Sombor

{{unreferenced section|date=April 2023}}

In Serbian, the city is known as Sombor (Сомбор), in Hungarian as Zombor, in Rusyn as Zombor (Зомбор).

The older Hungarian name for the city was Czoborszentmihály. The name originates from the Czobor family, who were the owners of this area in the 14th century. (The family name came from the Slavic name Cibor.) The Serbian name for the city (Sombor) also came from the family name Czobor, and was first recorded in 1543, although the city was mentioned in historical documents under several more names, such as Samobor, Sambor, Sambir, Sonbor, Sanbur, Zibor, and Zombar.

An unofficial name for the city is Ravangrad (Раванград), which literally means "flat town" in Serbian.

File:Sombor orthodox church.jpg

File:Sombor (Zombor) - main street.jpg

The first historical record relating to the city is from 1340. The city was administered by the Kingdom of Hungary until the 16th century, when it became part of the Ottoman Empire. During the establishment of Ottoman authority, the local Hungarian population left the region. As a result, the city became populated mostly by ethnic Serbs. It was called "Sonbor" during Ottoman administration and was a kaza centre in the Sanjak of Segedin at first in Budin Province until 1596, and then in Eğri Province between 1596 and 1687.

In 1665, a well-known traveller, Evliya Çelebi, visited Sombor and wrote: "All the folk (in the city) are not Hungarian, but Wallachian-Christian (Serb).{{cite web|url=http://www.sombor.rs/istorija|title=Историја|date=23 January 2017|access-date=22 December 2017}} These places are something special; they do not belong to Hungary, but are a part of Bačka and Wallachia. Most of the inhabitants are traders, and all of them wear frontiersmen clothes; they are very polite and brave people." According to Celebi, the city had 200 shops, 14 mosques and about 2,000 houses.

Since 12 September 1687, the city was under Habsburg administration, and was included into the Habsburg Military Frontier. Ottomans attempted to recapture it during the Battle of Zenta on 11 September 1697. However their attack was repulsed. In 1717, the first Orthodox elementary school was opened. Five years later a Roman Catholic elementary school was opened as well. In 1745, Sombor was excluded from the Military Frontier and was included into Bacsensis County. In 1749, Sombor gained royal free city status. In 1786, the city became the seat of Bacsensis-Bodrogiensis County. According to 1786 data, the population of the city numbered 11,420 people, mostly Serbs.

According to the 1843 data, Sombor had 21,086 inhabitants, of whom 11,897 were Orthodox Christians, 9,082 Roman Catholics, 56 Jewish, and 51 Protestants. The main language spoken in the city at that time was Serbian, and the second-largest language was German. In 1848/1849, Sombor was part of the Serbian Vojvodina, a Serb autonomous region within Austrian Empire, while between 1849 and 1860, it was part of the Voivodeship of Serbia and Temes Banat, a separate Austrian crown land. Sombor was a seat of the district within voivodship. After the abolishment of this crown land, Sombor again became the seat of the Bacsensis-Bodrogiensis (Bács-Bodrog, Bačka-Bodrog) County.

File:Glavni trg u Somboru.jpg

According to the 1910 census, the population of Sombor was 30,593 people, of whom 11,881 spoke Serbian, 10,078 spoke Hungarian, 6,289 spoke Bunjevac, and 2,181 spoke German.

In 1918, Sombor became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later known as the Kingdom of Yugoslavia). Between 1918 and 1922 it was part of Bačka County, between 1922 and 1929 part of Bačka Oblast, and between 1929 and 1941 part of Danube Banovina.

In 1941, the city was occupied by the Axis powers and annexed by Hungary. Many prominent citizens from the Serb community were interned and later executed. In 1944, the Yugoslav Partisans and Soviet Red Army expelled the Axis forces from the city. Since 1944, Sombor was part of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina of the new Socialist Yugoslavia and (since 1945) socialist Serbia. Today, Sombor is the seat of the West Bačka District in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina in the Republic of Serbia.

In recent times, Sombor has become known all around the world because NBA champion and Finals MVP Nikola Jokić was born here in 1995.

Climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Cfa" (Warm Temperate Climate/humid subtropical climate).{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=131600&cityname=Obziri,+Shumadija,+Serbia&units=|title=Obziri, Serbia Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=22 December 2017}}

{{Weather box

|width = auto

|location = Sombor (1991–2020, extremes 1961–2020)

|single line = Yes

|metric first = Yes

|Jan record high C = 19.3

|Feb record high C = 21.3

|Mar record high C = 27.6

|Apr record high C = 30.8

|May record high C = 35.1

|Jun record high C = 37.1

|Jul record high C = 40.3

|Aug record high C = 40.6

|Sep record high C = 36.5

|Oct record high C = 30.0

|Nov record high C = 25.7

|Dec record high C = 20.7

|year record high C = 40.6

|Jan high C = 4.2

|Feb high C = 7.0

|Mar high C = 12.7

|Apr high C = 18.6

|May high C = 23.4

|Jun high C = 27.0

|Jul high C = 29.0

|Aug high C = 29.3

|Sep high C = 23.9

|Oct high C = 18.3

|Nov high C = 11.2

|Dec high C = 4.7

|year high C = 17.4

|Jan mean C = 0.6

|Feb mean C = 2.1

|Mar mean C = 6.7

|Apr mean C = 12.2

|May mean C = 17.2

|Jun mean C = 20.9

|Jul mean C = 22.5

|Aug mean C = 22.0

|Sep mean C = 16.8

|Oct mean C = 11.5

|Nov mean C = 6.3

|Dec mean C = 1.4

|year mean C = 11.7

|Jan low C = -2.7

|Feb low C = -2.0

|Mar low C = 1.6

|Apr low C = 6.1

|May low C = 10.9

|Jun low C = 14.5

|Jul low C = 15.8

|Aug low C = 15.5

|Sep low C = 11.2

|Oct low C = 6.5

|Nov low C = 2.6

|Dec low C = -1.5

|year low C = 6.5

|Jan record low C = -27.2

|Feb record low C = -26.8

|Mar record low C = -24.5

|Apr record low C = -5.6

|May record low C = -1.0

|Jun record low C = 2.0

|Jul record low C = 7.3

|Aug record low C = 4.6

|Sep record low C = -2.2

|Oct record low C = -6.9

|Nov record low C = -18.4

|Dec record low C = -23.7

|year record low C = -27.2

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 37.1

|Feb precipitation mm = 37.7

|Mar precipitation mm = 35.4

|Apr precipitation mm = 40.3

|May precipitation mm = 64.8

|Jun precipitation mm = 79.8

|Jul precipitation mm = 72.7

|Aug precipitation mm = 56.2

|Sep precipitation mm = 60.9

|Oct precipitation mm = 54.3

|Nov precipitation mm = 49.5

|Dec precipitation mm = 47.3

|year precipitation mm = 636.0

|Jan humidity = 84.0

|Feb humidity = 77.9

|Mar humidity = 69.6

|Apr humidity = 65.0

|May humidity = 64.5

|Jun humidity = 64.8

|Jul humidity = 63.4

|Aug humidity = 65.0

|Sep humidity = 70.7

|Oct humidity = 75.7

|Nov humidity = 82.5

|Dec humidity = 85.9

|year humidity = 72.4

|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 11.8

|Feb precipitation days = 10.7

|Mar precipitation days = 10.3

|Apr precipitation days = 10.9

|May precipitation days = 13.0

|Jun precipitation days = 11.8

|Jul precipitation days = 10.0

|Aug precipitation days = 8.6

|Sep precipitation days = 10.2

|Oct precipitation days = 9.5

|Nov precipitation days = 11.1

|Dec precipitation days = 12.3

|year precipitation days = 130.2

|Jan snow days = 6.5

|Feb snow days = 5.4

|Mar snow days = 2.8

|Apr snow days = 0.5

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.1

|Nov snow days = 2.1

|Dec snow days = 4.5

|year snow days = 21.9

|Jan sun = 65.1

|Feb sun = 97.6

|Mar sun = 159.7

|Apr sun = 208.8

|May sun = 254.3

|Jun sun = 278.6

|Jul sun = 306.4

|Aug sun = 291.0

|Sep sun = 200.5

|Oct sun = 154.0

|Nov sun = 82.0

|Dec sun = 53.6

|year sun = 2151.6

|source 1 = Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia{{cite web

| url = https://www.hidmet.gov.rs/ciril/meteorologija/stanica_sr_sombor.php

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220415153355/https://www.hidmet.gov.rs/ciril/meteorologija/stanica_sr_sombor.php

| archive-date = 15 April 2022

| title= Monthly and annual means, maximum and minimum values of meteorological elements for the period 1991–2020

| language = sr

| publisher = Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia

| access-date = 15 April 2022}}{{cite web

| url = http://www.hidmet.gov.rs/eng/meteorologija/stanica_sr.php?moss_id=13160

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220415153254/https://www.hidmet.gov.rs/eng/meteorologija/stanica_sr.php?moss_id=13160

| archive-date = 15 April 2022

| title= Monthly and annual means, maximum and minimum values of meteorological elements for the period 1981–2010

| language = sr

| publisher = Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia

| access-date = 25 February 2017}}

|date=April 2015

}}

{{Sombor Labelled Map}}

File:Sombor quarters.png

The city administrative area of Sombor includes following villages:

• Aleksa Šantić
• Bački Breg
• Bački Monoštor
• Bezdan
• Gakovo
• Doroslovo
• Kljajićevo
• Kolut
• Rastina
• Riđica
• Svetozar Miletić
• Stanišić
• Stapar
• Telečka
• Čonoplja

Smaller and suburban settlements, "Salaši" include

• Bukovački Salaši
• Rančevo
• Kruševlje
• Bilić
• Lugomerci
• Žarkovac
• Šaponje
• Obzir
• Milčići
• Gradina
• Lenija
• Nenadić
• Radojevići

{{Historical populations

| type =

| percentages = pagr

|1948|90477 |1953|92583 |1961|96191 |1971|98080 |1981|99168 |1991|96105 |2002|97263 |2011|85903

| source = {{cite web|title=2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia|url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia|access-date=11 December 2017}}

}}

According to the last official census done in 2011, the city of Sombor has 85,903 inhabitants.

{{See also|Serbs in Vojvodina|Hungarians in Vojvodina|Romani people of Vojvodina|Croats in Vojvodina|Bunjevci|Pannonian Rusyns|List of Hungarian communities in Vojvodina}}

Settlements with Serb ethnic majority (as of 2002) are: Sombor, Aleksa Šantić, Gakovo, Kljajićevo, Kolut, Rastina, Riđica, Stanišić, Stapar, and Čonoplja. Settlements with Croat/Šokac ethnic majority (as of 2002) are: Bački Breg and Bački Monoštor. Settlements with Hungarian ethnic majority (in 2002) are: Bezdan, Doroslovo, and Telečka. Ethnically mixed settlement with relative Hungarian majority is Svetozar Miletić.

The ethnic composition of the city:{{cite web|title=Попис становништва, домаћинстава и станова 2011. у Републици Србији|url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Nacionalna%20pripadnost-Ethnicity.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=Republički zavod za statistiku|access-date=30 March 2019}}

File:Sombor Norma.jpg

File:Sombor, Carmelite monastery and church.jpg

Sombor is famous for its greenery, cultural life and beautiful 18th and 19th century center. The most important cultural institutions are the National Theater, the Sombor City Museum, the Modern Art Gallery, the Milan Konjović Art Gallery,{{cite news |title=Ovo su NAJLEPŠI MUZEJI van Beograda i evo zašto NE SMETE da ih zaobiđete |url=https://www.blic.rs/slobodno-vreme/vesti/ovo-su-najlepsi-muzeji-van-beograda-i-evo-zasto-ne-smete-da-ih-zaobidete/tq2xw7z |access-date=22 February 2019 |work=blic.rs |date=11 December 2017 |language=sr}} the Teacher's College (Preparandija), the Serbian Reading House, and the Sombor Gymnasium. Teacher's College (Preparandija) founded in 1778, is the oldest college in Serbia and the region.

There are two monasteries in this city:

• Sombor Orthodox Monastery, founded in 1928–1933
• Discalced Carmelite Catholic monastery, founded in 1904

File:Sombor-Zupanija-20160404.jpg|Županija building housing city and city administration

File:Sombor-Stara-Gradska-Kuca-20160404.jpg|The old town hall of Sombor and the Holy Trinity Square{{Cite web |title=Споменици културе у Србији, Градска кућа |url=http://spomenicikulture.mi.sanu.ac.rs/spomenik.php?id=1217 |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=spomenicikulture.mi.sanu.ac.rs}}

File:Sombor-Theater-20160404.jpg|Sombor theater building

File:Sombor-Main-Street-20160404.jpg|Sombor main street with the water fountain

File:Sombor-Catholic-Church.jpg|Catholic church in Sombor

The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2022):{{cite web|title=MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, 2023.|url=https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2023/PdfE/G202313050.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia|access-date=20 September 2024}}

File:Korac Cup cropped.jpg

Radnički Sombor is the main football club from the city competing in Vojvodina League North.

Sombor is the hometown of Radivoj Korać, the FIBA Hall of Fame basketball player. Korać holds the EuroLeague record for points in a game at 99.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-08 |title=Nikola Jokic and a forgotten basketball legend: Inside an MVP connection nearly 60 years in the making |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40102427/nikola-jokic-forgotten-basketball-legend-mvp-connection-nearly-60-years-making-sombor-serbia |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

Sombor is the hometown of 3x NBA MVP, NBA Champion and Finals MVP Nikola Jokić. The local basketball club where he began his playing career renamed itself KK Joker in 2017 after his English-language nickname, and was promoted to the top-level Basketball League of Serbia at the end of the 2022–23 season.

• Somborske novine{{cite web|url=http://www.somborskenovine.co.rs/|title=Somborske novine - Početna|website=somborskenovine.co.rs|access-date=22 December 2017}}

• K-54
• Spektar{{cite web |url=http://www.rtvspektar.co.rs/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=2010-11-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123051031/http://www.rtvspektar.co.rs/ |archive-date=23 November 2010 }}
• RTV Sreće{{cite web|url=http://rtvsrece.com/|title=РТВ СРЕЋЕ СОМБОР & TV SREĆE SOMBOR & Radio Televizija Srece Sombor "TV SOMBOR" UŽIVO|website=rtvsrece.com|access-date=22 December 2017}}

• Radio Marija (95.7)
• Radio Sombor (97.5){{cite web|url=http://www.radiosombor.co.rs/|title=Radio Sombor- Somborske vesti|website=radiosombor.co.rs|access-date=22 December 2017}}
• Radio Fortuna (106.6)

• Novi Radio Sombor http://www.noviradiosombor.com/
• SOinfo.org{{cite web|url=http://www.soinfo.org/|title=SOinfo.org – Sombor 24/7|website=soinfo.org|access-date=22 December 2017}}

Twin cities:

• {{flagicon|HUN}} Baja, Hungary
• {{flagicon|HUN}} Kispest, Hungary
• {{flagicon|NMK}} Veles, North Macedonia
• {{flagicon|BIH}} Istočno Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina{{cite news|url=https://www.novosti.rs/amp/srbija/vesti/1461784/bratimljenje-sombora-istocnog-sarajeva-siri-porodica-bratskih-gradova|title=Bratimljenje Sombora i Istočnog Sarajeva: Širi se porodica bratskih gradova|publisher=novosti.rs|date=2017-06-18 |access-date=2017-06-30|last1=|first1=}}

Regional cooperation:

• {{flagicon|CRO}} Osijek, Croatia
• {{flagicon|BIH}} Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• {{flagicon|CRO}} Vukovar, Croatia

Buses offer direct connections to major Serbian cities including Belgrade, Novi Sad and Subotica, as well as many regional towns. Among the companies operating in the area is Severtrans.

Sombor is linked by direct rail links to Novi Sad and Subotica, among others.

The city houses Sombor Airport.

File:Nikola Jokic free throw (cropped).jpg was born in Sombor]]

• József Schweidel (b. 1796), Home Guard General, Martyr of Arad, his statue stood in the square in front of the County Hall until 1918.
• Samuilo Maširević (1804–1870), Orthodox Patriarch of Karlovci
• Laza Kostić (1841–1910), poet, prose writer, lawyer, philosopher, polyglot, publicist, and politician
• Joseph Kish (1899 – 1969), Academy Award winning Art Director
• Ernest Bošnjak (1876–1963), cameraman, film director and printer. One of the founders of the filmography in the area
• Sándor Gombos (1895–1968), Olympic champion fencer
• Milan Konjović (1898–1993), prominent painter
• Gustav Mezey (1899–1981), artist
• Sava Stojkov (1925–2014), naive art painter
• Bogdan Maglić (1928–2017), nuclear physicist
• Zvonko Bogdan (b. 1942), performer of traditional folk songs
• Radivoj Korać (1938–1969), basketball player in the FIBA Hall of Fame
• Andrija Konc (1919–1945), singer, born in Sombor.
• Nemanja Milić (b. 1990), professional football player
• Filip Krajinović (b. 1992), professional tennis player
• Nikola Jokić (b. 1995), professional basketball player, NBA Champion and Olympic silver medalist
• Filip Rebraca (b. 1997), professional basketball player

• List of cities in Serbia
• List of cities, towns and villages of Vojvodina
• West Bačka District

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Sombor}}

{{EB1911 Poster|Zombor}}

• {{official website|http://www.sombor.rs/}}
• [http://www.soinfo.org/ www.soinfo.org]
• [http://www.sombor.org.rs/ www.sombor.org.rs]
• [http://www.geo.rs/sombor/ Map of Sombor]

{{West Bačka District}}

{{Municipalities of Serbia}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Places in Bačka

Category:Populated places in Vojvodina

Category:Municipalities and cities of Vojvodina

Category:West Bačka District

Category:Spatial Cultural-Historical Units of Great Importance