19th century

Superior was platted in 1875.^[6] It was named from the quality of their land.^[7]

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".

20th century

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.

21st century

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.^[8]

On December 17, 2023 there was a shooting on Idaho street at 11:55 pm. One fatality occurred^[9]

Climate

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 1,957 people, 948 households, and 527 families living in the city. The population density was 1,037.6 inhabitants per square mile (400.6/km²). There were 1,109 housing units at an average density of 588 per square mile (227/km²).^[3] 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.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, there were 2,055 people, 980 households, and 598 families living in the city. The population density was 1,090.6 inhabitants per square mile (421.1/km²). There were 1,123 housing units at an average density of 596.0 per square mile (230.1/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.

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.