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Superior, Nebraska

12 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1898 and the latest in 1985. It stands in Superior City. It lies in ZIP code area 68978. It stands on Lost Creek. The Survey maps it on the Superior quadrangle. 1,825 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,598 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Superior within Nuckolls County

On record in Superior

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 3 records

Population over time

2 figures

Superior fell from 1,957 to 1,825 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
20101,957
20201,825-132 (-7%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

6 surveys from 12 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

32 since 2007

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 32 fires within 5 miles of Superior between 2007 and 2020, burning about 430 acres in total. 2 started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning13
Missing data/not specified/undetermined8
Equipment and vehicle use3
Recreation and ceremony2
Natural2
Power generation/transmission/distribution2
Fireworks1
Smoking1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
30 September 2009Debris and open burning1.0 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
22 September 2012Equipment and vehicle use1.0 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
6 August 2012Debris and open burningunder an acreNebraska Forest Servicenot named
27 August 2010Equipment and vehicle useunder an acreNebraska Forest Servicenot named
4 July 2017Fireworks3.0 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
28 July 2012Natural3.5 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
5 May 2007Natural1.0 acresNebraska Forest Servicenot named
20 April 2011Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreNebraska Forest Servicenot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Nuckolls County

Mines and quarries near this place

3 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 3 workings within 5 miles of Superior: 3 producers. All of them still produce. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Ideal Cement PlantStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Ideal Limestone QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Ideal QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer

Storms near this place

60 of 70 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Superior in 70 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 42 hail, 22 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado, 2 heavy rain. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
August 2025Thunderstorm WindSuperior$5,000,000A swath of wind with gusts estimated to be as high as 90 MPH swept through the southeastern portion of Nuckolls County. Peak measured gusts included the following: 73 MPH, measured by a mesonet station located one mile west-northwest of Ruskin; 67 MPH, measured by a mesonet station located in Ruskin; 66 MPH, measured by a mesonet station located two miles north-northwest of Superior. Widespread damage was reported along and near this path, including the Superior and Ruskin areas. An estimate of 200 trees were damaged in Superior, causing the park to be closed for a period of time for clean-up. Several roofs sustained damage in Superior, with at least two downtown businesses suffering extensive roof damage, causing damage to the interior of the businesses as well. Several downtown businesses sustained broken windows. In Ruskin in addition to tree and roof damage, the wooden pole which held the community's siren was snapped and blown onto a nearby business. There was widespread crop damage in the area. The local public power company estimated that over 200 poles and 10 miles of line had been damaged or destroyed across the area, much of which occurred across Nuckolls County, and that mutual aid had to be called into assist with restoration efforts.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindSuperior$3,000,000Wind gusts were estimated to around 75 MPH. Tree limbs of 6 to 10 inches in diameter were downed, and several streets closed due to trees across them. Power was out for much of the town for several hours. A couple vehicles were damaged by falling tree limbs. A 40 foot section of a roof was blown off of the local lumberyard and an awning was damaged at another business. At least 9 irrigation pivots were damaged south of town. Most of the damage focused between 8th Street and the Republican River.
June 2017HailSuperior$1,000,000no account filed
June 2014Thunderstorm WindSuperior$500,000A line of thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts up to 80 MPH moved across the county. Damage reported in Superior included windows being blown out and transformers downed.
July 1996LightningSuperior$80,000no account filed
May 2019Tornado (EF0)Superior$75,000A brief tornado touched down in the center of Superior and severely damaged a detached garage. Shingle and gutter damage was also noted at the adjacent house. Fence and tree damage was common in the neighborhood. This tornado had an estimated maximum wind speed of 81 MPH.
August 2007Thunderstorm WindSuperior$75,000Six inch diameter limbs down in the city park.
June 1998Thunderstorm WindSuperior$75,000no account filed
April 2016HailSuperior$50,000Several reports of ping pong ball to golf ball size hail from Superior to 3 miles east of town, including social media photos.
August 2014Thunderstorm WindSuperior$50,000Wind gusts over a 30 minute period were estimated to be between 60 and 70 MPH.
September 2012Thunderstorm WindSuperior$50,000Wind gusts estimated at 65 mph caused roof damage to a two story apartment building in the downtown area.
May 2011Thunderstorm WindSuperior$50,000Wind gusts were estimated at 70 MPH in Superior, with 6 inch tree limbs and small outbuildings damaged 3.5 miles east of town.
April 2001Tornado (F0)Superior$50,000Another brief tornado reported by the Nuckolls County Sheriff's Department.
April 2016HailSuperior$25,000no account filed
May 2012HailSuperior$25,000no account filed
July 2004Thunderstorm WindSuperior$25,000no account filed
April 2003HailSuperior$25,000no account filed
September 2001HailSuperior$25,000no account filed
May 1998HailSuperior$20,000no account filed
July 2006HailSuperior$15,000no account filed
May 2006Thunderstorm WindSuperior$10,000no account filed
September 2006HailSuperior$10,000no account filed
July 2008HailSuperior$5,000Hail accompanied by winds estimated at 60 mph.
April 2008HailSuperior$5,000no account filed
May 2021Thunderstorm WindSuperior$1,000A wind gust of 61 MPH was recorded by a mesonet station located 2 miles north of Superior. Minor tree damage was reported in Superior with this wind.
May 1996Thunderstorm WindSuperior$500no account filed
May 2024Thunderstorm WindSuperior-A wind gust of 59 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located two miles north of Superior.
April 2022Thunderstorm WindSuperior-A wind gust of 59 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located two miles north-northwest of Superior.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindSuperior-Wind gusts estimated to be near 65 MPH were reported in and just north of Superior.
December 2021Thunderstorm WindSuperior-A wind gust of 69 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located two miles northwest of Superior.
June 2019HailSuperior-Quarter to golf ball size hail was reported.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindSuperior-Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindSuperior-A wind gust of 67 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located at the Superior Airport.
June 2017HailSuperior-Hail occurred along with 50 mph wind gusts.
May 2015Heavy RainSuperior-A 24 hour storm total rainfall amount of 7.13 inches was reported. In 123 years of records dating back to 1893, this was the highest 24 hour rainfall on record.
August 2015Thunderstorm WindSuperior-Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH.
June 2012Heavy RainSuperior-Rain total of 3.07 inches for the past 24 hours. Report comes from the Nebraska Rainfall Assessment and Information Network. The rain began during the late afternoon on June 14th, with the last round of rain ending during the early morning hours of June 15th.
June 2010Tornado (EF2)Superior-The most significant damage was confined to the city limits of Superior. There was widespread tree damage, along with a warehouse building and several small buildings being destroyed and a number of snapped power poles. On the southeast edge of town, railroad cars were overturned.
July 1994Thunderstorm WindSuperior-Supercell thunderstorms formed over south central Nebraska. Golf ball- size hail around Chapman caused around $1 million in crop damage. A tornado destroyed a cattle shed, a machine shed and a grain bin north of Giltner. A tornado touched down south of Stockham and continued southeast to Sutton. At Sutton, this storm was overtaken by a line of fast moving thunderstorms moving south across central Nebraska. Winds of 60 to 80 mph were reported with this line of storms, but at Sutton winds may have exceeded 100 mph. Nearly 400 of the communities 600 homes suffered structural damage and 20 businesses were damaged. Damage estimates in Sutton were around $3.5 million. Crop damage plus damage to the immediate rural area around Sutton was up to $23 million. A wind gust of 92 mph was measured at Gothenburg. A television repeater was blown over at Lexington. A tractor-semitrailer was blown onto its side near Overton. A mobile home was damaged near Amherst. A state trooper's vehicle was blown off of the road near York and a camper trailer was destroyed northwest of Minden. Several outbuildings were damaged in Aurora. Near Stockham, a tractor-semitrailer was blown over, three grain bins were damaged and siding was blown off of a house. Grain bins and power lines were blown down near Grafton, vehicles were blown off of the road at Fairmont, and the roof of a school was damaged at Exeter. At Superior, where winds of 60 to 80 mph were said to last for up to 20 minutes, windows were blown out of one business and the roof was taken off of another building.
April 2023HailSuperior-no account filed
August 2020HailSuperior-no account filed
March 2019HailSuperior-no account filed
June 2019HailSuperior-no account filed
August 2019HailSuperior-no account filed
May 2018HailSuperior-no account filed
May 2017HailSuperior-no account filed
July 2016HailSuperior-no account filed
July 2016HailSuperior-no account filed
April 2015HailSuperior-no account filed
May 2012HailSuperior-no account filed
July 2011HailSuperior-no account filed
July 2011HailSuperior-no account filed
August 2011HailSuperior-no account filed
April 2009HailSuperior-no account filed
June 2008HailSuperior-no account filed
June 2008HailSuperior-no account filed
May 2007Thunderstorm WindSuperior-no account filed
April 2005HailSuperior-no account filed
May 2004HailSuperior-no account filed
May 2004HailSuperior-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Nuckolls County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Bostwick6.3 miles11
Cadams6.6 miles12
Smyrna6.7 miles12
Abdal (historical)7.5 miles12
Hardy7.6 miles12
Nora11.1 miles12
Nelson12.5 miles11
Ruskin13.6 miles12

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on SuperiorAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q966416The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 833952. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.