Superior, Nebraska
Encyclopedia
Superior is a city in Nuckolls County
, Nebraska
, United States
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,957.
Superior bills itself as the "Victorian Capital of Nebraska", and holds an annual Victorian Festival. 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.
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".
(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.
, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land.
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.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,195, and the median income for a family was $35,074. Males had a median income of $26,429 versus $16,379 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,114. About 5.3% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.
Nuckolls County, Nebraska
Nuckolls County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nebraska. As of the 2010 census, the county population was 4,500. Its county seat is Nelson....
, Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,957.
Superior bills itself as the "Victorian Capital of Nebraska", and holds an annual Victorian Festival. The downtown area is listed in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
; along with many of the older houses in the city, it has been maintained or restored to its Victorian appearance.
19th century
In 1887, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe RailwayAtchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
built a branch line from Neva (3 miles west of Strong City
Strong City, Kansas
Strong City is a city in Chase County, Kansas, United States. It is named after William Barstow Strong, former president of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 485.-19th century:...
) to Superior. At some point, the line from Neva to Lost Springs
Lost Springs, Kansas
Lost Springs is a city in Marion County, Kansas, United States. It was named for the old lost spring near the city. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 70.-19th century:...
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
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The company was first chartered in February 1859...
merged with Burlington Northern Railroad
Burlington Northern Railroad
The Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States-based railroad company formed from a merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1996....
and renamed to the current BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
. 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 SenatorsSuperior Senators
The Superior Senators were a minor league baseball team that played from 1956 through 1958 on the Nebraska State League. Their home field was Lincoln Memorial Park, then known as Brodstone Field, built in 1948, with a seating capacity of 1,500...
(1956-58) of the Nebraska State League
Nebraska State League
The Nebraska State League was an American professional baseball league with five incarnations. At least, the name was adopted five times: in 1892, from 1910 to 1915, from 1922 to 1923, from 1928 to 1938 and from 1956 to 1959....
. Superior was the first professional stop in the career of pitcher Jim Kaat
Jim Kaat
James Lee "Jim" Kaat , nicknamed "Kitty", is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins , Chicago White Sox , Philadelphia Phillies , New York Yankees , and St...
, 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 (40.022415, -98.067010). According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,055 people, 980 households, and 598 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,195, and the median income for a family was $35,074. Males had a median income of $26,429 versus $16,379 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,114. About 5.3% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 9.7% 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.
Education
There are three schools in Superior, two of which are elementary. Passed in November 2009 was a bond that will fund the building of a new Elementary school just to the east of the current Superior High School. This new building will house K-6. North and South Ward schools will no longer be used.Notable people
- Evelene BrodstoneEvelene BrodstoneEvelene Brodstone, later Evelyn Vestey, Lady Vestey was one of the highest paid woman executives of the 1920s. Beginning as a stenographer for the Vestey Cold Storage Company in Chicago, Illinois, she rose through the ranks to become the chief auditor and troubleshooter for Vestey Brothers...
, later Evelyn Vestey, Lady Vestey, executive and baroness. - Val HeimVal HeimVal Raymond Heim is a former left fielder who played in Major League Baseball during the season. Listed at 5' 11", 170 lb., he batted right handed and threw left handed....
, baseball player - Jan (Crilly) MeyersJan MeyersJan Meyers is an American politician and a former member of the United States House of Representatives from Kansas....
, U.S. RepresentativeUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Kansas 1985-1997 - Thomas E. TrowbridgeThomas E. TrowbridgeThomas E. Trowbridge, known as Tom Trowbridge , originally a dairy farmer from Carbon County, Wyoming, served as a Democrat in both houses of the Wyoming State Legislature from 1979 to 1986. He was a member of the Wyoming House of Representatives for two two-year terms, and he served a single...
, Wyoming State Legislature - Ed WeirEd WeirSamuel Edwin Weir was an American collegiate and professional football player.He was the first Nebraska Cornhusker football player elected to the College Football Hall of Fame and is known as one of Nebraska's greatest athletes...
, American footballAmerican footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player - Jim KaatJim KaatJames Lee "Jim" Kaat , nicknamed "Kitty", is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins , Chicago White Sox , Philadelphia Phillies , New York Yankees , and St...
. baseball player