Southampton, Ontario

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Southampton is a community of approximately 3083 people on the shores of Lake Huron in Bruce County, Ontario, Canada, located at the mouth of the Saugeen River.

Although the community still has its own post office, it became part of the municipality of Saugeen Shores in the 1990s. Saugeen Shores is made up of Southampton, Port Elgin, and the former Township of Saugeen. The community of Southampton continues to expand. It has become a bedroom community and a retirement destination, as well as a tourist destination. It is within 40 kilometers of Bruce Power nuclear power station.

This area is famous for its fabulous sunsets. Every Friday night in July and August you can hear the skirl of a bagpiper under the giant flag at the foot of High Street, a tradition which started in the late 1990's. During the summer and early fall, the beaches are full of people who have come to see the colourful sunsets lighting up the sky over the lake. Southampton, a popular summer getaway, is close to Chantry Island, Port Elgin, Saugeen First Nation and Sauble Beach. There are many summer activities to participate in while in Southampton. These include: canoe and kayaking on the river, biking the railway trail, swimming, sailing, or just spending time amid the dunes on the wide sandy beach. There is an active Tennis Club with three separate court locations in town, and three golf courses in the vicinity.

Recently, a historically significant shipwreck was discovered on the beach. Relics of the "General Hunter" can be found in the Bruce County Museum.

Southampton was also home to one of the last Gaelic speaking communities in Ontario. As late as the 1930s, the language was still used in everyday speech by local fishermen.

Southampton was named after Southampton, the English sea port.