Superior, Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Douglas County, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 26,960 at the 2010 census. Located at the junction of U.S. Highways 2
U.S. Route 2
U.S. Route 2 is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US 2 consists of two segments connected by various roadways in southern Canada...
and 53
U.S. Route 53
U.S. Route 53 is a north–south U.S. highway that runs for 403 miles from La Crosse, Wisconsin to northern Minnesota. It is the primary north–south route in northwestern Wisconsin, serving as a vital link between I-94 at Eau Claire, Wisconsin and the city of Duluth, Minnesota...
, it is north of and adjacent to both the Village of Superior
Superior (village), Wisconsin
Superior is a village in Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 500 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Superior and is just south of and adjacent to the City of Superior.-Transportation:...
and the Town of Superior
Superior (town), Wisconsin
Superior is a town in Douglas County, Wisconsin, USA. The population was 2,058 at the 2000 census. The Village of Superior is located within the town. The City of Superior is located just north of and adjacent to both the town and the village...
.
Superior is at the western end of Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
in northwestern Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. Bordered by Saint Louis Bay, Superior Bay, and Allouez Bay, it is also framed by two rivers: the Nemadji and the Saint Louis. Superior, and the neighboring city across the bay, Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
, form a single metropolitan area called the Twin Ports
Twin Ports
The Twin Ports of Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin are located at the western part of Lake Superior and together are considered the largest freshwater port in the world. They are twin cities and seaports, connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence...
and share a harbor that is one of the most important ports on the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
. Both cities have museum ship
Museum ship
A museum ship, or sometimes memorial ship, is a ship that has been preserved and converted into a museum open to the public, for educational or memorial purposes...
s (SS William A Irvin in Duluth and in Superior) devoted to the local nautical heritage. Superior was the last port of call for the Edmund Fitzgerald
Edmund Fitzgerald
Edmund Fitzgerald may refer to:*SS Edmund Fitzgerald, a freighter that sank on Lake Superior in 1975 with all hands aboard**"The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", a song about the shipwreck by Gordon Lightfoot...
before its famous 1975 sinking.
History
Superior and Douglas County's early history is a story of the Native AmericanNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. The first-known inhabitants of what is now Douglas County were Mound Builders. These people appeared on the shores of Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
sometime after the latest glacier receded. They mined copper in the Minong Range
Glacial Lake Minong
Glacial Lake Minong was a proglacial lake that formed in the Lake Superior basin during the Wisconsin glaciation around 10,000 B.P. . This was the last glacial advance that entered Michigan and covered only part of the upper peninsula. Lake Minong occurred in the eastern corner of the Lake...
and at Manitou Falls on the Black River. They pounded this metal into weapons, implements, and ornaments, which were later found buried in mounds with their dead. Their civilization was eventually overrun by other tribes, mainly of Muskhogean and Iroquois
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
stock, and disappeared as a distinct culture in late prehistoric American times.
About the time of the European arrival, the Duluth–Superior region transitioned from being predominately Dakota
Sioux
The Sioux are Native American and First Nations people in North America. The term can refer to any ethnic group within the Great Sioux Nation or any of the nation's many language dialects...
to being predominately Ojibwa/Chippewa
Ojibwa
The Ojibwe or Chippewa are among the largest groups of Native Americans–First Nations north of Mexico. They are divided between Canada and the United States. In Canada, they are the third-largest population among First Nations, surpassed only by Cree and Inuit...
. In the Ojibwa oral history, Spirit Island in the Saint Louis River
Saint Louis River
The St. Louis River is a river in the U.S. states of Minnesota and Wisconsin that flows into Lake Superior. The largest U.S. river to flow into the lake, it is 179 miles in length and starts near Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. The river's watershed is in area...
was their "Sixth Stopping Place" where the northern and southern divisions of Ojibwa nation came together in their westward migration. The City of Superior in the Ojibwe language
Ojibwe language
Ojibwe , also called Anishinaabemowin, is an indigenous language of the Algonquian language family. Ojibwe is characterized by a series of dialects that have local names and frequently local writing systems...
is called Gete-oodena, meaning "Old Town" as the Lake Superior Chippewa
Lake Superior Chippewa
The Lake Superior Chippewa were a historical band of Ojibwe Indians living around Lake Superior in what is now the northern parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.-Origins:...
population center of the Ojibwa later moved east toward Madeline Island
Madeline Island
Madeline Island is an island of the U.S. state of Wisconsin located in Lake Superior approximately two miles northeast of Bayfield, Wisconsin, and connected to that town seasonally by a 20 minute ferry ride or an ice road. It is the largest of the Apostle Islands, although it is not included...
, the "Seventh Stopping Place", and the Mississippi Chippewa towards Brainerd, Minnesota
Brainerd, Minnesota
Brainerd is a city in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,590 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Crow Wing County and one of the largest cities in Central Minnesota...
(thus calling both Brainerd and Bayfield, Wisconsin
Bayfield, Wisconsin
Bayfield is a city in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 611 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Henry Bayfield, a British Royal Topographic Engineer who explored the region in 1822-23....
as Oshki-oodena ("New Town") in the Ojibwe language).
The first-known Europeans to visit the area were the French. In 1618, Étienne Brûlé
Étienne Brûlé
Étienne Brûlé , was the first of European French explorers to journey along the St. Lawrence River with the Native Americans and to view Georgian Bay and Lake Huron Canada in the 17th century. A rugged outdoorsman, he took to the lifestyle of the First Nations and had a unique contribution to the...
, a voyager for Champlain
Champlain
-People:*Samuel de Champlain, the French explorer from whom most other usages of the name take their origin-Places:*Canada**Champlain, Ontario**Champlain, Quebec**Champlain , a Canadian federal electoral district...
, coasted along the south shore of Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
where he met the Ojibwa. Upon returning to Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, he carried back some copper specimens and a glowing account of the region. In 1632, Champlain
Champlain
-People:*Samuel de Champlain, the French explorer from whom most other usages of the name take their origin-Places:*Canada**Champlain, Ontario**Champlain, Quebec**Champlain , a Canadian federal electoral district...
’s map appeared showing “Lac Superior de Tracy” as Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
and the lower end shore as “Fond du Lac
Fond du Lac (Duluth)
Fond du Lac is a neighborhood in Duluth, Minnesota, United States.Evergreen Memorial Highway serves as a main arterial route in the community.-History:...
.” Soon after, fur trading companies established settlements, while missionaries came bringing with them the first touches of European civilization.
For more than a century, the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
, followed by the Northwestern Fur Company in 1787 and later, the John Jacob Astor
John Jacob Astor
John Jacob Astor , born Johann Jakob Astor, was a German-American business magnate and investor who was the first prominent member of the Astor family and the first multi-millionaire in the United States...
Fur Company, maintained trading posts with the Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. With the coming of settlement, however, the voyager and fur trader faded into the misty twilight of a romantic and historic past.
Douglas County lies on one of the major water highways used by early travelers and voyagers of inland America. This water trail, the Bois Brule–St. Croix River Portage Trail, was the most convenient connecting link between Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
and the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. The Bois Brule and St. Croix River systems were only separated by a short portage over the Continental Divide
Continental Divide
The Continental Divide of the Americas, or merely the Continental Gulf of Division or Great Divide, is the name given to the principal, and largely mountainous, hydrological divide of the Americas that separates the watersheds that drain into the Pacific Ocean from those river systems that drain...
near Solon Springs, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. The northward traveler used this water trail to take him to Lake Superior, while the downstream traveler could use it to go southwest to the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
, unhindered by portages, by using the St. Croix and Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
Rivers. This waterway was also an important route in the Wisconsin fur trade, particularly when the French War with the Fox Indians closed the more southern routes. Spurred by the prospect of lucrative shipping and iron ore industry, businessmen from Chicago and St. Paul laid claim to the site which became the city of Superior, and plans began for the plotting of a great city
The first log cabin in Superior was erected in September 1853 on the banks of the Nemadji River, paralleling the breaking of ground for the locks and ship canal at Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
Sault Ste. Marie is a city in and the county seat of Chippewa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is in the north-eastern end of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, on the Canadian border, separated from its twin city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, by the St. Marys River...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. This brought the dawning of a new age for the infant community, which was incorporated as a city on September 6, 1854. Immediately there was eagerness for a railroad from Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Lake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
to the Pacific Coast. This was later realized with construction of the Northern Pacific, and the dream of a rail and water highway from coast to coast was born. In 1889, the booming settlement at the Head of the Lakes would soon be named the county seat for Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
’s 4th largest county. 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, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Croatia. Named for Senator Stephen A. Douglas
Stephen A. Douglas
Stephen Arnold Douglas was an American politician from the western state of Illinois, and was the Northern Democratic Party nominee for President in 1860. He lost to the Republican Party's candidate, Abraham Lincoln, whom he had defeated two years earlier in a Senate contest following a famed...
of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, famed rival of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
, Douglas County became the site where its largest city and county seat, Superior, would be located, and money was pumped into the city’s shipping and railway industries.
Geography
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 55.4 square miles (143.6 km²), of which, 36.9 square miles (95.7 km²) is land and 18.5 square miles (47.9 km²) (33.36%) is water.46.713385°N 92.087746°W) Most of Superior is level with a gradual slope toward Lake Superior.
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. Pattison State Park
Pattison State Park
Pattison State Park is a Wisconsin state park south of the city of Superior, Wisconsin. Pattison State Park is located on the Black River and contains Big Manitou Falls, the highest waterfall in Wisconsin at...
is a short distance south of the city, and contains Big Manitou Falls
Big Manitou Falls
Big Manitou Falls is a waterfall situated on the Black River, a tributary of the Nemadji River. The falls are located within Pattison State Park in Douglas County, Wisconsin, approximately 13 miles south of Superior. At 165 feet, Big Manitou falls is the highest waterfall in Wisconsin...
, the highest waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
in the state at 165 feet (50.3 m).
Demographics
| City of Superior Population by year |
|
| 1900 | 31,106 |
| 1910 | 37,643 |
| 1920 | 40,432 |
| 1930 | 46,209 |
| 1940 | 39,731 |
| 1950 | 36,146 |
| 1960 | 35,185 |
| 1970 | 35,329 |
| 1980 | 33,671 |
| 1990 | 27,144 |
| 2000 | 27,368 |
| 2010 | 26,960 |
As of the census
Census
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 27,368 people, 11,609 households, and 6,698 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 740.9 people per square mile (286.1/km²). There were 12,196 housing units at an average density of 330.2 per square mile (127.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.26% White, 0.68% Black or African American
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...
, 2.23% Native American, 0.84% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.26% 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 1.69% from two or more races. 0.83% of the population were Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race. 15.8% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 13.6% Norwegian
Norwegians
Norwegians constitute both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway. They share a common culture and speak the Norwegian language. Norwegian people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in United States, Canada and Brazil.-History:Towards the end of the 3rd...
, 10.9% Swedish, 9.3% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 7.2% Polish
Poles
thumb|right|180px|The state flag of [[Poland]] as used by Polish government and diplomatic authoritiesThe Polish people, or Poles , are a nation indigenous to Poland. They are united by the Polish language, which belongs to the historical Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages of Central Europe...
, 6.9% Finnish and 5.3% American ancestry according to Census 2000.
There were 11,609 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% 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, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.91.
The city's median household income was $31,921, and the median family income was $41,093. Males had a median income of $33,712 versus $22,073 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 $17,253. 13.4% of the population and 9.6% of families were below the poverty line. 16.0% of those under the age of 18 and 7.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. In the city, the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.
Economy
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
, just across Saint Louis Bay.
The transportation industry accounts for more than 1,000 jobs. The Duluth–Superior port, the largest in the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
, welcomes both domestic and foreign vessels. Bulk solids (such as grain) constitute 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. 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....
has an operations hub in Superior.
Murphy Oil USA operates an extensive refinery in Superior, providing hundreds of jobs to the community. The refinery is located along an important pipeline connecting Western Canada and the Midwest.
Growing area manufacturers include FenTech, Inc., which manufactures vinyl doors and windows; Charter 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.
- Employment by sector (2002), in numbers of employees:
-
- Construction/mining, 1,130
- Manufacturing, 1,190
- Transportation/public utilities, 2,750
- Wholesale trade, 1,210
- Retail trade, 4,020
- Finance, insurance, real estate, 500
- Service, 5,350
- Government, 3,440
Education
Superior School District
The School District of Superior is the 23rd largest school district in Wisconsin and is one of the largest employers in Douglas County. The district serves students in the city of Superior, the towns of Oakland, Parkland, Summit, and Superior; and the villages of Oliver and Superior...
, 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 the Spartan. Over 1,400 students are also enrolled in Maple School District’s schools. Parochial schools include the Catholic Cathedral School, the Protestant-based Maranatha Academy and Twin Ports Baptist School.
The University of Wisconsin–Superior
University of Wisconsin–Superior
The University of Wisconsin–Superior is a public university located in Superior, Wisconsin. UW–Superior grants bachelor's, master's, and specialist's degrees...
(UW–S) is a public liberal arts college. Originally opened as a state Normal School (teacher's college), UW–S became part of the University of Wisconsin System
University of Wisconsin System
The University of Wisconsin System is a university system of public universities in the state of Wisconsin. It is one of the largest public higher education systems in the country, enrolling more than 182,000 students each year and employing more than 32,000 faculty and staff statewide...
in 1971.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a two-year technical college with campuses in Ashland, New Richmond, Rice Lake, and Superior, Wisconsin. There are also two branches in Hayward and Ladysmith. WITC also operates a learning center in Washburn County. WITC's administrative offices are in...
(WITC) offers skill development and technical education, with an enrollment of over 2,200.
The Superior Public Library is located in the heart of downtown Superior. It offers users the opportunity to learn more about area history and displays an extensive collection of art.
Religion
Superior is the episcopal seeEpiscopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Superior
Roman Catholic Diocese of Superior
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Superior is in northern Wisconsin. It comprises the city of Superior and the counties of Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Lincoln, Oneida, Price, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Vilas, and Washburn in Wisconsin, with an area of...
. The Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior
Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior
The Cathedral of Christ the King is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Superior in Superior, Wisconsin. It was named in honor of Christ the King. The building is located at 1111 Belknap Street in Superior....
is the mother church of the diocese. Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church, located in the East End of Superior, is an architectural jewel. Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church is the only congregation of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod located in Superior. It recently moved from its original location on Belknap Street to a new campus on North 28th Street. Pilgrim Lutheran Church is located along Belknap Street near the University of Wisconsin–Superior
University of Wisconsin–Superior
The University of Wisconsin–Superior is a public university located in Superior, Wisconsin. UW–Superior grants bachelor's, master's, and specialist's degrees...
. Many small congregational churches dot the city's neighborhoods, representing most major denominations.
Notable residents
- Morrie ArnovichMorrie ArnovichMorrie Arnovich, known as Snooker, was a stocky Major League Baseball outfielder. He was a line drive hitter and he played seven seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies, the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Giants between , and , and again for one game in .One of the most religious Jewish major...
, MLB All Star outfielder - Dave BancroftDave BancroftDavid James "Beauty" Bancroft was an American baseball player who played Major League Baseball from 1915 to 1930. He is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame....
, MLB player and manager, member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame - David L. BazelonDavid L. BazelonDavid Lionel Bazelon was a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.-Early life, education, and career:...
, Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals - Kris BensonKris BensonKristin James Benson is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher. Benson pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates from to , New York Mets from to , Baltimore Orioles in to , Texas Rangers in , and Arizona Diamondbacks in ....
, Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player - Richard BongRichard BongRichard Ira "Dick" Bong is the United States' highest-scoring air ace, having shot down at least 40 Japanese aircraft during World War II. He was a fighter pilot in the U.S. Army Air Forces and a recipient of the Medal of Honor...
, Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
recipient - C.A. Bottolfsen, Governor of IdahoIdahoIdaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
- Esther BubleyEsther BubleyEsther Bubley was an American photographer who specialized in expressive photos of ordinary people in everyday lives.-Biography:...
, photographer - Carl CashionCarl CashionJay Carl Cashion was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Washington Senators from 1911 to 1914. According to Baseball Magazine, Cashion had a fast fastball but was unable to control it....
, MLB player - Paul ClemensPaul ClemensPaul Clemens was a general officer in the United States Army. During World War I he served as Chief of Staff of the 32nd Infantry Division. Later he was given command of the 64th Infantry Brigade of the 32nd Infantry Division...
, U.S. Army general - Charles H. CrownhartCharles H. Crownhart-Biography:Crownhart was born in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin in 1863. He was raised in Pierce County, Wisconsin. Crownhart graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1889. He passed away in 1930.-Career:...
, Justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court - Russ EnnisRuss EnnisRuss Ennis was a Major League Baseball catcher. He was a member of the Washington Senators in 1926.-References:...
, MLB player - Daniel R. FitzpatrickDaniel R. FitzpatrickDaniel Robert Fitzpatrick was commonly known as "Daniel R. Fitzpatrick." He was a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and an editorial cartoonist for the St. Louis Dispatch from 1913 to 1958....
. editorial cartoonist - Bud GrantBud GrantHarry Peter "Bud" Grant, Jr is the former longtime American football head coach of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League for eighteen seasons. Grant was the second and fourth head coach of the team...
, head coach of the Minnesota VikingsMinnesota VikingsThe Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
from 1967–1983; 1985 - Lawrence M. HagenLawrence M. Hagen-Biography:Hagen was born on April 4, 1904 in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. On February 14, 1974 he would marry Hazel Florence Sanderson. Hagen died on June 8, 1992. He was buried in Superior, Wisconsin.-Career:...
, WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
State Assembly - Ogden H. HammondOgden H. HammondOgden Haggerty Hammond was an American businessman, politician and diplomat who served as United States Ambassador to Spain from 1925 to 1929...
, diplomat and New Jersey politician - George HudnallGeorge Hudnall-Biography:Hudnall was born on January 9, 1864 in Rural, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School and practiced law in Superior, Wisconsin and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He passed away in 1936.-Political career:...
, Wisconsin State Senator - Eastman JohnsonEastman JohnsonEastman Johnson was an American painter, and Co-Founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, with his name inscribed at its entrance...
, artist, co-founder of the Metropolitan Museum of ArtMetropolitan Museum of ArtThe Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the... - Tuffy Leemans, NFL player, member of the Pro Football Hall of FamePro Football Hall of FameThe Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
- Irvine L. Lenroot, U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, and Judge of the U.S. Court of Customs and Patents Appeals
- Robert J. MacDonaldRobert J. MacDonald-Biography:McDonald was born on April 28, 1914 in Superior, Wisconsin to Duncan and Cecilia McDonald. He was known to be a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lions Clubs International, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. McDonald died in 1987....
, MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
State Senator - Bruce MathisonBruce MathisonBruce Martin Mathison is a former American football quarterback who played in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers , Buffalo Bills, and the Seattle Seahawks. He played college football at the University of Nebraska.-References:...
, NFL player - Jock MungavinJock MungavinJock Mungavin was a professional football player for the Chicago Tigers in 1920 as an end. He played at the collegiate level at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and the University of Wisconsin–Superior.-Biography:...
, professional football player - Ernie Nevers, member of both College and Pro Football Halls of Fame
- Marian NixonMarian Nixon-Career:Born Marian Nissinen in Superior, Wisconsin, Nixon began her career as a teen working as a chorus dancer on the vaudeville circuit. She began appearing in bit part in films in 1922 and landed her first substantial role in the 1923 film Cupid's Fireman, opposite Buck Jones. The following...
, actress - Scott O'BrienScott O'BrienScott O'Brien is a current American football special teams coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League.-Playing career:...
, special teams coordinator of the New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... - Bob OlsonBob OlsonBob Olson is a former American football player.His home town was Superior, Wisconsin. He attended Notre Dame where he played linebacker between 1968 and 1969 and became team captain...
, football player - Byron C. OstbyByron C. OstbyByron C. Ostby was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.-Biography:Ostby was born on August 17, 1924 in Superior, Wisconsin. During World War II, he served with the United States Navy.-Political career:...
, Wisconsin State Assembly - Angus B. RothwellAngus B. Rothwell-Biography:Rothwell was born on July 25, 1905 in Superior, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Superior and Columbia University. Additionally, he received honorary degrees from Carroll University and Lawrence University. During World War II, he served in the United States Navy....
, Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin - Augustine Francis SchinnerAugustine Francis SchinnerAugustine Francis Schinner was a Roman Catholic bishop.-Biography:...
, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of SuperiorRoman Catholic Diocese of SuperiorThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Superior is in northern Wisconsin. It comprises the city of Superior and the counties of Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Lincoln, Oneida, Price, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer, St. Croix, Taylor, Vilas, and Washburn in Wisconsin, with an area of...
and Roman Catholic Diocese of SpokaneRoman Catholic Diocese of SpokaneThe Diocese of Spokane is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of Washington. Headquartered in Spokane, the diocese encompasses Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Spokane, Adams, Whitman, Franklin, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield and Asotin Counties... - Lewis B. SchwellenbachLewis B. SchwellenbachLewis Baxter Schwellenbach , was an American lawyer, politician, and judge. He was born in Superior, Wisconsin.-Early life:When Schwellenbach was eight years old, his family moved to Spokane, Washington...
, U.S. Secretary of Labor - Doug SutherlandDoug Sutherland (American football)Douglas A. Sutherland is a former American football defensive tackle in the NFL and played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Superior. He was selected in the 1970 NFL Draft with the New Orleans Saints and then became a part of the famous Purple People Eaters for the Minnesota Vikings...
, NFL player - Tarzan TaylorTarzan TaylorJohn Lachlan Taylor was a professional football player who played in the National Football League with the Chicago Staleys, Canton Bulldogs, Brooklyn Lions and the Brooklyn Horsemen. Taylor won an American Professional Football Association championship in 1921, with the Staleys, the forerunners of...
, NFL player - David Tipton, NFL player
- Jeffrey Williams, NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
astronaut - Gordon MacQuarrieGordon MacQuarrieGordon MacQuarrie was an American writer and journalist. Born in Superior, Wisconsin, he is best known for his short stories involving hunting and fishing, and for his semi-fictional organization known as The Old Duck Hunters' Association, Inc. He died unexpectedly in Milwaukee, Wisconsin of a...
, Journalist and Outdoors writer.
See also
- Richard I. Bong Memorial BridgeRichard I. Bong Memorial BridgeThe Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge, also known as the Bong Bridge, connects Duluth, Minnesota with Superior, Wisconsin via U.S. Highway 2. Opened on October 25, 1985, it is roughly 11,800 feet long. About 8,300 feet of that length is actually over water. It crosses over the Saint Louis Bay...
- U.S. Highway 2U.S. Route 2U.S. Route 2 is an east–west U.S. Highway spanning across the northern continental United States. US 2 consists of two segments connected by various roadways in southern Canada...
- U.S. Highway 53U.S. Route 53U.S. Route 53 is a north–south U.S. highway that runs for 403 miles from La Crosse, Wisconsin to northern Minnesota. It is the primary north–south route in northwestern Wisconsin, serving as a vital link between I-94 at Eau Claire, Wisconsin and the city of Duluth, Minnesota...
- Interstate Highway 535Interstate 535Interstate 535 is a long Interstate Highway spur route of Interstate 35 in Minnesota and Wisconsin, in the United States. It is paired with U.S...
– John Blatnik BridgeJohn A. Blatnik BridgeThe John A. Blatnik Bridge is the bridge that carries Interstate Highway 535 and U.S. Highway 53 over the Saint Louis Bay, a tributary of Lake Superior, between Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin. The bridge is long and rises up nearly above the water to accommodate the seaway shipping... - Wisconsin Highway 35 – Tower Avenue
- Wisconsin Highway 105
- Lakehead PipelineLakehead PipelineThe Enbridge Pipeline System is an oil pipeline system which transports crude oil from Canada to the United States. The system exceeds in length including multiple paths. More than of the system is in the United States while the rest is in Canada. Main parts of the system are convert long...