Superior, Colorado
Encyclopedia
Superior is a Statutory Town in Boulder
and Jefferson
counties in the U.S. state
of Colorado
. According to United States Census Bureau
estimates, the population of the city was 10,308 on 2005-07-01.
. The first mines in the area were developed in the late 19th century. Coal was discovered on the Hake family farm in 1894, and recollections of members of pioneer families in Superior, including the Hakes and Autreys, are preserved as part of the Maria Rogers Oral History Program
at the Carnegie Library for Local History in Boulder, Colorado. The Town itself was founded in 1896 and incorporated in 1904. The town was reportedly named for the "superior quality" of coal found in the area.
Mining was the major force in Superior's history until the Industrial Mine closed in 1945. Subsequently, many people moved out of the area and the Town evolved into a quiet ranching and farming community. The Town's population hovered around 250 until recently.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10.3 km²), of which, 4.0 square miles (10.2 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.50%) is water.
of 2000, there were 9,011 people, 3,381 households, and 2,285 families residing in the town. The population density
was 2,279.2 people per square mile (880.8/km²). There were 3,754 housing units at an average density of 949.5 per square mile (366.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 86.84% White, 1.27% African American, 0.34% Native American, 7.48% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.93% from other races
, and 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.86% of the population.
There were 3,381 households out of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples
living together, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 0.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.4% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 44.4% from 25 to 44, 15.4% from 45 to 64, and 1.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 106.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $82,079, and the median income for a family was $92,543. Males had a median income of $66,265 versus $37,108 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $36,326. About 2.5% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
, Superior Elementary and Eldorado K-8. Also Monarch Schools
Boulder County, Colorado
Boulder County is the sixth most populous of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county seat is Boulder. The most populous municipality in the county and the county seat is the City of Boulder...
and Jefferson
Jefferson County, Colorado
Jefferson County , whose slogan is the "Gateway to the Rocky Mountains", is the fourth most populous of the 64 counties of the State of Colorado of the United States. Located along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Jefferson County is adjacent to the west side of the state capital, Denver....
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. According to United States Census Bureau
United 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...
estimates, the population of the city was 10,308 on 2005-07-01.
History
Superior's history is one of coal miningCoal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
. The first mines in the area were developed in the late 19th century. Coal was discovered on the Hake family farm in 1894, and recollections of members of pioneer families in Superior, including the Hakes and Autreys, are preserved as part of the Maria Rogers Oral History Program
Maria Rogers Oral History Program
The Maria Rogers Oral History Program, or MROHP, collects and archives oral histories about Boulder County. Started in 1976, the program began with a handful of donated interviews, but now includes more than 1600 interviews, available both on the internet and at the Boulder Public Library's...
at the Carnegie Library for Local History in Boulder, Colorado. The Town itself was founded in 1896 and incorporated in 1904. The town was reportedly named for the "superior quality" of coal found in the area.
Mining was the major force in Superior's history until the Industrial Mine closed in 1945. Subsequently, many people moved out of the area and the Town evolved into a quiet ranching and farming community. The Town's population hovered around 250 until recently.
Geography
Superior is located at 39°56′N 105°8′W (39.9347, -105.1628).According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 town has a total area of 4.0 square miles (10.3 km²), of which, 4.0 square miles (10.2 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.50%) is water.
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 9,011 people, 3,381 households, and 2,285 families residing in the town. 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 2,279.2 people per square mile (880.8/km²). There were 3,754 housing units at an average density of 949.5 per square mile (366.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 86.84% White, 1.27% African American, 0.34% Native American, 7.48% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.93% 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 2.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.86% of the population.
There were 3,381 households out of which 42.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% 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, 5.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 0.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.4% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 44.4% from 25 to 44, 15.4% from 45 to 64, and 1.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 106.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $82,079, and the median income for a family was $92,543. Males had a median income of $66,265 versus $37,108 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 town was $36,326. About 2.5% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
Education
Superior has two public schools, run by the Boulder Valley School DistrictBoulder Valley School District
The Boulder Valley RE 2 School District is a school district in Colorado, headquartered in the BVSD Education Center in unincorporated Boulder County, near Boulder. The district serves Boulder, Gold Hill, Jamestown, Lafayette, Louisville, Nederland, Superior, and Ward...
, Superior Elementary and Eldorado K-8. Also Monarch Schools
Notable Persons
- Marcelo BalboaMarcelo BalboaMarcelo Balboa is an American former soccer defender who played in the 1990s for the U.S. national team, becoming its captain. After retiring from playing, he has worked as a commentator for ESPN and ABC and MLS games on HDNet and Altitude...
- soccer star - Mike Dodge - Marshall University running star; Mike attended Wheeling Park High school in Wheeling, WV were his outstanding running drew the attention of the state's premier distance coach Rod O'Donnell. He accepted a full-athletic scholarship to Marshall University where he studied a double major of Chemistry and Physics. Mike led the team to multiple conference championships in both Cross country and track & field. He continued his non-running passion of polo and yachting throughout his 4 years with Marshall University.
- Hiro Branson - World Video Game Tournament champion (2001, 2002)
See also
- Colorado cities and towns
- Colorado municipalitiesColorado municipalitiesThe U.S. state of Colorado currently has 271 active incorporated municipalities, including 196 towns, 73 cities, and two consolidated city and county governments.-Municipal government:...
- Colorado municipalities
- Colorado countiesColorado countiesThe U.S state of Colorado is divided into 64 counties. Counties are important units of government in Colorado since the state has no secondary civil subdivisions, such as townships...
- Colorado metropolitan areasColorado metropolitan areasThe metropolitan areas of the State of Colorado include the urban statistical areas defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget and regions of urban population defined by other organizations.-Census statistical areas:...
- Boulder Metropolitan Statistical Area
- Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area
- Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical AreaDenver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical Areathumb|300px|Map of the 12-county Denver-Aurora-Boulder Combined Statistical AreaThe Denver-Aurora-Boulder, CO Combined Statistical Area is a United States Census Bureau defined Combined Statistical Area located in the Denver region of the state of Colorado...
- North Central Colorado Urban AreaNorth Central Colorado Urban Areathumb|240px|An enlargeable map of the 13-county North Central Colorado Urban AreaThe North Central Colorado Urban Area comprises the four contiguous metropolitan statistical areas in the north central region of the State of Colorado: the Denver-Aurora Metropolitan Statistical Area, the Boulder...
- Front Range Urban CorridorFront Range Urban CorridorThe Front Range Urban Corridor is an oblong region of urban population located along the eastern face of the Southern Rocky Mountains in the U.S. states of Colorado and Wyoming. The corridor derives its name from the Front Range, the mountain range that defines the west central boundary of the...
- Colorado school districts
- Boulder Valley School DistrictBoulder Valley School DistrictThe Boulder Valley RE 2 School District is a school district in Colorado, headquartered in the BVSD Education Center in unincorporated Boulder County, near Boulder. The district serves Boulder, Gold Hill, Jamestown, Lafayette, Louisville, Nederland, Superior, and Ward...
- Jefferson County School District R-1
- Boulder Valley School District
- Rocky Flats National Wildlife RefugeRocky Flats National Wildlife RefugeThe Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge is a United States National Wildlife Refuge located approximately 16 miles northwest of Denver, Colorado. The site was previously occupied by the Rocky Flats Plant, a nuclear weapons production facility...
External links
- Town of Superior website
- Superior Observer (Superior's Weekly Newspaper)
- Superior Elementary School