Sombor

This article is about the city in Serbia. For the city in Ukraine, see Sambir.

Sombor Сомбор (Serbian) Zombor (Hungarian) [1]
City
City of Sombor
Bács-Bodrog County Palace Old Sombor City Hall Kralja Petra I Street in Sombor Church of St. George Church of St. Stephen the King Church of the Holy Trinity Krušper's Palace National Theatre in Sombor Preparandija building Sokol House in Sombor
Flag Coat of arms
Sombor Location of the city of Sombor in Vojvodina Show map of Vojvodina Sombor Sombor (Serbia) Show map of Serbia Sombor Sombor (Europe) Show map of Europe
Coordinates: 45°47′N19°07′E / 45.783°N 19.117°E / 45.783; 19.117
Country	Serbia
Province	Vojvodina
Region	Bačka
District	West Bačka
Municipality	Sombor
City status	17 February 1749
Settlements	16
Government
• Mayor	Antonio Ratković (SNS)
Area [2]
• Rank	7th in Serbia
• Urban	289.23 km2 (111.67 sq mi)
• Administrative	1,216.80 km2 (469.81 sq mi)
Elevation	90 m (300 ft)
Population  (2022 census) [3]
• Rank	19th in Serbia
• Urban	41,814
• Urban density	140/km2 (370/sq mi)
• Administrative	70,818
• Administrative density	58/km2 (150/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	25000
Area code	+381 25
ISO 3166 code	SRB
Official languages	Serbian together with Hungarian on the entire territory and Croatian in Bački Monoštor, Bački Breg and Svetozar Miletić [1]
Website	www.sombor.rs

Sombor (Serbian Cyrillic : Сомбор, pronounced [sɔ̂mbɔr] ; Hungarian : Zombor; Rusyn : Зомбор, romanized: Zombor) is a city and the administrative center of the West Bačka District in the autonomous province of Vojvodina, Serbia. The city has a total population of 41,814 (as of 2022 ^[update] ), while its administrative area (including neighboring villages) has 70,818 inhabitants.

Name and etymology

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city (Sombor) also came from the family name Czobor, and was first recorded in 1543, although the city was mentioned in historical documents under several more names, such as Samobor, Sambor, Sambir, Sonbor, Sanbur, Zibor, and Zombar.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.

History

Serbian Orthodox church

Main pedestrian street

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. ^[4] 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). ^[4] 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.

Holy Trinity Square in 1941

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.

Geography

Climate

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). ^[5]

Climate data for Sombor (1991–2020, extremes 1961–2020)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	19.3 (66.7)	21.3 (70.3)	27.6 (81.7)	30.8 (87.4)	35.1 (95.2)	37.1 (98.8)	40.3 (104.5)	40.6 (105.1)	36.5 (97.7)	30.0 (86.0)	25.7 (78.3)	20.7 (69.3)	40.6 (105.1)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	4.2 (39.6)	7.0 (44.6)	12.7 (54.9)	18.6 (65.5)	23.4 (74.1)	27.0 (80.6)	29.0 (84.2)	29.3 (84.7)	23.9 (75.0)	18.3 (64.9)	11.2 (52.2)	4.7 (40.5)	17.4 (63.3)
Daily mean °C (°F)	0.6 (33.1)	2.1 (35.8)	6.7 (44.1)	12.2 (54.0)	17.2 (63.0)	20.9 (69.6)	22.5 (72.5)	22.0 (71.6)	16.8 (62.2)	11.5 (52.7)	6.3 (43.3)	1.4 (34.5)	11.7 (53.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−2.7 (27.1)	−2.0 (28.4)	1.6 (34.9)	6.1 (43.0)	10.9 (51.6)	14.5 (58.1)	15.8 (60.4)	15.5 (59.9)	11.2 (52.2)	6.5 (43.7)	2.6 (36.7)	−1.5 (29.3)	6.5 (43.7)
Record low °C (°F)	−27.2 (−17.0)	−26.8 (−16.2)	−24.5 (−12.1)	−5.6 (21.9)	−1.0 (30.2)	2.0 (35.6)	7.3 (45.1)	4.6 (40.3)	−2.2 (28.0)	−6.9 (19.6)	−18.4 (−1.1)	−23.7 (−10.7)	−27.2 (−17.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	37.1 (1.46)	37.7 (1.48)	35.4 (1.39)	40.3 (1.59)	64.8 (2.55)	79.8 (3.14)	72.7 (2.86)	56.2 (2.21)	60.9 (2.40)	54.3 (2.14)	49.5 (1.95)	47.3 (1.86)	636.0 (25.04)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)	11.8	10.7	10.3	10.9	13.0	11.8	10.0	8.6	10.2	9.5	11.1	12.3	130.2
Average snowy days	6.5	5.4	2.8	0.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	2.1	4.5	21.9
Average relative humidity (%)	84.0	77.9	69.6	65.0	64.5	64.8	63.4	65.0	70.7	75.7	82.5	85.9	72.4
Mean monthly sunshine hours	65.1	97.6	159.7	208.8	254.3	278.6	306.4	291.0	200.5	154.0	82.0	53.6	2,151.6
Source: Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia [6] [7]

Settlements

Sombor

Kljajićevo

Čonoplja

Svetozar Miletić

Telečka

Bački Monoštor

Bezdan

Kolut

Bački Breg

Gakovo

Kruševlje

Stanišić

Aleksa Šantić

Rastina

Riđica

Stapar

Doroslovo

Municipality
of Sombor
●

Neighborhoods of urban Sombor

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

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1948	90,477	—
1953	92,583	+0.46%
1961	96,191	+0.48%
1971	98,080	+0.19%
1981	99,168	+0.11%
1991	96,105	−0.31%
2002	97,263	+0.11%
2011	85,903	−1.37%
Source: [8]

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

Ethnic groups

See also: Serbs in Vojvodina, Hungarians in Vojvodina, Romani people of Vojvodina, Croats in Vojvodina, Bunjevci, Pannonian Rusyns, and 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: ^[9]

Ethnic group	Population	%
Serbs	54,370	63.29%
Hungarians	9,874	11.49%
Croats	7,070	8.23%
Bunjevci	2,058	2.40%
Roma	1,015	1.18%
Yugoslavs	852	0.99%
Montenegrins	541	0.63%
Germans	494	0.58%
Macedonians	171	0.20%
Albanians	118	0.14%
Slovaks	117	0.14%
Others	9,223	10.74%
Total	85,903

Culture

Building of former Sombor Norma where first civil school with Serbian as the language of instruction was established.

Carmelite monastery and church in the centre of the town.

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, ^[10] 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

Buildings and architecture

• 
  Županija building housing city and city administration
• 
  The old town hall of Sombor and the Holy Trinity Square ^[11]
• 
  Sombor theater building
• 
  Sombor main street with the water fountain
• 
  Catholic church in Sombor

Economy

The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2022): ^[12]

Activity	Total
Agriculture, forestry and fishing	803
Mining and quarrying	3
Manufacturing	4,985
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply	197
Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities	257
Construction	903
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles	3,344
Transportation and storage	1,224
Accommodation and food services	823
Information and communication	284
Financial and insurance activities	332
Real estate activities	51
Professional, scientific and technical activities	687
Administrative and support service activities	991
Public administration and defense; compulsory social security	1,355
Education	1,697
Human health and social work activities	2,055
Arts, entertainment and recreation	315
Other service activities	443
Individual agricultural workers	976
Total	21,727

Sports

FIBA Korać Cup Trophy

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. ^[13]

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.

Local media

Newspapers

• Somborske novine ^[14]

TV stations

• K-54
• Spektar ^[15]
• RTV Sreće ^[16]

Radio stations

• Radio Marija (95.7)
• Radio Sombor (97.5) ^[17]
• Radio Fortuna (106.6)

Internet media

• Novi Radio Sombor http://www.noviradiosombor.com/
• SOinfo.org ^[18]

Twin cities

Twin cities:

• Baja , Hungary
• Kispest , Hungary
• Veles , North Macedonia
• Istočno Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina ^[19]

Regional cooperation:

• Osijek , Croatia
• Tuzla , Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Vukovar , Croatia

Transportation

Buses

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.

Rail

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

Air

The city houses Sombor Airport.

Notable residents

Basketball player Nikola Jokić 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

See also

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

References

1. "Статут Града Сомбора" [Sombor City Statute](PDF) (in Serbian). City of Sombor. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
2. "Municipalities of Serbia, 2006". Statistical Office of Serbia. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
3. "2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia: Comparative Overview of the Number of Population in 1948, 1953, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2002 and 2011, Data by settlements" (PDF). Statistical Office of Republic Of Serbia, Belgrade. 2014. ISBN   978-86-6161-109-4 . Retrieved 27 June 2014.
4. "Историја". 23 January 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
5. "Obziri, Serbia Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
6. "Monthly and annual means, maximum and minimum values of meteorological elements for the period 1991–2020" (in Serbian). Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
7. "Monthly and annual means, maximum and minimum values of meteorological elements for the period 1981–2010" (in Serbian). Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
8. "2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia" (PDF). stat.gov.rs. Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
9. "Попис становништва, домаћинстава и станова 2011. у Републици Србији" (PDF). stat.gov.rs. Republički zavod za statistiku. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
10. "Ovo su NAJLEPŠI MUZEJI van Beograda i evo zašto NE SMETE da ih zaobiđete". blic.rs (in Serbian). 11 December 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
11. "Споменици културе у Србији, Градска кућа". spomenicikulture.mi.sanu.ac.rs. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
12. "MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, 2023" (PDF). stat.gov.rs. Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia . Retrieved 20 September 2024.
13. "Nikola Jokic and a forgotten basketball legend: Inside an MVP connection nearly 60 years in the making". ESPN.com. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
14. "Somborske novine - Početna". somborskenovine.co.rs. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
16. "РТВ СРЕЋЕ СОМБОР & TV SREĆE SOMBOR & Radio Televizija Srece Sombor "TV SOMBOR" UŽIVO". rtvsrece.com. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
17. "Radio Sombor- Somborske vesti". radiosombor.co.rs. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
18. "SOinfo.org – Sombor 24/7". soinfo.org. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
19. "Bratimljenje Sombora i Istočnog Sarajeva: Širi se porodica bratskih gradova". novosti.rs. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.

External links

• Official website
• www.soinfo.org
• www.sombor.org.rs
• Map of Sombor