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These factors in combination with an aboriginal baby boom mean that now a higher concentration of First Nation people live in Sarnia than ever.

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Census Data

According to the 2001 Statistics Canada Census:

Related Topics:
2001 - Statistics Canada

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• Population: 70,876
• % Change (1996-2001): -2.6
• Median Age: 40.5 years
• Median Income (persons over 15): $22,145
• Dwellings: 30,859
• Density (persons per sq. km.): 430.5
• Area (sq. km.): 164.62