Superior, Colorado#History

Superior's history is one of coal mining. The first mines in the area were developed in the late 19th century. Coal was discovered on the Hake family farm in 1864, 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.{{cite web |url=http://oralhistory.boulderlibrary.org/interview/oh1533/ |title=Autrey, Raymond, 1921- |last=Steele |first=Shirley S. |year=2008 |work=Maria Rogers Oral History Program |publisher=Boulder Public Library}} The town was reportedly named after its superior quality of coal.{{cite book |last=Dawson |first=John Frank |title=Place names in Colorado: why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin |year=1954 |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015051116740;view=1up;seq=54 |publisher=The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co. |location=Denver, CO |page=48}}

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. Superior's population hovered around 250 until the late 1990s, when subdivisions were built in the town and the population rose dramatically to 9,011 by 2000. More recently, infill and the [https://downtownsuperior.com/ Downtown Superior] mixed-use development have added additional businesses and residences.

Marshall Fire

{{Main|2021–2022 Boulder County fires}}

On December 30, 2021, the Marshall Fire, the most destructive fire in Colorado's history, destroyed over 1000 homes in Superior, the neighboring city of Louisville, and portions of unincorporated Boulder County. In Superior, approximately 378 homes (14% of the single-family homes in the town) were destroyed and 58 were damaged, 7 commercial properties were destroyed and 30 damaged, and there were 2 fatalities.{{cite web |title=State of Colorado Marshall Fire information |url=https://mars.colorado.gov/MarshallFire |website= Mitigation and Recovery Information for Colorado | publisher=Colorado Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management |access-date=April 18, 2022}}{{cite web |date = December 31, 2021|title=How big was the Marshall Fire? Comparing the Colorado blaze to past destructive events|url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/national/article256963967.html|publisher=The Sacramento Bee|access-date = January 3, 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104033410/https://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/national/article256963967.html|archive-date = January 4, 2022}}{{cite web |title=List of structures damaged and destroyed in the Marshall Fire |date= January 6, 2022 |url=https://www.bouldercounty.org/news/boulder-county-releases-updated-list-of-structures-damaged-and-destroyed-in-the-marshall-fire/ |website=Boulder County news archive |access-date=April 18, 2022}}{{cite web |title=Superior Rising dashboard |url=https://www.superiorrising.org/ |access-date=April 18, 2022}}{{cite web |title=What we know about the Marshall Fire 3 months later |date= March 30, 2020|url=https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/wildfire/marshall-fire/marshall-fire-boulder-three-months/73-99a4adaf-829c-4d7e-b9d9-f3ad1ac186a5 |website=9News.com| publisher=9News KUSA-TV (Denver, CO)|access-date=April 18, 2022}}

The fire started in Boulder County land to the west and was driven by {{convert|60 - 100|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} wind gusts across extremely dry grasses and fuels before reaching the town.{{cite web |title=High Winds and Marshall Fire on December 30th, 2021 |url=https://www.weather.gov/bou/HighWinds12_30_2021 |publisher=National Weather Service |access-date=April 18, 2022}} It spread rapidly and unexpectedly, prompting the temporary evacuation of 13,000 people in Superior and 21,000 in Louisville.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/dfw/news/colorado-wildfires-burn-hundreds-homes-evacuations/|title = Colorado Wildfires Burn Hundreds of Homes, Force Evacuations |publisher= CBS News DFW (Denver, CO) |access-date=April 18, 2022}}

According to the official investigation performed by the Boulder County Sheriff, the fire started from two separate sources of ignition.{{cite web |title=Marshall Fire Investigative Summary |url=https://assets.bouldercounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/marshall-fire-investigative-summary.pdf |website=Boulder County Marshall Fire Investigative Summary |publisher=Boulder County |access-date=July 22, 2024}} The first was a trash fire set six days earlier on land near the intersection of Marshall Road and State Highway 93 owned by Twelve Tribes. Its remaining embers were uncovered and reignited by high winds on the day of the fire. The second source was power lines on the western side of the Marshall Mesa trailhead owned by Excel. A line became unmoored from its supports and subsequent arcing caused sparks that ignited dry fuels on the ground. No criminal charges were filed.

Vigorous recovery and rebuilding efforts are ongoing in 2024, supported in part by a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster declaration and numerous local government and nonprofit organizations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4634 |title=Colorado Wildfires and Straight-line Winds, 4634-DR-CO|publisher= FEMA |access-date=April 18, 2022}}{{cite web |title=Town of Superior Marshall Fire FAQs and Resources |url=https://www.superiorcolorado.gov/community/marshall-fire-information/marshall-fire-faqs-and-resources |access-date=April 18, 2022}}{{cite web |title=Boulder County Marshall Fire Recovery website |url=https://www.bouldercounty.org/disasters/wildfires/marshall/ |access-date=April 18, 2022}}{{cite web |title=Superior Rising nonprofit website |url=https://www.superiorrising.org/ |access-date=April 18, 2022}}{{cite web |title=Boulder County Wildefire Fund |url= https://www.commfound.org/wildfirefund |publisher= Community Foundation of Boulder County |access-date=April 18, 2022}}

Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport

In 1960, the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport ("RMMA") was opened on the northern edge of Jefferson County. At the time, the population of Superior was approximately 175 citizens. Since the first flight from RMMA, the airport has continued to experience annual growth. As a result of a perceived national pilot shortage, numerous flight schools have established their base of operations at the airport. This has led to conflict between Superior and RMMA. As a result, the Town of Superior has filed a lawsuit against the airport.

{{cite web

| url = https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/suit-launched-to-halt-touch-and-goes-at-jeffco/

| title = Suit Launched To Halt Touch And Goes At Jeffco | work = National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems

| publisher = AVweb

| date = March 12, 2024

}}

Superior also ignored previous letters sent by Jefferson County, who is the airport sponsor, warning the town that the new developments of Rock Creek and schools were too close to the airport, and that these new homes would experience repeated noise events and vibrations.https://coloradopilots.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=612720&module_id=687647https://s3.amazonaws.com/ClubExpressClubFiles/612720/documents/20230816_Town_of_Superio_1989857003.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIA6MYUE6DNNJ6ROIH3&Expires=1732243383&response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3D20230816_Town_of_Superio.pdf&Signature=KGf%2Bhx1oDETFdTeoUqvJ%2Fv8OuCU%3D

Home Rule

On December 10, 2024, Superior held an election adopting a Home Rule Charter.{{cite web |title=Town of Superior Home Rule Page | url= https://www.superiorcolorado.gov/Government/Home-Rule-Information | access-date=December 18, 2024}}

Superior is at {{coord|39|55|52|N|105|09|33|W|type:city}} (39.93119, −105.159085){{cite web |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2021_Gazetteer/2021_gaz_place_08.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |date=August 10, 2021 |access-date=April 16, 2022 |title=US Gazetteer files: 2021}}{{cite web | url=https://maps.bouldercolorado.gov/osmp-trails/ | title=City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Interactive Trail Map }} with an elevation of {{cvt|5522|feet|meters}}.{{cite web |title=USGS |url=https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/gaz-record/2413354 |website=USGS National Map |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=20 January 2025}} It is bordered by the city of Louisville to the northeast, the city of Broomfield to the east and south, Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge to the south, and Boulder County [https://bouldercolorado.gov/government/departments/open-space-mountain-parks open space] to the west. U.S. Highway 36, also known as the Denver-Boulder Turnpike, runs along the northeast boundary of the town, and Colorado Route 128A runs along the south.{{cite web |title=Highways in Colorado |url=https://data.colorado.gov/Transportation/Highways-in-Colorado/2h6w-z9ry |website=Colorado Department of Transportation |access-date=April 16, 2022}}

According to the United States Census Bureau as of 2021, Superior has a total area of {{cvt|3.972|sqmi|km2|2}}, of which {{cvt|3.933|sqmi|km2|3}} is land and {{cvt|0.039|sqmi|km2|3}} is water.

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Superior has Dry, Semi-arid, cold climate (BSk). According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the Plant Hardiness zone is 6a, with an average annual extreme minimum temperature of {{convert|-10 to -5|°F|°C|abbr=on}}.{{cite web|url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/|publisher=United States Department of Agriculture|access-date=September 24, 2023|title=USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map}}

{{Weatherbox

| location = Superior, Colorado. 1991-2020

| single line = Y

| width = auto

| collapsed = Yes

| Jan high F = 46

| Feb high F = 47

| Mar high F = 55.4

| Apr high F = 61.3

| May high F = 70

| Jun high F = 82.1

| Jul high F = 88.3

| Aug high F = 86.1

| Sep high F = 78.4

| Oct high F = 65.4

| Nov high F = 53.8

| Dec high F = 45.5

| year high F = 64.9

| Jan low F = 20

| Feb low F = 21

| Mar low F = 28.1

| Apr low F = 34.2

| May low F = 43.4

| Jun low F = 52.8

| Jul low F = 58.9

| Aug low F = 56.7

| Sep low F = 48.8

| Oct low F = 36.8

| Nov low F = 27.2

| Dec low F = 19.9

| year low F = 37.3

| Jan precipitation inch = 0.60

| Feb precipitation inch = 0.75

| Mar precipitation inch = 1.59

| Apr precipitation inch = 2.49

| May precipitation inch = 2.69

| Jun precipitation inch = 1.67

| Jul precipitation inch = 1.66

| Aug precipitation inch = 1.55

| Sep precipitation inch = 1.64

| Oct precipitation inch = 1.30

| Nov precipitation inch = 0.67

| Dec precipitation inch = 0.67

| year precipitation inch = 17.51

| source=PRISM Climate Group{{cite web|url=http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/|title=PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University|website=www.prism.oregonstate.edu|access-date=September 24, 2023}}

}}

Superior has {{cvt|788.2|acre|abbr=off|sp=us}} of parks and open space, which is about 31% of its total land area. This includes owned natural space, natural space under conservation easements, and developed open space. Recreational trails (on-road, hard, and soft) extend for {{cvt|29.75|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}}. Recreational amenities include 13 playgrounds, 6 pickleball courts, 4 tennis courts, 3 multipurpose fields, 3 baseball/softball fields, 2 outdoor pools, 3 basketball courts, 2 sand volleyball courts, 1 dog park, 1 bike park, 1 skate park, and 1 disk golf course.{{cite web |title=Superior Parks and Recreation website |url=https://www.superiorcolorado.gov/departments/parks-recreation-open-space/parks-open-space-and-trails |website=Town of Superior |access-date=April 16, 2022}}

The [https://www.superiorcommunitycenter.com/ Superior Community Center] serves as a public venue for diverse uses.

{{US Census population

| 1910 = 349

| 1920 = 233

| 1930 = 160

| 1940 = 205

| 1950 = 134

| 1960 = 173

| 1970 = 171

| 1980 = 208

| 1990 = 255

| 2000 = 9011

| 2010 = 12483

| 2020 = 13094

| estyear = 2023

| estimate = 13361

| estref = {{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=March 24, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

}}

As of the 2022 American Community Survey, there were 13,146 people and 4,646 households in Superior.{{Cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2022.DP05?g=160XX00US0875640|title=Explore Census Data|website=data.census.gov}} Additional demographic information is available from the [https://data.census.gov/profile/Superior_town,_Colorado?g=160XX00US0875640 US Census profile of Superior] and [https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/superiortowncolorado,US/PST040219 US Census Quick Facts about Superior]. Data here are from the 2020 census {{cite web |title=2020 Decennial US Census |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/all?q=superior,%20co |website=US Census Data |access-date=April 16, 2022}} and 2022 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates.

Age distribution estimates from 2022 showed 5.5% of the population under age 5, 27.4% under age 18, 6.62% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.9.2% 65 or older. There were 108.2 +/- 9.0 males per female, and the median age was 36.9 years.{{cite web |title=American Community Survey Age and Sex Tables |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSST5Y2022.S0101?g=160XX00US0875640 |website=ACS S0101 |access-date=July 15, 2024}}

The racial makeup of the town, considering races alone or in combination with one or more other races, was 80.3% White, 19.4% Asian, 8.1% Hispanic or Latino, and 4.7% some other race, with less than 1% in any other category. A language other than English was spoken at home by 20.9% of the population.

Family and household characteristics included 67.8% married-couple families, 16.1% family households with a male householder and no spouse present, and 11.7% family households with a female householder and no spouse present. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.27.

Housing characteristics estimates from the 2020 Census indicated the population density was {{convert|3,332|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. Of the 5,025 housing units,

61.5% were owner-occupied. The median value of owner-occupied housing units for 2016-2020 was $603,600. The median gross rent for the same period was $2,060.

Median income levels are high. The median income for a household in 2022 (in 2022 inflation-adjusted dollars), according to 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, was $149,464 +/- $16,790, compared to $89,302 for Colorado. The median income for families was $173,563 +/- $20,834. The employment rate was 71.3%. About 2.2% of the population were living below the poverty line, and 5.0% were without health care coverage.{{cite web |title=American Community Survey Subject Definitions |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/tech_docs/subject_definitions/2022_ACSSubjectDefinitions.pdf |website=US Census |access-date=July 15, 2024}}

Educational levels are also high. Characteristics of residents 25 years and over in 2022 were that 97.8% were high school graduates or higher, 76.3% held a bachelor's degree or higher (which compares with 45.9% for Colorado), and 36.3% held a graduate or professional degree.

Superior’s diverse businesses as of 2024 include many large retailers and a Tesla service center, in addition to national chain and independent retailers, restaurants, service providers, and offices.{{Cite web | url=https://www.superiorcolorado.gov/departments/economic-development/superior-businesses | title=Superior Businesses | website=www.superiorcolorado.gov}} As of 2023, development was underway on a mixed-use retail/residential development called Downtown Superior.{{Cite web | url=https://www.superiorcolorado.gov/departments/planning-and-building/current-planning | title=Current Planning | website=www.superiorcolorado.gov}} The [https://www.superiorchamber.com/ Superior Chamber of Commerce] supports businesses of all types.

Superior is part of the Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) and is home to two public schools: [https://sue.bvsd.org/ Superior Elementary] and [https://el8.bvsd.org/ Eldorado PK-8]. The home public high school is Monarch High School in neighboring Louisville. The school district's open enrollment policy also allows students to attend any other BVSD public school as long as space is available.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bvsd.org/parents-students/enrollment-center/choice-enrollment|title=Choice Enrollment - Boulder Valley School District|website=www.bvsd.org}} Nearby institutions of higher education include the University of Colorado at Boulder, Naropa University in Boulder, and Front Range Community College campuses in Longmont and Westminster.

Sections of the 1985 movie American Flyers were filmed in Superior.

• Marcelo Balboa – soccer star
• Josh Sims – lacrosse player

{{See also|List of sister cities in Colorado}}

Superior has a sister city, as designated by Sister Cities International:

• {{flagicon|Nepal}} Khandbari, Koshi Province, Nepal{{cite web |title=Superior Sister City Program |url=https://www.superiorcolorado.gov/community/sister-city |website=Town of Superior, Colorado |access-date=24 June 2024}}

{{Portal|Colorado}}

• Jefferson Parkway
• Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge

{{Reflist}}

• [http://superiorcolorado.gov/ Town of Superior]
• [http://dtdapps.coloradodot.info/staticdata/Downloads/CityMaps/SUPERIOR.pdf CDOT map of Superior]
• [https://www.coloradohometownweekly.com/location/colorado/front-range/boulder-county/superior//Colorado Hometown Weekly - Superior Edition]
• [http://schools.bvsd.org/superior/index.html Superior Elementary School]

{{Boulder County, Colorado}}

{{Jefferson County, Colorado}}

{{Colorado|collapsed}}

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Category:Towns in Boulder County, Colorado

Category:Towns in Jefferson County, Colorado

Category:Towns in Colorado

Category:Denver metropolitan area