Superior, Nebraska

Superior, Nebraska
City
The Kendall House in Superior, built in 1898, is generally open for tours during Superior's Victorian Festival
Location of Superior, Nebraska
Coordinates: 40°1′21″N 98°4′1″W / 40.02250°N 98.06694°WCoordinates: 40°1′21″N 98°4′1″W / 40.02250°N 98.06694°W
Country	United States
State	Nebraska
County	Nuckolls
Incorporated	1879
Government
• Type	Mayor–Council
Area[1]
• Total	1.89 sq mi (4.90 km^2)
• Land	1.89 sq mi (4.90 km^2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km^2)
Elevation	1,598 ft (487 m)
Population (2010)[2]
• Total	1,957
• Estimate (2013[3])	1,918
• Density	1,035.4/sq mi (399.8/km^2)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
• Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP code	68978
Area code(s)	402
FIPS code	31-47815
GNIS feature ID	0833952[4]
Website	http://www.ci.superior.ne.us/

Superior is a city in Nuckolls County, Nebraska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,957.^[5]

Superior bills itself as the "Victorian Capital of Nebraska", and holds an annual Victorian Festival.^[6] The downtown area is listed in the National Register of Historic Places; along with many of the older houses in the city, it has been maintained or restored to its Victorian appearance.^[7]

History

19th century

Superior was platted in 1875.^[8] It was named from the quality of their land.^[9]

In 1887, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built a branch line from Neva (3 miles west of Strong City) to Superior. At some point, the line from Neva to Lost Springs was pulled but the right of way has not been abandoned. This branch line was originally called "Strong City and Superior line" but later the name was shortened to the "Strong City line". In 1996, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway merged with Burlington Northern Railroad and renamed to the current BNSF Railway. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Santa Fe".

20th century

Superior was one of the smallest cities in America that supported a professional minor league baseball team, the Superior Senators (1956–58) of the Nebraska State League. Superior was the first professional stop in the career of pitcher Jim Kaat, who went on to win 283 games in a 24-year Major League career.

Geography

Superior is located at 40°1′21″N 98°4′1″W / 40.02250°N 98.06694°W (40.022415, -98.067010).^[10] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.89 square miles (4.90 km²), all land.^[1]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	458		—
1890	1,614		252.4%
1900	1,577		−2.3%
1910	2,106		33.5%
1920	2,719		29.1%
1930	3,044		12.0%
1940	2,650		−12.9%
1950	3,227		21.8%
1960	2,935		−9.0%
1970	2,779		−5.3%
1980	2,502		−10.0%
1990	2,397		−4.2%
2000	2,055		−14.3%
2010	1,957		−4.8%
Est. 2015	1,884	[11]	−3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[12] 2013 Estimate[3]

2010 census

As of the census^[5] of 2010, there were 1,957 people, 948 households, and 527 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,037.6 people per square mile (400.6/km²). There were 1,109 housing units at an average density of 588 per square mile (227/km²).

The racial makeup of the city was 97% White, 0.2% African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2% of the population.

There were 948 households of which 20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.4% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals living alone and 43.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2 and the average family size was 2.66.

In the city the population was spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 17.3% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 31.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51.3 years. For every 100 females there were 92 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72 males.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,055 people, 980 households, and 598 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,090.6 people per square mile (422.0/km²). There were 1,123 housing units at an average density of 596.0 per square mile (230.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.83% White, 0.05% African American, 0.24% Asian, 0.54% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.02% of the population.

There were 980 households out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 36.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.72.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.4% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 21.0% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 28.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 82.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.1 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $28,405, and the median income for a family was $33,125. Males had a median income of $24,125 versus $21,542 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,525. About 10.4% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.2% of those under age 18 and 3% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The Superior government consists of a mayor and council members. The council meets the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 7:30PM.

• City Hall, 135 West 4th Street.

Notable people

• Evelene Brodstone, later Evelyn Vestey, Lady Vestey, executive and baroness, grew up in Superior.
• Val Heim and Jim Kaat, major league baseball players, both played for the minor-league Superior Senators.
• Jan (Crilly) Meyers, U.S. Representative from Kansas 1985-1997, grew up in Superior.
• Thomas E. Trowbridge, Wyoming State Legislature
• Ed Weir, All-American American football player

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Nuckolls County, Nebraska

References

1. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
2. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-06-24.
3. "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2014-07-17.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
5. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
6. "About Our Town". Superior, Nebraska website. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
7. "Historic Superior, Nebraska" Superior, Nebraska Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 2010-07-04.
8. "Superior, Nuckolls County". Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies. University of Nebraska. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
9. Fitzpatrick, Lillian L. (1960). Nebraska Place-Names. University of Nebraska Press. p. 108. ISBN 0-8032-5060-6. A 1925 edition is available for download at University of Nebraska—Lincoln Digital Commons.
10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
11. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
12. United States Census Bureau. "Census of Population and Housing". Retrieved October 16, 2013.

External links

• City of Superior