| Official Name: | Superior, Nebraska |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Mapsize: | 250px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Nebraska |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Nuckolls |
| Government Type: | Mayor–Council |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Title1: | City Clerk |
| Established Title: | Platted |
| Established Title1: | Incorporated |
| Established Date1: | 1879 |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 5.78 |
| Area Land Km2: | 5.78 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.00 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 2.23 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 2.23 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 1825 |
| Population Density Km2: | 315.62 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 817.29 |
| Timezone: | Central (CST) |
| Utc Offset: | -6 |
| Timezone Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -5 |
| Elevation Ft: | 1621 |
| Coordinates: | 40.0217°N -98.0617°W |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 68978 |
| Area Code: | 402 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 31-47815 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2396009 |
Superior is a city in Nuckolls County, Nebraska, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,957.[2]
Superior bills itself as the "Victorian Capital of Nebraska", and holds an annual Victorian Festival.[3] 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.[4]
Superior was platted in 1875.[5] It was named from the quality of their land.[6]
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".
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.
In October 2021, a local grain elevator was the site of a workplace shooting, in which two employees were killed and another person injured. The shooter, identified as an employee of the grain elevator who was fired earlier that day, was then killed by another employee who retrieved a shotgun from an office and shot him.[7]
On December 17, 2023 there was a shooting on Idaho street at 11:55 pm. One fatality occurred[8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.89sqmi, all land.[9]
At the 2010 census there were 1,957 people, 948 households, and 527 families living in the city. The population density was 1037.6sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 1,109 housing units at an average density of 588sp=usNaNsp=us.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.
Of the 948 households 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 households were one person living alone and 43.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2 and the average family size was 2.66.
The age distribution was 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% 65 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.
At the 2000 census, there were 2,055 people, 980 households, and 598 families living in the city. The population density was 1090.6sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 1,123 housing units at an average density of 596sp=usNaNsp=us. 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.
Of the 980 households 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 households were one person and 21.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.72.
The age distribution was 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% 65 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 household income was $28,405, and the median family income 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.
The Superior government consists of a mayor and council members. The council meets the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 7:30PM.