Superior, Wisconsin, United States

🇺🇸 Superior is a city in, and the county seat of, Douglas County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located at the junction of U.S. Highway 2 and U.S. Highway 53, it is immediately north of, and adjacent to, both the Village of Superior and the Town of Superior. Its neighborhoods include Billings Park, North End, South Superior, Central Park, East End, Allouez, and Itasca. Billings Park, South Superior, East End, and North End each have small business districts.

Superior is at the western end of Lake Superior in north-western Wisconsin. Bordered by Saint Louis, Superior, and Allouez bays, the city is framed by two rivers: the Nemadji and the Saint Louis. Superior and the neighboring city across the bay, Duluth, Minnesota, form a single metropolitan area called the Twin Ports. They share a harbor that is one of the most important ports on the Great Lakes. Both cities feature museum ships (SS William A. Irvin in Duluth and SS Meteor in Superior), devoted to the local maritime heritage. Superior was the final port of call for SS Edmund Fitzgerald before her sinking on November 10, 1975. It is an industrial city, with ship harbors along two sides, several large rail yards, an oil refinery, and shipyard.

History The first log cabin in Superior was erected in September 1853 on the banks of the Nemadji River, at the same time that ground was broken for construction of the locks and ship canal at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. This was intended to allow ships to bypass the rapids at that site. Superior was incorporated as a city on March 25, 1889. Around the same time Superior became the seat of newly formed Douglas County. Immediately there was eagerness for a railroad from Lake Superior to the Pacific Coast, and investment flowed in, but then the Panic of 1857 hit, investment slowed, and the population of the new city collapsed from 2500 to 500.

25 years later the Northern Pacific Railway and other rail lines finally arrived, fulfilling the dream of a rail and water highway from coast to coast. In 1883 General John H. Hammond formed the Land and River Improvement Company, which developed much of West Superior, including the West Superior Iron and Steel plant. Numerous grain, coal and lumber businesses formed in the same period.

In the Boom Period from 1888 to 1892, Land and River Improvement and others built impressive architect-designed business blocks on Tower Avenue, seeing Superior as the "new Chicago". Many of the investors were from out East, so the buildings received names like the New Jersey Block and the Maryland Block. By 1892, population was 34,000. Then the Panic of 1893 hit, and development slowed again.

Between 1890 and 1920, the city was heavily settled by migrants from the eastern United States as well as immigrants from over 15 countries, including England, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Poland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Hungary, and Croatia.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 55.65 sq mi (144.13 km²), of which, 36.96 sq mi (95.73 km²) is land and 18.69 sq mi (48.41 km²) is water. Most of Superior is level with a gradual slope toward Lake Superior.

Demographics As of the census of 2020, the population was 26,751. The population density was 730.5/sq mi (282.0/km²). There were 12,593 housing units at an average density of 343.9/sq mi (132.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.7% White, 2.1% Native American, 1.8% Black or African American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 6.7% from two or more races. Ethnically, the population was 2.1% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Economy The transportation industry accounts for more than 1,000 jobs. The Twin Ports of Duluth–Superior, the largest in the Great Lakes, welcomes both domestic and foreign vessels. Bulk solids (such as grain) make up much of the tonnage handled by the port, and the silos of such port facilities are visible on the Superior waterfront. In 2004, the port's busiest year since 1979, more than 41.4 million metric tons were shipped out of the port. BNSF Railway has an operations hub in Superior.

Cenovus Energy operates a refinery in Superior. The refinery is located along a pipeline connecting western Canada and the Midwest. On April 26, 2018, there was an explosion at the refinery. Douglas County issued a state of emergency due to heavy smoke, and then an evacuation order for local residents and workers. There were 20 injuries, and five were taken to hospital in Duluth. No fatalities were reported.

Growing area manufacturers include FenTech, Inc., which manufactures vinyl doors and windows; Charter NEX Films, a producer of plastic films; Genesis Attachments, manufacturer of shears and grapples; Amsoil, a producer of synthetic motor oil and lubricants; and Crane Song Ltd., a manufacturer of discrete Class A electronics for recording studios. Fraser Shipyards also provides many jobs to local residents. They repower and repair commercial vessels.

Arts and culture Superior Public Library is located in downtown Superior.

Superior City FC, a semi-professional soccer club, compete in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL). Founded in 2023, the club supports a Men's UPSL Premier team, a Women's UPSL Premier team, and multiple amateur adult teams. The club plays their home games at the NBC Spartan Sports Complex, located at Superior Senior High School.

Parks and recreation There are several parks in the city, including the second largest municipal forest in the United States, located in the city's Billings Park neighborhood.

Education Superior is served by the Superior School District, which has one high school, one middle school, and six elementary schools, with a total enrollment of over 5,000 students. Superior High School enrolls more than 1,500 students. Its mascot is Sparty the Spartan. Over 1,400 students are also enrolled in the Maple School District. Parochial schools include the Catholic Cathedral School, the Protestant-based Maranatha Academy and Twin Ports Baptist School.

The University of Wisconsin–Superior (UWS) is a public liberal arts college. Originally opened as a state Normal School (teacher's college), UWS became part of the University of Wisconsin System in 1971.

Northwood Technical College (formerly WITC) offers skill development and technical education, with an enrollment of over 2,200.

Media: Print • The Superior Telegram, local twice-weekly print newspaper • The Superior Catholic Herald, published by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Superior • Positively Superior, a bi-monthly business-to-business magazine that focuses exclusively on Superior and Douglas County

Media: Radio Superior is part of the Duluth radio and television market. • KDKE 102.5 FM – classic Country • KUWS 91.3 FM – Ideas network of Wisconsin Public Radio • WDSM 710 AM – News Talk Information • WDUL 970 AM – Sports • WGHF-LP 93.7 FM – Superior Seventh-Day Adventist Church • WSSU (FM) 88.5 FM – WPR News & Classical

Media: Television • 6 KBJR-TV (NBC/CBS) – Superior • 3 KDLH (The CW) – Duluth • 8 WDSE (PBS) – Duluth • 10 WDIO-DT (ABC) – Duluth • 21 KQDS (Fox) – Duluth • 27 KCWV (Family Chanel) – Duluth.

Transport: Road The following routes are located within the city of Superior. • Interstate 535 – John Blatnik Bridge • U.S. Highway 2 – Belknap Street(western portion) E. 2nd Street/US Highway 53 (eastern portion) • U.S. Highway 53 • Wisconsin Highway 35 – Tower Avenue • Wisconsin Highway 105 – Central Avenue

Transport: Air Richard I. Bong Airport (KSUW) serves the city and surrounding communities. Duluth International Airport in Duluth is the nearest commercial airport, with service on three commercial and two cargo airlines, as of December 2018.

Transport: Bus The Duluth Transit Authority provides Superior and nearby Duluth with fixed-route and dial-a-ride public bus service. Intercity bus service to the city is provided by Indian Trails.

Transport: Rail A proposed Amtrak route running between Duluth and the Twin Cities has a planned stop in Superior and is the final stop before arriving in Duluth or the first stop after departing from Duluth. Previously, Superior was served by passenger rail until 1984 at the Superior Union Station.